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Never Mine is a graduate of the INNOFENSE Innovation Center operated by iHLS in collaboration with IMoD. This unique acceleration program removes entrance barriers to the technological ecosystem, turning startups into mature, leading companies while connecting them with relevant investors, which is designed to strengthen the links between the civilian and defense markets via the collaborative development of the technologies, thus advancing and improving their integration in both markets.
Across the world, more than 64 countries remain contaminated by landmines and unexploded ordnance — silent threats buried beneath fields, forests, and urban ground. From Ukraine’s 180,000 km² of minefields to Vietnam, Cambodia, Afghanistan, and Israel’s own 215 km² of contaminated land, the danger persists decades after wars have ended. The challenge lies not only in locating these hidden explosives but in doing so safely and efficiently. Current detection methods are painfully slow, labor-intensive, and often ineffective when mines are encased in plastic or buried deep underground.
This is the mission behind Never Mine, a startup developing an innovative solution to dramatically improve how landmines and explosives are detected and cleared. Their groundbreaking product, based on technology originally developed in the wake of the Chernobyl disaster, is a system capable of detecting chemical signatures of explosives, providing up to 99% accurate and fast results.
How Does It Work?
At the core of Never Mine’s solution is a neutron generator-based detection system that can be mounted on different platforms. When the Neutron generator emits neutron pulses, they interact with the ground (and what’s buried underneath it), generating gamma radiation unique to each chemical element. Then, Never Mine’s transformative proprietary algorithm analyzes these gamma emissions in real time, accurately distinguishing explosive compounds such as nitrogen- and hydrogen-based materials, regardless of their casing or concealment depth (up to half a meter), and triangulates the exact location of the mine.
When mounted on a drone flying 20-30 meters above ground, the Never Mine system can scan one square kilometer of land per day, which is hundreds of times faster than conventional approaches that take months for the same area. This speed not only accelerates humanitarian demining efforts but also dramatically improves safety by keeping personnel far from potential detonation zones. Moreover, because the system recognizes the precise chemical fingerprint of explosives, it minimizes false positives and can operate effectively in cluttered, complex, or urban terrains. The process consists of two stages: initial scanning, and post-demining follow-up scanning to verify complete disposal, further enhancing the accuracy.
More Than Just Landmine Detection
Beyond mine detection, Never Mine’s technology holds promise for a wide range of applications. Militaries can use it to monitor borders for smuggled explosives or drugs. Agricultural sectors can benefit from its ability to detect soil composition and nutrient levels, aiding precision farming. And in urban development, especially in post-war regions, where construction is banned on land without proof of being explosive-free, Never Mine’s solution could unlock previously unusable land.
Impressive Accuracy and Flexibility
In laboratory conditions, Never Mine’s system demonstrated a 99% probability of explosive detection even amid heavy background interference — far surpassing the 40–70% real-world accuracy rates typical of existing technologies.
The system can be custom-tuned to different terrains, adjusting altitude, beam width, pulse intensity, and scanning depth. This makes it adaptable to a wide range of environments, from open fields to complex urban settings.
Backed by Experience and Science
The Never Mine team is built on decades of expertise: the company was co-founded by CEO Arkadiy Fidelman, who has over 40 years of experience managing mechanical laboratories in the Technological College of Beer Sheva and as CEO of Green Diesel Ltd., CIO Evgeni Grabov, a mechanical engineer and former senior adviser to the Ukrainian government, Prof. Erez Gilad, Head of Nuclear Engineering Unit in Ben Gurion University. They are joined by Prof. Yuriy Zabulonov, head of the Biochemistry Institute in Ukraine and head of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, who is the head of the project’s development team.
While they have already completed proof-of-concept experiments in Chernobyl, the company is currently seeking funding for prototype testing in real-world setting, which will be done in partnership with Ben-Gurion University.
In an age of growing and persistent conflict, effective mine disposal using Never Mine’s technology could be detrimental. By fusing cutting-edge physics with practical field deployment, NeverMine isn’t just clearing lands, it can save lives.
For additional information, contact [email protected]
