Participated · Equity · Feb 2024

Synaptec develops and manufactures a passive distributed electrical and mechanical sensing fibre‑optic instrumentation platform. Its platform unifies visibility and control of power systems with speed, accuracy, range, and security and is used for real-time control, asset management, and automated condition monitoring of critical MV and HV assets. The company combines expertise in photonics, electrical engineering, systems instrumentation, and analytics and holds patented technologies to meet diverse customer needs. Synaptec serves operators of power systems, offshore wind farms, and private industrial systems such as railways. Led by CEO Dr Philip Orr and based in Glasgow, Scotland, the company recently raised funding to support growth. The funds will be used to support expansion, including development of new manufacturing facilities in Scotland. Synaptec develops sensing technology that monitors complex electric power grids using existing optical fibre networks. The system measures voltage, current, temperature and vibration over long distances at multiple locations using only a single standard optical fibre and without local power supplies. The company was founded in 2015 as a spinout from the University of Strathclyde and is led by Managing Director Philip Orr. Synaptec has already seen demand for its systems from international customers. The recent funding will be used to scale up production, grow international sales and to exploit future data analytics opportunities. The technology and innovations are based on work conducted at the University of Strathclyde’s Institute for Energy and Environment. Synaptec builds photonic sensing systems that use existing optical fibre networks to measure the parameters electricity network operators require for primary and ancillary monitoring. The company's technology aims to reduce downtime and operating costs for power networks through improved monitoring. Synaptec focuses on opportunities in subsea development and renewable energy and already works with customers including Scottish Power and SSE. Founded in 2014 and based in Glasgow, Scotland, it deploys its fibre-optic monitoring solutions across power infrastructure. The company intends to use recent funding to grow its team, ramp up operations and broaden the scope of the business.