This audio is generated by AI, so pronunciation and expressions may not be fully accurate. The narration is only in English.
"In light, we have photons—like droplets in water," explains Andrada Muntean, co-founder of the Swiss startup NovoViz. "Our sensors detect each of those photons with incredible precision."
At SusHi Tech Tokyo 2025, Muntean stood beside a deceptively compact camera that may transform how machines see the world. Designed by NovoViz, the NV04ASC-HW is a palm-sized single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD) camera capable of detecting individual photons at nanosecond resolution—without the bulky shoebox-sized setup typical of legacy systems.
Originally developed for scientific use, SPAD technology has long been known for its extraordinary sensitivity and speed. But its cost and complexity have kept it confined to research labs. NovoViz's innovation lies in making it scalable, affordable, and easy to integrate for industries like robotics, automotive, space, and medicine. The result? A new era of high-speed, low-light imaging has begun.
"We miniaturized everything, and then we put it in this small piece of silicon," says Muntean, reflecting on the technical leap that made NovoViz's innovation possible. During SusHi Tech Tokyo 2025, she casually held the device in one hand—its compact body about the size of a ping pong ball—as she explained its capabilities to a steady stream of curious visitors. It was a physical demonstration of how far SPAD technology had come: from lab-only setups the size of shoeboxes to real-world-ready tools that fit in your palm. "We now have the fastest and smallest computational SPAD camera on the market," she adds.
NovoViz coalesced around a shared vision during a trip across Europe, where Muntean and her co-founders, Andrei Ardelean (CTO) and Samuel Cheng (Strategy and Investment Officer), first imagined a future in which precision photon imaging would be widely available. The trio had originally met while conducting research at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
Through proprietary on-chip processing and patented design, the company has cut SPAD system costs by a factor of twenty. The result is a device that offers single-photon sensitivity, high dynamic range, and event-based output with significantly reduced data bandwidth requirements—all over a simple USB 3.0 interface.
For the average person, the potential of this technology may seem distant, but its everyday impact is just around the corner. Imagine a driver assistance system that clearly detects a cyclist in the rain at night—something current car sensors often struggle with. Or picture a home medical device capable of catching subtle physiological changes days before symptoms appear, helping doctors respond faster. Even a smartphone camera that can take sharp, detailed photos in candlelight, or wearable tech that reads gestures with pinpoint accuracy, could be powered by these sensors. NovoViz is building the unseen infrastructure behind future convenience, safety, and health.
With an equivalent frame rate of 100 million frames per second and a resolution of 64 x 48 SPAD pixels, the NV04ASC series supports a broad spectrum of practical applications—from real-time diagnostics and visual odometry to advanced robotics and quantum imaging. Its asynchronous event-based output gives it an edge in challenging conditions, where traditional imaging struggles.
"An example from the medical field is positron emission tomography (PET)," explains Muntean. "Doctors need to locate tumors as precisely as possible. By analyzing the exact time photons arrive, our sensors can dramatically improve imaging accuracy."
As she puts it in layperson's terms, conventional sensors work like buckets collecting light over time. SPAD sensors, in contrast, work like mousetraps that spring every time a photon hits—a process so fast and accurate that noise and error are nearly eliminated.
NovoViz's story is one of turning deep research into practical solutions. Muntean, who earned her Ph.D. in microelectronics at École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne's Advanced Quantum Architecture (AQUA) Lab, specialized in CMOS circuit design for biomedical applications, including time-to-digital converters and readout circuits. That academic foundation laid the groundwork for NovoViz's leap from prototype to product.
"Our goal is not just innovation for scientists," she says. "It's to make this technology useful and accessible for real-world needs."
Currently operating with a tight-knit team of six, NovoViz has already secured patents and begun forming industrial and academic partnerships in Europe and Asia. In Japan, interest has been particularly strong among potential collaborators and future users looking to test the sensors in sectors such as robotics and factory automation.
Muntean praises both the energy and professionalism of SusHi Tech Tokyo 2025, where the Switzerland pavilion received the Most Innovative Pavilion Award. "This is my first global startup conference in Japan, and I'm blown away by the number of connections we made, the level of interest from large companies and the quality of conversations," she says. "It's gone beyond our expectations."From potential clients and collaborators to venture capitalists, NovoViz's Tokyo debut provided a dynamic platform for growth. "This kind of event is crucial for testing the market and refining our approach," she adds.
Her connection to Japan runs deep. From an early age, she was fascinated by the country, inspired in part by her mother's love of the novel Shogun—recently adapted into a popular television series. That interest evolved into a personal affection for Japan's culture, people and pace of life. "Wonderful" is the word she uses to describe Tokyo, and she says the experience of visiting has only deepened her admiration.
When asked about the Tokyo Metropolitan Government (TMG)'s growing investment in quantum technology, Muntean is quick to highlight its strategic importance. "The TMG's focus on quantum technology reflects a strategic and forward-looking commitment to positioning Tokyo and Japan more broadly as a global leader in this transformative field," she says. "Their efforts are multiphased and include significant funding and support, integration with innovation ecosystems, collaboration with academia and industry, and global and multidisciplinary engagement. This positions the city as a key player in the global quantum revolution."
NovoViz sees itself as an ideal contributor to this ecosystem, offering technology that bridges high-tech imaging with tangible industrial outcomes. As they expand their partnerships in Asia, Japan remains central to their plans.
As demand for smarter, more efficient imaging grows across industries, NovoViz is poised to play a leading role. With sensors that make once-unreachable precision accessible and scalable, the company is bridging the gap between quantum research and real-world impact.
What was once the domain of cutting-edge labs is now fitting in the palm of your hand—and reshaping how we see the world. Their vision is no longer theoretical. It is, quite literally, visible.
SusHi Tech Tokyo, short for Sustainable High City Tech Tokyo, is a Tokyo-based concept that aims to create sustainable new value by overcoming global urban challenges through cutting-edge technology, diverse ideas, and digital expertise.SusHi Tech Tokyo | Sustainable High City Tech Tokyo
