New investments
New investments, Tech

Global AI leader Sentiance opens a new research & development center in Vilnius

October 10, 2017

The Belgian company Sentiance, a global leader in AI powered technology for behavioural intelligence is establishing an office in Vilnius.

Sentiance is a data science company that uses data science and machine learning algorithms to analyse low-level sensor data from smart objects in order to better understand human behaviour and context. Sentaince captures sensor data from smartphones (location, time, acceleration, gyroscope), wearables (biometrics) and in-home sensors (in-room activity).

Within the next three years, the company plans to employ about 30 data scientists and highly qualified system software specialists in its new research and development unit in Vilnius.

“We decided to establish our new center in Vilnius after we discovered the high competence and skills of Lithuanian professionals. We also care deeply about the quality of life in Vilnius that will guarantee the long term stability of our team. The time difference between Lithuania’s capital city and Belgium which is just one hour. This will ensure timely communication between our unit in Vilnius and our headquarters in Antwerp,” said Toon Vanparys, CEO of Sentiance.

The Sentiance technology that enables businesses with contextual intelligence consists of a data processing platform run by algorithms based on machine and deep learning principles. It conveniently provides information about end users to customers, who are then able to make data-driven business decisions. Based on the collected and processed data, Sentiance is able not only to draw a general profile of all users but even to create an individual profile of a specific user.

“Here is an example to make it easier to understand how the platform works. Some of the world’s leading ride-sharing companies, insurance and fleet management companies use the Sentiance platform to score the driving behaviour of their drivers based on the sensors in the drivers’ smartphones. These sensors measure how smooth, anticipative and legal they drive. And they measure how distracted drivers are by analyzing the movement of the smartphone.

The company is then able to establish the driver’s risk level based on his/her driving behaviour and can then increase or reduce insurance premiums, coach its drivers and make them drive more responsibly.” said Mr. Vanparys.

Sentiance’s technology is used in insurance, health, mobility, smart home, connected car and commerce applications.

“Lately Lithuania has become an attractive place for research and development units traditionally employing a few specialists but with very high professional qualifications. This not only contributes to the competence of the local ecosystem but also provides new opportunities to avail of the potential for Lithuanian specialists in the global development of advanced technologies,” said Mindaugas Sinkevičius, Minister of Economy.

Sentiance has offices in Antwerp, London, New York and Shanghai with over 50 employees. Almost 80% of the company’s employees have a PhD and/or academic experience in systems learning, neuroscience, big data, artificial intelligence and other areas.  This year, Vincent Spruyt, the company’s Chief Data Scientist, was recognized by the prestigious MIT Technology Review as one of the leading innovators in Europe.

“As far as technology is concerned, Sentiance can be compared to other market players that have research and development units in Lithuania such as Uber, Unity and Braendler Engineering. Sentiance’s decision to establish itself in Lithuania not only demonstrates the country’s readiness for the development of data science-based solutions but also contributes to the growth of this still developing industry,” said Mantas Katinas, CEO of Invest Lithuania.

Sentiance was founded in 2015 and has already attracted EUR 15.6 million in investments for further development. The major investors include Volta Ventures, Samsung, QBic and KPN Ventures.

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Aistė Žebrauskienė
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    Aistė Žebrauskienė Press Officer
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