Finnish startup Agate Sensors has received an innovation contract from Sweden for testing its wearable technology for monitoring human performance in demanding defense environments.
The company’s optical sensors collect real-time data on physical responses and situational stress to support decision-making in high-risk operations.
Under the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration program, the company will work with defense and industry specialists on a proof-of-concept project running until March 2026, marking Agate Sensors’ first collaboration in the defense sector.
“This isn’t an incremental step — it’s a new capability that changes how defense forces can understand, predict, and optimize human performance,” said Mikael Westerlund, Chief Business Officer at Agate Sensors.
The testing effort will include technical validation and joint demonstrations.
It also involves presentations taking place this month at Purple NECtar 2025, an innovation event organized by the Dutch Ministry of Defence in the Netherlands, and at Defence Innovation Paris in France.
Hyperspectral Sensors
Agate Sensors has developed a hyperspectral optical technology called Hyperspectral Photoplethysmography (HPPG), designed to measure subtle physiological changes with precision.
While standard smartwatch or fitness tracker sensors use only a few wavelengths of light to monitor heart rate and blood flow, HPPG captures data across hundreds of wavelengths, according to the company.
This broader range enables it to detect biochemical and metabolic changes.
The system fits the capabilities of a laboratory spectrometer into a tiny chip, small enough to be built into wearable devices.
This enables continuous monitoring of physical strain, stress, and fatigue before they become visible or affect performance.
In the longer term, the same sensing approach could also be applied to other defense technologies, including weapon optics, drone systems, and autonomous platforms.
