#Japan #Lithium-ion #Chiyoda #SparkEye #Eii

Eii’s SparkEye® Awarded Special Prize for Fire Prevention

The impact of Lithium-Ion batteries (LiBs) in today's technology cannot be overstated; however, they pose significant fire risks, particularly in waste processing facilities and recycling plants. Eii Corporation, headquartered in Chiyoda, Tokyo, has proposed an innovative solution to this pressing issue. Their advanced AI fire detection system, SparkEye®, has been recognized for its effectiveness, winning the Environmental Minister's Special Award during the 9th Infrastructure Maintenance Awards. This award underscores the importance of robust fire prevention strategies in minimizing the hazards associated with LiBs.

Overview of the Award

The Infrastructure Maintenance Awards serve to highlight excellence in maintenance practices and technological developments aimed at enhancing the societal infrastructure. The awards encourage the promotion of initiatives by various stakeholders, including businesses, organizations, and researchers, to invigorate the maintenance industry.
The application period for this year’s awards ran from May 14 to July 16, featuring 332 submissions. Following a comprehensive evaluation by a panel of experts led by Professor Ichiro Iwaki from Nihon University, the final selections were made, including one entry awarded the Minister of Environment Prize and one special award from the Ministry of the Environment.

Special Award Ceremony

• - Date: January 21, 2026, from 14:00 to 15:00
• - Location: 10th Floor, Meeting Room, Central Government Building No. 3, Kantei, Kasumigaseki 2-1-3, Chiyoda, Tokyo

What is SparkEye®?

In light of the frequent fire outbreaks caused by LiB, immediate detection and suppression are paramount. SparkEye® utilizes advanced image recognition AI to automatically detect sparks and flames within just 0.05 seconds by analyzing camera footage. This timely response system enables alerts and interfaces seamlessly with automatic sprinklers to mitigate both fire initiation and spread.

The detection method allows for installation behind glass or acrylic, making it suitable for monitoring critical fire-prone areas, such as around shredders and on conveyor belts. Furthermore, the data captured through detection—including images, timestamps, and detection start/end times—can be visualized, aiding onsite analysis and future prevention strategies. To date, over 40 units of SparkEye® have been deployed across various municipalities and private enterprises in Japan, significantly curtailing fire risks where installed.

System Configuration of SparkEye®

SparkEye's architecture permits flexibility and scalability to meet diverse operational demands, ensuring effective monitoring in waste processing areas where fire hazards are prevalent.

Diverse Fire Detection Solutions

Eii offers two types of fire detection solutions responsive to different environmental conditions. Alongside SparkEye® for sparks and flames, Eii also provides SmokeScanner®, targeting smoke detection for comprehensive safety coverage in facilities.






Note: The number of connected devices may require corresponding server specifications and configurations.

Future Developments: SaaS-Based Fire Detection Platform

Eii is committed to further enhancing the capabilities of fire detection systems. They are currently developing a SaaS-based AI Fire Detection Platform that will enable centralized management of detection nodes across different sites, aiming for a 2026 launch. This innovative platform ensures real-time monitoring, setting adjustments, and remote notification systems, enhancing operational efficiency.

Expansion Plans: Subsidy Support

To promote the adoption of fire prevention technologies, Eii supports users in leveraging various subsidy programs from the Ministry of the Environment and local governments for the installation of their detection systems, SparkEye® and SmokeScanner®. This initiative aims to streamline the integration process and alleviate the financial burden of implementation.

Pricing Information

• - SparkEye®: Regular price of ¥4.9 million (for 2 AI cameras, additional installation fees apply)
• - SmokeScanner®: Regular price of ¥8.2 million (for 4 AI cameras, additional installation fees apply)

Related Links

• - Ministry of the Environment Announcement
• - Eii's SparkEye
• - Eii's SmokeScanner
• - Ministry of the Environment LiB Partners

About Eii Corporation

Established in December 2018, Eii is a research-oriented startup specializing in advanced technologies such as AI/IoT and robotics. The company focuses on solving real-world challenges in the environment and energy sectors by developing comprehensive system solutions.

Company Overview

• - Company Name: Eii Corporation
• - Website: https://eii-net.co.jp
• - Location: 4F, Sobo 2nd Building, 1-23 Kanda Nishikicho, Chiyoda, Tokyo
• - CEO: Hao Gu
• - Established: December 28, 2018
• - Business Activities: Development and sales of next-gen AI robots, research on large multimodal models, and development and sales of AI/IoT solutions in the environment and energy sectors.