Content
Litech has received NOK 14.4 million in funding from the Research Council of Norway to further develop its waste detection technology and improve fire prevention in waste facilities.
The funding will support the development of smarter sensor systems designed to detect hazardous materials in waste streams, including lithium batteries and gas containers. Battery fires have become one of the biggest challenges in the recycling and waste management industry, increasing the need for safer and more efficient waste sorting technology.
As the industry looks for safer and more practical solutions, simple and scalable technology is becoming increasingly important. Litech’s compact design and radiation-free detection system offer waste facilities a safer and easier way to improve fire prevention and operational safety.
The funding comes at an important stage for Litech as the company continues scaling its operations and expanding internationally. With growing demand for battery detection systems and safer waste management technology across Europe, Litech is now strengthening both its technology development and international presence.
Litech has previously raised approximately NOK 16 million from investors, including Renas, Startuplab, Nordavind, and EIT Manufacturing.
“The goal of the research project is to further develop our technology to detect even smaller objects,”
says Synne Sauar.
“R&D is extremely important to us, and this funding will help us significantly over the next few years.”
The project is being developed in collaboration with SINTEF and University of Manchester as Litech continues building next-generation waste detection technology for the global recycling industry.
MORE FROM LITECH
"AI" Doesn't Automatically Mean Camera-Based Technology
In waste and recycling tech, "AI" usually gets associated with camera-based sorting. That's a fair assumption, most of the AI applications in this industry are built around visual recognition, cameras scanning objects on a belt and sorting them by what they look like. But that's not what Litech does.
What waste operators actually need from fire prevention technology
Fire prevention in waste facilities is often discussed in terms of advanced technology, complex systems, and new regulations. For waste operators, however, the reality is far more practical. The question is not how advanced a solution sounds, but whether it works reliably in day-to-day operations. Waste facilities operate in demanding environments. High throughput, mixed materials, dust, vibration, and constant movement are part of normal operations. In this context, fire prevention technology must support the workflow that already exists, rather than adding friction or complexity.
2025 at Litech: From Promise To Proof
2025 has been the most important year in Litech’s journey so far. It’s the year where research turned into results, pilots turned into commercial traction, and Litech took a clear step forward as a fire prevention technology company for waste facilities. Litech develops sensor technology for waste management designed to detect hazardous materials early, reducing the risk of fires and explosions in waste sorting operations. This year brought us closer to that mission than ever before.