Largest hardware acceleration programme in the world chooses UPTEC technology

Smartex, a (another) startup incubated by UPTEC- Science and Technology Park of the University of Porto, was selected to join the HAX, of the Venture Capital SOSV Group, the largest hardware acceleration programme in the world.

Smartex is an engineered solution to help textile manufacturers improve production yields, by reducing defective production to nearly 0%, by providing quality inspection and monitoring software, as reported on the company's website.

The Smartex system is being tested in a live environment, in two knitwear factories in Barcelos (the Rifertex and the João António Lima - Malhas). Workers are cautioned from any defective production and if the flaw continues the production system is interrupted.

This technology integrates broad spectrum cameras and the respective spectral lighting system, a computer vision algorithm, a processing unit and sensors to monitor the quality of production in real time.

"This solution created by Smartex not only reduces production defects to nearly 0% and respective waste, but also increases the competitiveness and the quality scores of the sector", said Gilberto Loureiro, Smartex's CEO and cofounder.

Being selected to join the HAX programme, which receives more than 1000 applications per year, earned the startup incubated by UPTEC an investment of 250 thousand dollars (around 220 thousand euros). In the context of this programme, Smartex will operate for four months in China, Shenzhen and for two months in the USA, S.Francisco.

"This is an opportunity to accelerate the product. Shenzhen is the capital of hardware in the world. That is where the big hardware companies are, such as Apple, DJI, Huawei, and many other, to develop their production and equipment", the physicist engineer enthuses.

Smartex was founded in 2018, supported by Vodafone Power Lab and was awarded the spin-off seal of the University of Porto.