Strategic-Technological Analysis of Lopos: European UWB Proximity and Safety Systems
In the spring of 2020, a small Belgian spin-off found itself at the forefront of a global crisis. Lopos BV, born out of research at imec and Ghent University’s IDLab, had spent years developing ultra-wideband (UWB) localization technology in relative obscurity[1][2]. When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, this niche expertise suddenly became invaluable. Lopos rapidly pivoted to create SafeDistance, a pocket-sized UWB wearable that alerts workers when they get too close to each other[3][4]. The device’s hallmark was its precision (15 cm accuracy) and respect for privacy – it measures distances without tracking personal data or requiring any network infrastructure[5][6]. What began as an urgent solution for social distancing soon revealed a broader potential. Lopos’s technology promised not only safer factories and warehouses, but also a glimpse into Europe’s strategic future: homegrown innovations that could strengthen industrial resilience and reduce reliance on foreign tech. From its quiet launch in 2019, this Ghent-based startup has grown into an international provider of “smart proximity” systems[7][8]. Its journey – from academic lab to 30,000 devices deployed worldwide[8] – encapsulates how European deep-tech can tackle immediate challenges while aligning with long-term goals of technological sovereignty. The following report explores how Lopos’s wearable UWB solutions, though designed for civilian safety, tie into Europe’s strategic autonomy objectives and NATO’s drive for innovative defense capabilities.