On October 8, 2026, The Fourth Law and Odd Systems unveiled Project Foundation, a semiconductor initiative focused on mass-producing uncooled thermal sensors in Europe and the United States. The program seeks to quadruple European thermal sensor output and double American production within three years, with manufacturing expected to begin in 2027. The announcement highlights a transatlantic effort to reduce dependency on external suppliers for critical defense and industrial imaging technology.
Addressing Thermal Sensor Sovereignty
Project Foundation's primary mission is to secure thermal sensor sovereignty for Europe and the United States. It will develop proprietary uncooled long-wave infrared sensors, also known as microbolometers, and build capacity for large-scale production. The project targets applications in drones, vehicles, robotics, and other systems that must operate in darkness or poor visibility.
A Transatlantic Manufacturing Network
The initiative will establish a manufacturing network with its first two fabrication facilities, First Foundation in Europe and Second Foundation in the United States. These sites will share a common technology base and proprietary sensor designs. Project Foundation is headquartered in Eindhoven, one of Europe's leading semiconductor hubs, to draw on regional talent and deeptech infrastructure.
Applying Battlefield Innovation to Industrial Scale
The Fourth Law and Odd Systems were founded in Kyiv in 2023 by serial entrepreneur Yaroslav Azhnyuk and a team of engineers, operators, and veterans. Odd Systems produces the Kurbas thermal camera, the most widely used Ukrainian-made thermal camera on the battlefield, supplied to more than 70 drone manufacturers. This frontline experience gives Project Foundation direct insight into high-volume customer requirements and reliability under demanding conditions.
Financing and Partnership Strategy
Project Foundation plans to fund development through investments from The Fourth Law and Odd Systems, external equity, debt financing, grants, and customer pre-sales. The project has already attracted interest from investors and partners, though specific financing arrangements will be announced after final confirmation. It is also developing partnerships with leading semiconductor and microbolometer research laboratories, technology companies, and major thermal camera users worldwide.
Leadership Perspectives
Igor Nakonechnyi, CEO of Project Foundation, said building thermal cameras demonstrated what manufacturers need from the sensor inside, namely performance, reliable supply, and a price that works at scale. The project is being built around those requirements. He added that sovereign production must be commercially competitive to achieve widespread adoption.
Applications Across Defense and Industry
Thermal imaging has become increasingly important to modern warfare, autonomous systems, and industrial operations. It enables drones, vehicles, and robots to operate in darkness, poor visibility, and challenging environments. Project Foundation aims to remove the bottleneck in affordable sensor access and reliable manufacturing capacity, making thermal imaging technology more widely available.
By combining research expertise with industrial capabilities, Project Foundation aims to make cost-effective microbolometer sensors commercially viable at scale. The initiative takes its name from Isaac Asimov's Foundation series, continuing a group tradition that also includes The Fourth Law's reference to the author's Laws of Robotics. Its planned fabs reflect a longer-term ambition to build durable technological and manufacturing capacity on both sides of the Atlantic.