RVmagnetics is one of the 15 companies selected for Phase 2 of the NATO DIANA programme.
As part of Phase 2, companies will receive €300,000 in contractual funding, as well as tailored support to accelerate adoption of their technologies.
In this blog post, we hear directly from Vladimír Marhefka and Michal Borza – CSO and COO at RVMagnetics – about their company and how they are working to strengthen the Alliance’s technological edge.
- What does your company do and what is the solution you applied to DIANA with?
"We, at RVmagnetics, develop the smallest passive sensor in the world. Our unique patented MicroWire technology enables passive, contactless measurements across diverse industries. Ultra-thin metallic wires coated in glass are both small and highly sensitive. This Microwire allows precise measurement of various physical parameters: temperature, pressure, magnetic field, but also vibration, torsion, position, and, for example, enables also identification.
Our goal is to become the preferred sensor development partner by delivering cutting-edge solutions, especially for challenging and harsh environments, driving widespread adoption of MicroWire technology in aviation, defence, space and in general Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT)."
- What problem does your solution solve?
"We have advanced the production and quality control of 8 µm MicroWire for structural monitoring. By integrating RVmagnetics’ MicroWire Sensor, no structural flaws are introduced—so there is no loss of material strength – while enabling real-time, in-flight or in-operation monitoring across a wide temperature range.
This provides significant benefits for defence applications, enhancing preventive and predictive maintenance in critical systems such as missile airframes, UAVs, drones, and naval hulls. An additional advantage is the use of low-frequency interrogation, making the sensors especially attractive in sensitive defence environments where robustness and signal reliability are crucial.
In parallel, we are developing a stand-alone product line: a standardized, defence-compliant electronic platform combined with a universal carbon composite sensor patch for temperature and load monitoring. Unlike embedded solutions that require longer adoption cycles, this patch can be easily attached to critical areas, offering clients immediate monitoring capabilities anytime, anywhere.
This initiative complements our core business of custom sensor development based on our patented technology, while also representing a strategic shift toward a scalable product offering. To support this, we are now focusing on the essential steps of product certification and establishing distribution channels to accelerate adoption in the defence market."
- How did the company get started?
"RVmagnetics was founded in 2015 in Košice, Slovakia, by Prof. Dr. Rastislav Varga, a physicist and scientist with over 3,000 citations.
The idea originated during his postdoctoral research in Madrid in 2002. After twelve years of research across universities and academies of sciences in Košice, Madrid, San Sebastián, Oviedo, and Vienna, Prof. Varga demonstrated by 2014 that the concept had evolved into a fully functional microsensor.
Backed by venture capital investors who believed in the vision, he established RVmagnetics in 2015. Since 2019, the results of this research have been successfully commercialized worldwide, and in recent years, we have had the privilege of working with Fortune 500 companies.
The company is not a university spin-off, although many of our colleagues are engaged in academic activities as we employ 15 PhD’s. Our company also partners (mainly) with European academic institutions and has a certificate to provide doctoral education for young researchers.
This year, we proudly celebrated the company’s 10th anniversary – marking a decade of turning pioneering research into global innovation."
- Was your company already positioned as a dual-use company before DIANA? Why did you decide to apply to the programme?
"We have been actively pursuing projects in the civilian sector, ranging from sensorics for electric motor monitoring across diverse industries to smart composites in aviation and space applications. Since our sensors are inherently industry-agnostic, we are seeing growing demand from a wide spectrum of fields, including medical technologies, IIoT, battery manufacturing, oil & gas, and beyond.
Because our groundbreaking technology enables superior monitoring of defence systems, it provides a distinct competitive advantage. MicroWire sensing technology is designed to operate under extreme conditions, making it a preferred solution for critical defence applications.
To further strengthen this position, we applied to NATO DIANA to showcase our unique sensor technology, engage with key defence stakeholders, and explore collaborations aimed at advancing next-generation defence systems."
- How does your tech differ from competitors?
"RVmagnetics’ groundbreaking MicroSensor technology enables contactless measurements under extreme conditions, operating reliably from –269 °C to +500 °C. Unlike conventional sensors, it functions with low interrogation frequencies and requires only a simple data acquisition device, while providing multi-parameter sensing in real time.
What sets our solution apart is its effectiveness in harsh environments where traditional sensors either fail or deliver inaccurate data. This makes it uniquely suited for applications ranging from aerospace and defence to energy, healthcare, and advanced industrial systems.
In addition, the Microwire’s microscopic size and non-invasive integration allow it to be embedded directly into materials without compromising structural integrity. This opens possibilities for structural health monitoring, predictive maintenance, and smart material design that competitors cannot match, offering both performance advantages and significant cost savings over the lifecycle of assets."
- What has been your biggest success or milestone to date since starting the DIANA programme? How did participation in DIANA’s programme help make this possible?
"Since joining the NATO DIANA programme, we have achieved several important milestones. From a technology perspective, we advanced R&D on selected projects, developed a defence-compliant demonstrator to support faster customer Proof-of-Concepts, and successfully integrated MicroWires into glass and carbon fibre and also into Kevlar. We also progressed in wire development, elevating both the 15–30 µm category and thinner wires (8–12 µm) to new performance levels.
From an administrative perspective, preparing the company for compliance has been a major task in itself. The DIANA programme has been instrumental in guiding us through regulatory complexities, necessary certifications, and building the competences required to become a trusted supplier within the defence supply chain.
Finally, on the business development side, DIANA has helped us refine our messaging and learn to communicate in the “defence language.” This has accelerated our interactions with defence contractors and subcontractors, significantly increasing both the visibility of our company and the level of interest in our technology."
- What is next on the horizon for your company, or is there another milestone in the future you are excited about?
"In the coming months, we are preparing to launch our Series A funding round, which will mark an important milestone in our growth journey. At the same time, we are excited to share results from independent testing of our technology under cryogenic conditions and exposure to ionising radiation, further validating its robustness for demanding environments.
On the client side, we are progressing toward a full-scale solution rollout with a global automotive partner, which represents a major step in bringing our technology into real-world, large-scale applications.
Beyond RVmagnetics, we have also founded a sister company, RVactuators, dedicated to developing Shape Memory Alloy microactuators that surpass the capabilities of Nitinol. This initiative opens new horizons for applications across multiple industries. We have already begun work on aviation and space-related projects, areas where our solutions have the potential to make a significant impact."