What is FOSS4Iæ
The UK Lebanon Tech Hub launched its first International Research Centre Associate Research Unit (ARU) project to produce an irrigation optimization system to empower farmers within economies around the world to tackle the global water shortage. The research institutes, universities and companies collaborating on the project - which include Geneva-based CERN European Laboratory for Particle Physics, University of Sannio, INFN Naples, Optosmart, Lebanese University, Lebanese Agriculture Research Institute and National Instruments – met at the UK Lebanon Tech Hub headquarters in Beirut, Lebanon to sign the FOSS4I “Fiber Optic Sensor Systems for Irrigation” collaboration agreement.

What’s its goalæ
Produce the world’s first Fiber Optic Sensors System designed to measure parameters such as temperature, humidity, concentration of pesticides, fertilizers and enzymes in the soil of cultivated fields. This system will be simple and affordable allowing irrigation optimization which will result in water saving and increase in crop yield. This will also result a seamless technology transfer, recruitment of Lebanese PhD students and full set up of a state of the art optical lab at the Lebanese University.

Throughout the years, relative humidity sensors have been developed, produced and installed at CERN to monitor the environment of large detectors like the Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS). Such sensors have the potential to be further developed to match the challenges of other applications, like irrigation. This project is tapping into that potential and is also an illustration of how research in High Energy Physics, can produce technologies that can be applied to tackle societal problems while stimulating technology transfer and local economic development.” – Martin Gastal, FOSS4I project leader and member of the CMS collaboration at CERN.

OK, so who’s doing whatæ
The UK Lebanon Tech Hub is funding the project and coordinating between the different parties. CERN, through its commitment to knowledge transfer, will lead the project and provide continued knowledge transfer support after initiating the project. CERN will also share its facilities, including a dedicated sensor calibration facility. Optosmart, INFN Naples and University of Sannio will be sharing their expertise and know-how in the design and operation of relative humidity and temperature measurement techniques based on Fiber Optic Sensors. They will be working closely with the Lebanese University on the development of new Fibre Optic Sensors and Data Acquisition Systems. LARI will supervise the installation of the sensors in Zahle and monitor the crops. Finally, National Instrument will be providing their support on Hardware research and development.

What thenæ
A key aspect of this project is its open approach: all hardware will be released under CERN’s Open Hardware License and the software will be released under an open source license within 2 years of the project termination.

“This is very much the next stage in the evolution of Lebanon as a knowledge economy. We seek the international recognition of the ability to create world first products here that lead to sustained employment and economic growth. None of the projects we will be announcing will be anything short of world leading innovation “– Colm Reilly, CEO UK Lebanon Tech Hub.

The UKLTH’s International Research Center is a platform that would serve as a beacon for capability in Lebanon and serve as a portal for companies of all sizes to undertake research and development for new solutions in a collaborative environment where commercial gain can be achieved for all. We aim at demonstrating that a multidisciplinary approach is to fundamental research and industrial driven research and development can coexist and complement each other successfully across all types of firms and structures.

This project is one of many that will showcase the multidisciplinary approach of the International Research Center with a focus on 3 sectors: Fintech, Well-being and Visualization. In hope to develop a brand for Lebanon as an internationally recognized hub for Research and Development in the ICT sector.