BEHOLDER Project
IDEAS Science Ltd.
Who we are
IDEAS Science Ltd. (IDEAS) is a Hungarian technology development and consultancy company supporting the non-profit sector, government institutions and international research collaborations. Our focus is on applying digital technologies to enhance security, resilience and sustainability.
Participation in BEHOLDER
We joined the BEHOLDER project to apply our research and technological expertise to real-world challenges in public space protection. BEHOLDER offers a unique opportunity for collaborative innovation, enabling us to work closely with leading partners, end-users and stakeholders across Europe to address urgent CBRN-E threats.
Role in the Project
As a core partner, IDEAS combines scientific expertise with practical innovation by developing smart sensor solutions for urban safety. We design and integrate systems to monitor chemical and biological risks in public spaces, serving as a core integrator for the consortium’s security platform. Our work focuses on enhancing smart city infrastructure and strengthening community protection through innovative research and integration efforts.
Collaboration with Partners
We work in close partnership with other BEHOLDER partners through regular working group meetings two to three times a week. Collaborating with end-users allows us to receive immediate, relevant feedback on operational needs and requirements. Our technologies are tested both in real-time project demonstrations and in our own laboratory-based testing environment to ensure reliability and readiness before field deployment.
Innovation
IDEAS brings new technological approaches to BEHOLDER by developing and integrating biological detection and monitoring systems that use holography, advanced sensors, and artificial intelligence for robust anomaly detection. We also promote open-source data standards and interoperability to support seamless integration and flexible deployment across diverse urban environments.
Expected Outcomes
Through BEHOLDER, we aim to help deliver a modular, scalable and reliable system that can be seamlessly integrated into urban infrastructure such as smart furniture and public spaces. Our focus is to ensure that the solutions developed are both technically sound and widely trusted and adopted.
Future Vision
BEHOLDER aligns closely with our strategic direction by expanding the application of HoloZcan technology to public space safety monitoring. Advancing holographic microscopy remains a core long-term mission for IDEAS, particularly in addressing emerging security concerns. Additionally, we are actively innovating in environmental monitoring technologies, an area with significant future business potential.
Other CBRN-E Related Projects
We initiated and coordinated the HoloZcan H2020 project, which developed pioneering holographic microscopy technology for biological threat detection. Many BEHOLDER partners were also involved in HoloZcan, and we continue to build on these results within BEHOLDER.
Staff involved
Györgyi Bela
Györgyi is a lead researcher and managing director at IDEAS, coordinating international R&D projects at the intersection of security and environmental health. She coordinated the H2020 HoloZcan consortium on deep learning–enabled digital holographic microscopy for on-field biothreat detection, and co-produced climate services as a Living Lab coordinator in H2020 I-CISK. Beyond projects, she is active in science diplomacy and research networks, including CERIS and ALTER-Net (former vice-chair of the Network Council).
Béla Mihalik
Béla is a senior software developer and CTO at IDEAS, specializing in medical imaging, real-time image/signal processing, 2D/3D reconstruction and medical information systems, with additional expertise in computer vision and embedded development. He served as Principal Investigator in the HoloZcan project, developing a digital holographic microscope system for bio-threat detection, and is co-inventor on patents including a camera-based spirometer measurement method and an ECG event indicator integrated with pulse oximetry.
Györgyi Bela
Györgyi is a lead researcher and managing director at IDEAS, coordinating international R&D projects at the intersection of security and environmental health. She coordinated the H2020 HoloZcan consortium on deep learning–enabled digital holographic microscopy for on-field biothreat detection, and co-produced climate services as a Living Lab coordinator in H2020 I-CISK. Beyond projects, she is active in science diplomacy and research networks, including CERIS and ALTER-Net (former vice-chair of the Network Council).
Béla Mihalik
Béla is a senior software developer and CTO at IDEAS, specializing in medical imaging, real-time image/signal processing, 2D/3D reconstruction and medical information systems, with additional expertise in computer vision and embedded development. He served as Principal Investigator in the HoloZcan project, developing a digital holographic microscope system for bio-threat detection, and is co-inventor on patents including a camera-based spirometer measurement method and an ECG event indicator integrated with pulse oximetry.
Lili Varga
Lili is a high-potential, early-career research assistant and university student working at the intersection of biology and data science. She contributes to the development and curation of digital holographic microscopy databases, ensuring data quality, structure and usability for research and innovation. In parallel, she supports the analysis of biological samples and holographic image data, helping translate complex microscopy outputs into reliable, data-driven insights for detection and research workflows.