CERN air-quality data analysis spin-off raises 1.2 million euros in funding
In 2020, PlanetWatch joined the French Business Incubation Centre of CERN Technologies and raised 1.2 million euros in funding.
PlanetWatch, a CERN spin-off, delivers an end-to-end solution to generate, validate, analyse and record air quality data. Its ambition is to provide city and public health administrators, industry as well as citizens with accurate, timely and easy to understand information about air quality.
Globally, 93% of children under 18 live with air pollution levels that exceed World Health Organization guidelines. Air pollution is linked to a wide range of adverse health consequences for children, including infant mortality, asthma, neurodevelopmental disorders and childhood cancers. It is difficult to monitor air quality in urban centres, the small density of stations and the lack of real-time publication of data make that several air pollution hotspots remain undetected and that the overall air pollution dynamics are poorly understood. In concrete terms, this can lead to delays in pollution peaks detection, with no timely warnings for endangered populations.
PlanetWatch is developing a global network of air quality sensors. Some sensors are installed and managed by local residents, with additional sensors being installed by PlanetWatch in partnership with transport and telecommunications companies, local authorities, etc. Such network is already deployed in several Italian cities such as Milan and Rome. Terabee, another CERN spin-off, is partnering with PlanetWatch to deliver turnkey indoor COVID-19 infection risk mitigation solutions. This approach allows to rapidly deploy low-cost, real- time, high-density air quality monitoring networks which complement governmental infrastructure, with the aim of validating, filtering, and displaying data on the Internet and through a mobile application in real-time.
We rely on a wide range of leading-edge technologies. These include Algorand, one of the most advanced blockchains in the world, C2MON, a data-acquisition framework developed by CERN and a wide range of IoT-enabled sensors. Blockchain-based air quality and attendance records allows to prove compliance with best practices, regulations and new certification standards.”
Claudio Parrinello, PlanetWatch CEO & Founder
In 2020, PlanetWatch joined InnoGex, the French Business Incubation Centre (BIC) of CERN Technologies and raised 1.2 million euros in funding.