MyFox and LAAS-CNRS, a winning private/public partnership rewarded

Myfox, a young start-up that has become a major player in security and home automation for the general public in Europe

MyFoX is an independent French company founded in 2005 as part of a research and development program initiated in 2003 and carried out in partnership with LAAS-CNRS, the Laboratory for Systems Analysis and Architecture, a CNRS unit located in Toulouse.Together, MyFox and LAAS-CNRS have developed a revolutionary intrusion sensor, controllable from a mobile terminal, enabling remote surveillance and security of residential or business premises, anywhere, anytime, from any computer or smartphone connected to the Internet.

This revolutionary sensor project had been conceived, long before MyFox was founded, by Jean Prunet, then a metalworker and director of Sotralu. Mr. Prunet did not have all the skills needed to develop such a solution. So he approached LAAS-CNRS, whose research focus is on modeling, designing and controlling complex, heterogeneous systems interacting with other systems or with humans, with a strong desire to address issues with a view to concrete, future applications. Following the sale of Sotralu, the manager’s family purchased the R&D part of the business, including the prototype solution, and happily embarked on its development and marketing.

With the consumer at the heart of its approach, the company has established its leadership in innovation in consumer home automation and security in just a few years, and has established itself as one of the major players in the sector, with nearly 10,000 control units and over 100,000 products sold in 2012. The company generated sales of €6 million in 2012, 10% of which were exported via distributors, and employs 35 people.

A successful encounter with public research, close to the needs of companies

Jean Marc Prunet, CEO of MyFox, spontaneously mentions the human factor to explain the success and durability of this partnership. In his view, having worked with Daniel Estève, Director of Research, and Jean-Yves Fourniols, Project Manager at LAAS-NRS, was decisive in terms of understanding the challenges, mindset and constraints of a start-up, and of the business world in general.

Mr. Jean Marc Prunet also appreciated the adaptability of LAAS-CNRS. This partnership was atypical of a traditional research program, since the project/concept had been provided by the company, which was looking for the prototyping capabilities and technical skills of the public body in its partnership.

Since then, cooperation between the two companies has continued, notably in the development of the second-generation sensor, currently being finalized, and should be strengthened with an even more ambitious project.

Towards a joint laboratory with CNRS

According to Jean Marc Prunet, product life cycles are becoming shorter and shorter, and product launches are accelerating. The constant search for innovation is fundamental, and massive investment in R&D is essential. This priority for MyFox has recently been reflected in the desire to deepen the existing partnership with the CNRS. In September 2013, MyFox and the CNRS jointly submitted an application to the French National Research Agency (ANR) for funding for a joint laboratory dedicated to the SmartHome concept. The aim is to develop an activity sensor model within the home, enabling analysis of home activity, better management of the home and better anticipation of anomalies.

With such ambition, MyFox should be able to pursue its conquest of international markets.