Draft:GScan
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Last edited by Nohka (talk | contribs) 2 seconds ago. (Update) |
Comment: In accordance with Wikipedia's Conflict of interest policy, I disclose that I have a conflict of interest regarding the subject of this article. Nohka (talk) 09:14, 11 July 2025 (UTC)
| File:GScan Logo.svg | |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Deep-tech, Non-destructive testing, Security scanning |
| Founded | 9 March 2018 |
| Founder | Märt Mägi, Madis Kiisk, Hannes Plinte, Marko Aid, Marius Kutateladze, Madis Sassiad |
Key people | Marek Helm (CEO), Märt Mägi (CTO), Jüri Saarma (COO), Remo Kuldkepp (CFO), Madis Kiisk (R&D lead) |
| Products | Muon tomography systems |
Number of employees | 40–50 (2025 est.) |
| Website | gscan |
GScan is an Estonian deep-tech company that develops scanning systems based on muon tomography, a method that uses naturally occurring cosmic-ray muons to perform three-dimensional imaging of dense or shielded structures. The company specializes in non-destructive testing (NDT) for infrastructure, industrial components, and security applications.
History
[edit]GScan was founded on 9 March 2018 as a spin-off from the Estonian border-technology company GoSwift. The idea for the company originated in 2015, when GoSwift's CTO Märt Mägi began exploring passive scanning solutions using muons. He partnered with physicist Madis Kiisk of the University of Tartu, and together they developed a laboratory prototype between 2018 and 2020 capable of material discrimination using cosmic muon flux.[1]
The founding team also included GoSwift’s CEO Hannes Plinte and engineers Marko Aid, Marius Kutateladze, and Madis Sassiad. The startup has since expanded its applications beyond logistics into civil engineering, nuclear safety, and European research projects.
Technology
[edit]GScan’s systems use layered detector panels composed of plastic scintillators and silicon photomultipliers to track cosmic muons as they pass through large objects. By analyzing the attenuation and scattering of muons within a scanned object, the system reconstructs a high-resolution 3D density map. This allows users to "see" through concrete, steel, and other opaque materials without drilling or applying ionizing radiation.[2]
Because the technology is fully passive, it is particularly suited for sensitive environments such as heritage structures, nuclear sites, or critical infrastructure.
Projects
[edit]ALARA (Paldiski, Estonia)
[edit]In 2022, GScan conducted its first commercial deployment under contract with AS A.L.A.R.A., Estonia’s radioactive waste management company. The muon scanner was used to inspect two sealed Soviet-era submarine reactor compartments in Paldiski. The resulting tomographic images confirmed the absence of nuclear fuel and identified built-in cobalt-60 sources, enabling better long-term safety planning.[3]
Structures Moonshot (United Kingdom)
[edit]GScan participated in the UK’s National Highways "Structures Moonshot" innovation program to assess the internal condition of concrete bridges. Its muonFLUX system was deployed beneath post-tensioned bridge decks, successfully mapping internal reinforcement and structural anomalies. The trial demonstrated non-invasive inspection capability for aging civil infrastructure.[4]
European Union projects
[edit]GScan is a key participant in multiple Horizon Europe and Horizon 2020 research projects:
- SilentBorder (2021–2025): developing container scanning systems using muon tomography for customs and border control.[5]
- CosmoPort (2023–2026): a €3 million EU project coordinated by GScan to develop a mobile muon scanner for scanning goods in logistics hubs and ports.[6]
Partnerships
[edit]GScan has announced partnerships with engineering firms such as VSL, and collaborations with public-sector and academic entities across Europe, including the University of Cambridge and the European Space Agency. It also works with Estonian energy company Enefit Green on applications for wind turbine inspection.[7]
Awards and recognition
[edit]GScan has received several awards and recognitions for its innovation in engineering and AI-powered NDT:
- Digital Construction Awards 2025: Winner – Best Use of Technology: Artificial Intelligence[8]
- Structures Moonshot 2024: Innovation in Bridge Inspection[9]
- Construction Startup Competition 2024[10]
- DeepTech of the Year 2024[11]
- BIM Munich: Top Innovator[12]
- Chartered Institution of Highways & Transportation recognition[13]
- Cambridge Independent Science and Technology Awards 2025: Finalist[14]