Companies
A group of Danish business leaders, innovators and investors has launched a new defence company.
The company is built around four technologies aimed at bringing new capabilities to market and establishing production capacity in Denmark.
Operating under the name Omni Capabilities, the company will focus on maturing the technologies, preparing them for commercialisation and scaling production.
AdvertisementAmong the founders is Mikkel Normark, chief executive and founder of Normark Defence, a company that supports cooperation between universities, industry and NATO armed forces.
- There is a lot to gain from bringing these ideas together, said Normark, pointing to synergies in both the customer base and the technologies themselves.
The four technologies
Unattended ground sensor
A ground-based sensor designed to detect movement through soil vibrations, including those generated by tracked vehicles. Unlike conventional systems, it offers a battery life of up to five years and uses satellite communications, eliminating the need for radio-frequency relay networks.
Advanced composite material
A patented technology that combines existing materials to deliver a combination of strength, flexibility and low weight. The material can serve as a modular platform technology across a wide range of applications.
Carbon nanotube heating technology
A 3D-printed carbon nanotube thread capable of generating heat. Potential applications include thermal regulation in extreme environments, such as Arctic operations or high-altitude flight.
Structural hull monitoring
A sensor-based monitoring system designed to assess the condition of ship hulls and other structures. By using light-based sensing technology, it enables continuous monitoring of structural stress, helping to improve performance and extend service life.
Mikkel Normark
Normark Defence's business model is to help develop innovations into prototypes and support their path to market.
Three of the technologies originate from universities, while the fourth has been developed internally, Normark explained.
Normark, a former captain in the Danish Armed Forces, said the company applies strict criteria when selecting technologies.
- We have to make a difference. Otherwise, we are not really innovating; we are simply developing.
-Normally, our requirement is that a technology is either ten times better than existing solutions, costs one-tenth as much, or offers something entirely new. If a product does not meet one of those criteria, we will not invest in it.
AdvertisementAs mentioned, the company will launch with four products in its portfolio, but the company structure has been designed to support a rapid route-to-market strategy.
This will allow Omni Capabilities to add new products quickly and adapt technologies for dual-use applications where appropriate.
- You could say it is a new company, but it is not a new business, Normark said.
According to Normark, everything from the legal framework to the recruitment of a chief executive is already in place, with the company formally launching on 1 July.
The company plans to partner with established manufacturers in the near term and, over time, establish production capabilities under the Omni Capabilities brand.
AdvertisementNormark said the company is intended to counter what he describes as an "IP drain", whereby promising start-ups are acquired by larger international companies or prime contractors.
- With this structure and this investor group, we are able to establish both a Danish technology company and production in Denmark. That is quite unique.
In a press release announcing the project, Peter Lundgreen of Lundgreen's Capital said the investor response had been swift.
- We are extremely grateful for the very rapid commitment of investor capital, he said.
- It also demonstrates that there remains a very strong appetite for defence investments, particularly when the opportunity is as compelling as it is in this case.
AdvertisementLundgreen added that the four products are sufficiently advanced that the company expects to be profitable this year, with profits increasing significantly next year.
- One product in particular is already effectively on the shelf, if I may put it that way, and the first of several distribution agreements has already been signed.
Speaking to Defence Nordic, Normark said Omni Capabilities will be based in Aalborg, in northern Jutland.
The region is home to several high-technology defence companies, including GomSpace, MyDefence and Sky-Watch.
- It is a very strong business environment that we look forward to being part of, said Normark.
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