ASPIRE · Project

Molecular Imaging Detectors That Reveal Drug and Material Shapes from Within

healthPrototypeTRL 4Thin data (2/5)

nottingham.ac.uk

Imagine shining a flashlight inside a molecule and watching its shadow to figure out its exact shape. That's essentially what ASPIRE did — they developed detectors and light sources that let scientists photograph individual molecules from the inside out. Why does shape matter? Because a drug molecule's shape determines whether it locks into a disease target or not, and a solar cell material's shape determines how well it captures sunlight. ASPIRE trained 15 early-career researchers across 5 countries while building the next generation of these molecular cameras.

By the numbers

consortium partners across Europe

countries involved (DE, DK, FR, IT, UK)

industry partners in the consortium

SMEs participating

40%

industry participation ratio

total project deliverables

demo deliverables (detectors and software)

The business problem

What needed solving

Understanding the exact 3D shape of individual molecules is critical for drug design and solar cell efficiency, but current imaging techniques are too slow or imprecise for the complex biological molecules that matter most. Companies developing new medicines need to know if a drug candidate will physically fit its target, and solar cell makers need to see exactly where energy gets lost inside their materials.

The solution

What was built

ASPIRE delivered three key demonstrable outputs: detectors that can distinguish multiple charged particles ejected when complex molecules interact with extreme radiation, multidimensional imaging detectors for advanced light sources, and new software for storing and analyzing the resulting data. In total, the project produced 20 deliverables across detector development, light source advancement, and researcher training.

Audience

Who needs this

Scientific detector manufacturers looking to expand into molecular imagingPharmaceutical companies using structure-based drug designSolar cell and organic photovoltaic material developersOperators of synchrotron and free-electron laser facilitiesData analysis software companies serving the scientific instrumentation market

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Pharmaceutical R&D

enterprise

Target: Drug discovery companies working on structure-based drug design

If you are a pharma company struggling to understand why candidate molecules fail in late-stage trials — ASPIRE developed detectors capable of discriminating multiple charged particles ejected from complex biological molecules. This means you can visualize individual drug molecule shapes with unprecedented detail, reducing guesswork in molecular design. The consortium included 6 industry partners and 5 SMEs working on detector and light-source technology.

Scientific Instrumentation

SME

Target: Companies manufacturing particle detectors and imaging systems

If you are an instrumentation company looking to expand your product line — ASPIRE delivered multidimensional imaging detectors and new data analysis software built for next-generation light sources like the European XFEL. These detectors handle multiple charged particles simultaneously, a capability that opens new markets in synchrotron and free-electron laser facilities. The project brought together 15 partners across 5 countries with 40% industry participation.

Renewable Energy Materials

mid-size

Target: Solar cell manufacturers and materials science companies

If you are a solar cell company trying to improve energy conversion efficiency — ASPIRE's molecular imaging techniques reveal how molecules dissipate energy, which is the key bottleneck in organic photovoltaics. Understanding these energy loss pathways at the molecular level lets you design better light-harvesting materials. The project's detector and software tools were developed with input from 6 industrial beneficiaries.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would this technology cost to license or access?

ASPIRE was an MSCA training network, so commercial licensing terms are not publicly documented. The detectors and software were developed across 15 partner institutions. Interested companies should contact the University of Nottingham as coordinator to discuss access and potential collaboration terms.

Can these detectors work at industrial scale?

The detectors were designed for use at large-scale research facilities like the European XFEL. Based on available project data, 3 demo deliverables focused on detector capabilities — including multidimensional imaging and multi-particle discrimination. These are research-grade instruments, not yet packaged for standalone industrial deployment.

What is the IP situation — who owns the detector designs and software?

IP from MSCA-ITN projects is typically shared among beneficiaries according to the consortium agreement. With 15 partners including 5 SMEs and 6 industry players across 5 countries, licensing would likely require negotiation with the relevant developing partner. The coordinator at the University of Nottingham can clarify ownership.

How mature is this technology — is it ready to buy?

This was primarily a research training network that ran from 2016 to 2020. The deliverables include working detectors and analysis software, but these are laboratory instruments designed for cutting-edge light sources. They represent proven research tools, not off-the-shelf commercial products.

Does this integrate with existing lab equipment?

The software deliverable was specifically built for data storage and analysis at advanced light source facilities. Based on available project data, the detectors were designed to capitalize on the European XFEL investment. Integration with other facility types would require adaptation.

What regulations apply to this kind of detector technology?

Detector and imaging technologies for research facilities generally fall under standard scientific equipment regulations. For pharmaceutical applications of molecular imaging data, existing drug development regulatory pathways (EMA, FDA) would apply to any downstream drug design decisions informed by ASPIRE's techniques.

Consortium

Who built it

ASPIRE assembled a strong 15-partner consortium across 5 countries (DE, DK, FR, IT, UK) with a notable 40% industry ratio — 6 industrial partners including 5 SMEs. This is unusually high for a training network and signals genuine industry interest in the detector and light-source technology. The mix of 5 universities and 4 research organizations provided the scientific backbone, while the industrial partners ensured real-world applicability of the instrumentation being developed. For a business looking to access this technology, the SME partners are likely the most approachable entry points, as they are closer to commercial product development than the academic beneficiaries.

THE UNIVERSITY OF NOTTINGHAMCoordinator · UK
AARHUS UNIVERSITETparticipant · DK
SYNCHROTRON SOLEIL SOCIETE CIVILEparticipant · FR
PHOTEK LIMITEDparticipant · UK
FORSCHUNGSVERBUND BERLIN EVparticipant · DE
AMPLITUDE TECHNOLOGIES SApartner · FR
CONSIGLIO NAZIONALE DELLE RICERCHEparticipant · IT
UNIVERSITAET KASSELpartner · DE
JOHANN WOLFGANG GOETHE-UNIVERSITAET FRANKFURT AM MAINparticipant · DE
KORE TECHNOLOGY LTDpartner · UK
THE CHANCELLOR, MASTERS AND SCHOLARS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORDpartner · UK
CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE CNRSparticipant · FR
DEUTSCHES ELEKTRONEN-SYNCHROTRON DESYpartner · DE

How to reach the team

The University of Nottingham (UK) coordinated. Contact their research partnerships office or the ASPIRE project lead in the School of Physics & Astronomy.

Order a report on this consortium See THE UNIVERSITY OF NOTTINGHAM profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want an introduction to the ASPIRE team or their industrial partners? SciTransfer can connect you with the right person for detector technology, imaging software, or molecular analysis capabilities.

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