UoH Start-Up Develops THz Technology to Test Food Freshness

Hyderabad: A research-led start-up from the University of Hyderabad (UoH) is developing terahertz (THz) technology to test the freshness of food without destroying the sample. UH Energy Teratech Solutions Pvt. Ltd., co-founded by Dr Chandan Ghorui, a Prime Minister’s Research Fellow from the School of Physics of the university, is working on devices that combine THz radiation with AI for non-invasive testing of dairy and agricultural products. The company operates out of T-Hub in Hyderabad and was recently featured at the PMRF Researchers to Entrepreneurs Conclave in Delhi.

Dr Ghorui’s work stems from his doctoral research under Prof A.K. Chaudhary. Their collaboration led to the development of prototypes that now support both food processing and defence applications. His project, focused on THz generation using nonlinear crystals and the creation of a RADAR system, received backing through the PMRF programme and has since grown into a full-fledged startup venture.

The technology has gained long-term institutional support from the DRDO through Acrhem and the Defence-Academia CoE, both housed at the UoH. The team is also exploring the use of THz radiation in energy harvesting and space-related applications, combining engineering precision with scientific discovery.

Prof. Chaudhary described the achievement as a matter of institutional pride, noting that such initiatives offer a clear path from laboratory experiments to tangible, socially relevant outcomes. Dr Ghorui credited the PMRF scheme, his supervisor, and the broader university ecosystem for backing the work through every stage.