Advancing automotive safety with face authentication, driver monitoring, and NIR-based sensing

Organic Origins: Formed through a culture of creativity, trinamiX continues to redefine what’s possible.

The seed of trinamiX was first planted inside BASF SE when a team of scientists made an unexpected discovery working with organic solar cells. While the discovery was purely by chance, it soon turned out to be a revolutionary feature.

The team knew right away that this discovery was worth full attention and dedication. So, in 2015, trinamiX GmbH was spun off and founded as a wholly owned subsidiary of BASF to turn discoveries into solutions.

“We get truly excited whenever we find the solution to a problem that others haven’t been able to solve, and we don’t stop until we’re there. You could say that redefining what’s possible is what drives us at trinamiX,” says Wilfried Hermes, Director of Consumer Electronics & Automotive in North America and Europe. “One of the earliest examples is the development of our infrared (IR) detectors: during the development of one of our first prototypes, we were searching for a wafer-thin IR sensor with very specific features. When we couldn’t find it in the market and were told that it was nearly impossible to create, we invented one. Today, our thin-film encapsulation technology is patented and used in various home and industrial applications.”

In the early days after trinamiX was founded, the team faced a pivotal moment following their initial discovery. They recognized the potential of their technology but were uncertain about how to apply it effectively. It was a tech-push situation, yet they held a strong belief in the value of prototypes. Their motto became “build demos, not slides,” reflecting their conviction that seeing was believing.

Automotive applications came up early in their discussions, but they understood the challenges ahead. The automotive market was known for its high standards, long lead times, and need for large quantities. Despite these hurdles, they decided to take a practical step.

“One day, we visited a local car dealership and bought a headlamp, aiming to integrate one of our prototypes into it”, said Hermes. “After a lot of careful work and adjustments, we created our first automotive demonstrator. It wasn’t a grand success, but it served its purpose as a basic proof of concept, and together with our prototypes from the area of consumer electronics, it convinced our management to provide funding.”

Tip of the Iceberg

The initial prototype led to the development of more advanced models over time. They formed partnerships and learned valuable lessons along the way, but the fascination with the automotive sector persisted and trinamiX continues to innovate to this day—and beyond.

Take, for example, the company’s busy week during CES 2025, with demonstrations of new technologies focused on improving the health and safety of drivers – and people – everywhere. One breakthrough shared at the event was trinamiX’s “Invisible Biometric Sensing Display,” a driver monitoring system with integrated sensor developed jointly with Continental group sector Automotive, which has recently become the independent company AUMOVIO. The display tracks the vital signs and biometrics of passengers, reliably detects properly routed seatbelts, and creates a 3D depth map for safe airbag adjustments.

At the IAA Mobility 2025 in Munich, Germany, a key focus has been a very special feature: non-invasive measurement of blood alcohol levels in the car with NIR spectroscopy.

“We have developed a sensor that measures alcohol levels in a subject,” Hermes shared. “Our NIR spectroscopy method detects blood alcohol content non-invasively under the skin and is just as reliable as a breathalyzer. The idea is that if we can implement this technology into vehicles, drunk driving can become a thing of the past.”

Support System

While it can be very difficult to build up a customer base as a start-up, trinamiX had the benefit of not only bringing over former BASF experts and their previously cultivated relationships but also having the backing from the parent company as new developments progressed.

“Our DNA comes from BASF,” Hermes said. “In industries such as automotive, where BASF has a vast portfolio of offerings and relationships with OEMs, suppliers and other stakeholders, we work together to get our services on the customers’ radars. However, like any good parent, BASF also offers trinamiX the independence to pave their own path.”

Enthusiasm: contagious and unbroken

Although trinamiX has grown significantly, the entrepreneurial start-up spirit that resulted in its creation is still at its core.

“When we first started off, we truly were just a group of enthusiasts, visionaries, techies,” Hermes said. “I remember when we got our first customer, which resulted in a deal worth about $600 – we celebrated like we had signed a deal for a million bucks! As we’ve grown, we’ve retained that same passion while adding different skill sets and different perspectives. An innovation won’t go very far if you don’t have a team dedicated to scaling it, a team dedicated to marketing it, a team dedicated to selling it, and so on. 800+ patents and patents applications wouldn’t be possible if it weren’t for the incredible talent we’ve added since 2015, and thus, our team truly is redefining what’s possible.”