Scientific association · Applied research & systems engineering

Hydrogen, cryogenics, quantum and space components, from requirements to certifiability.

SMLab supports companies, research centres and institutions in the definition, development and safety assurance of advanced technological systems — specializing in liquid hydrogen, aerospace, UAVs, power electronics and dual-use applications.

Capabilities & services Research projects
In synergy with IIT CSFT @ Politecnico di Torino Environment Park · Turin
Illustration of a liquid-hydrogen cryogenic tank, a UAV platform and power electronics
1stCryogenic LH₂ bench for space
8Areas of expertise
8Modular support services
−253°COperational liquid hydrogen
Areas of expertise

Cross-cutting coverage of the technology chain

From requirements definition to system safety and certifiability, SMLab masters eight complementary specialist domains.

Hydrogen and cryogenic systems

Liquid hydrogen (LH₂) storage, boil-off management under static and dynamic conditions, cryogenic tank integration, fuel-cell chains, mass-energy balances and cryogenic test benches.

Aeronautics and space

Members' expertise in mission requirements, component qualification and verification in a representative environment for aeronautical and space applications, including LH₂ component testing.

Systems engineering and requirements

Requirements engineering, ConOps, allocation to subsystems, requirements traceability matrices (RTM), interface management and the definition of KPIs and acceptance criteria.

Safety engineering and compliance

Process risk analysis (HAZID/HAZOP), mitigation measures, regulatory framework (ATEX, EASA, UAS regulation), gap analysis and certification/airworthiness roadmap.

UAV systems and propulsion

Mission profiles (payload, altitude, endurance), electric fuel-cell propulsion architectures, platform integration and dual-use operational scenarios.

Power electronics and energy management

Design of conversion and energy-management chains, storage (supercap/LIC), impedance matching and energy harvesting for low-power systems.

Cybersecurity and resilience

Compliance with NIS2, ISO/IEC 27001 and NIST frameworks, critical-infrastructure security and assessments for dual-use and defence contexts.

Programmes and project management

Design and reporting on regional, national and European instruments (Horizon, EDF, ERDF, regional calls), consortium and ATS management.

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Explore the capabilities and the eight services delivered modularly →
Ongoing area of analysis
In progress

Quantum technologies

SMLab is analysing quantum sensing and superconducting quantum technologies as an emerging capability — a natural extension of its cryogenic expertise, in synergy with IIT CSFT @ Politecnico di Torino and the PiQuET platform for quantum technologies.

Quantum Key Distribution: single-photon transmitter, quantum channel and receiver
Research experience

E.W.Q — Quantum cryptography & key distribution

SMLab has explored quantum cryptography and Quantum Key Distribution (QKD): the on-demand generation of single photons and their manipulation in integrated photonic circuits, exploiting the intrinsically random nature of quantum objects to protect communication channels against eavesdropping.

  • On-demand single-photon sources (SPS), detectors and optical elements for a secure communication platform.
  • Integrated photonic devices for efficient, reliable sources of indistinguishable single photons.
  • QKD architecture and protocol study (BB84), with a laboratory demonstrator and simulation.
  • Hardware/software interfacing of the SPS device toward an optical-fibre quantum channel.
Services offered

Eight services, delivered modularly

SMLab offers consortia and research programmes a composable technical-scientific support, from the system baseline to reporting.

1

Requirements engineering and ConOps

Elicitation and formalization of requirements, ConOps development and definition of the system baseline.

2

System architecture and allocation

Derivation of quantitative requirements, allocation to subsystems (LH₂ tank, fuel cell, propulsion chain) and interface management.

3

Safety analysis

HAZID/HAZOP studies, risk analysis (venting, leak, in-flight boil-off) and definition of mitigation measures.

4

Regulatory compliance and certification

Regulatory mapping (ATEX, EASA, UAS), certifiability gap analysis and a certification/airworthiness roadmap at increasing TRL.

