A St. John’s technology company has received provincial funding to develop a wearable device that uses artificial intelligence to detect multiple hazardous gases simultaneously in industrial workplaces.
The Newfoundland and Labrador government announced Wednesday it will contribute $420,000 through the Business Growth Program to support NDITIVE Technologies Inc. in developing what the company calls a next-generation AI-powered industrial safety system.
The device can detect up to 10 gases at once using a surface-acoustic-wave sensor array combined with on-device AI analytics, encrypted communication and a digital dashboard for predictive maintenance, according to the company.
Technology targets high-risk industries
The wearable sensor is designed for use in oil and gas, mining and manufacturing sectors where workers face exposure to dangerous gases. The system learns from environmental conditions and provides real-time safety monitoring.
“By supporting companies like NDITIVE, we are investing in the future of our economy and the safety of workers across multiple industries,” said Steve Crocker, Minister of Industry, Energy and Technology. “Their work in AI and clean technology not only enhances industrial safety but also positions our province as a leader in intelligent, sustainable solutions.”
NDITIVE expects the project will create five new full-time technical positions in the province. The company, founded in 2022, focuses on developing sensor technologies for hazardous environments.
Company brings experience to project
NDITIVE has already deployed its technologies in industrial settings, including Atlantic XL’s Advanced Manufacturing Lab and FireFly Metals Ltd. The company won the 2022 Ocean Startup Challenge and received a nomination for Startup of the Year from techNL.
The provincial investment leverages $400,000 from other sources and $326,000 from NDITIVE itself, bringing total project investment to $1.147 million.
“NDITIVE is proud to build the world’s first self-learning, multi-gas safety device right here in Newfoundland and Labrador,” said Dr. Salar Salahi, CEO of NDITIVE Technologies Inc. “This support accelerates our path to market and helps heavy-industry workers stay protected in real time while cutting emissions and downtime.”
The Business Growth Program provides non-repayable contributions to help businesses start, innovate, scale and improve sales locally, nationally or internationally. NDITIVE participates in the Genesis Enterprise program for early-stage technology companies.