5

H₂ and cryogenics technical analysis

Support to mass-energy balances, boil-off characterization and assessment of hydrogen-chain performance.

6

KPIs, traceability and V&V

KPIs, acceptance criteria, traceability matrix and verification & validation plans.

7

Business case and dual-use positioning

Contribution to the business case as a market enabler and support to the dual-use and defence dimension.

8

Project management and reporting

Support to the design, management and reporting of funded activities.

Enabling infrastructure

The first cryogenic test bench for LH₂ components

At Environment Park in Turin, SMLab manages the commissioning of the first cryogenic test bench dedicated to testing components for space applications in liquid hydrogen — a distinctive asset for qualifying components in a representative environment.

  • Access to and management of the liquid-hydrogen (LH₂) laboratory at Environment Park
  • Instrumentation for characterizing hydrogen and cryogenic systems, with experimental boil-off data from the HYDROLAB project
  • Equipment for power electronics, prototyping and parametric system modelling
  • A network of collaborations with IIT CSFT @ Politecnico di Torino and industrial and institutional partners
Cryogenic test bench with an LH₂ cryostat and instrumentation panel
Relevant experience

Research projects and dual-use activities

A track record across hydrogen, energy, unmanned platforms and Italian military programmes, consistent with the goals of the programmes in which SMLab operates.

Microalgae photobioreactor producing synthetic jet fuel
Synthetic fuel · Defence

Full SAF — sustainable aviation fuel for military jets

Producing JP8/JP5 jet fuel from microalgae grown on agro-industrial waste. SMLab engineers the bioreactors and manages the programme.

Explore the project →TRL 3→8
PISCO cryogenic wireless sensor node
Space · Components

PISCO — cryogenic sensors & large-format additive space tanks

Piedmont Region programme: wireless self-powered cryogenic sensors for liquid-propulsion turbopumps, and metal additive manufacturing (DED) of a 1:1 Ti6Al4V propellant tank.

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Launch vehicle with electromagnetic emission rings
Space · EMC / EMI

EMC/EMI evaluation of wireless sensors on the launch vehicle

Electromagnetic compatibility analysis (radiated & conducted emissions) ensuring the sensors do not interfere with a Vega-C-class launcher's critical systems.

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Carbon nanotube patch on an aircraft wing
Materials · Defence

Aircraft nanotechnology reinforcement and structural restoration

Nanostructured "repair" materials based on CNTs to restore the structural integrity of military aircraft — up to ~98% of the initial behaviour.

Explore the project →TRL 4
Microbial fuel cell schematic
Energy · Bio-electrochemistry

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) — new technology for energy generation

Direct conversion of the energy in organic substrates into electricity by micro-organisms, at ambient temperature and without gas treatment.

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Autonomous underwater vehicle and a network of MFCs
Underwater · Defence

MFCs for powering sensors on autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs)

MUES / PNRM programme: electricity drawn directly from seawater to increase the operating persistence of AUVs.

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Aircraft tyre cross-section with MEMS sensor
MEMS · Aeronautics

Military aircraft tyres — monitoring of operating conditions

MEMS sensors embedded in the tyre to monitor temperature, pressure and loads in real time in the critical bead area.

Explore the project →TRL 5
Filtering membrane for air quality
Environment

Filtered air quality

Research activity on filtration systems and air quality.

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All projects

Browse the full list of research and technology-transfer activities.

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Added value

Why SMLab

Turin skyline with the Mole Antonelliana and the snow-capped Alps in the background
Where we are

Turin — home to Environment Park

SMLab is based at Environment Park (Envipark) in Turin, in synergy with IIT CSFT @ Politecnico di Torino — a reference hub for hydrogen technologies and industrial sustainability.

Photo: Sailko · CC BY-SA 3.0
Contact

Let's talk about your technological system

For contacts and technical details, please reach out to the association.

info@smlab.org +39 011 6688619