In May, the photonics sector saw significant venture capital activity, particularly among companies leveraging innovative thin-film and surface texturing technologies to enhance optical properties for specific applications.
The most substantial deal in this category was for NIL Technology, a Danish company utilizing nanoimprint lithography to improve the performance of meta-optics for consumer electronics and robotics. The company raised €29 million to scale its manufacturing capabilities in a funding round led by the Export & Investment Fund of Denmark, Jolt Capital, NGP Capital, and Swisscanto Private Equity.
MIT spinout Active Surfaces secured a significant $5.6 million pre-seed round, led by Safar Partners and joined by several other firms. The funds will be used to commercialize lightweight, flexible solar panels developed from years of academic research into thin-film photovoltaics.
Additionally, Mapsi Photonics received a €1.5 million investment from Bullnet Capital to advance its macroporous silicon technology. This technology involves perforating a silicon substrate with electrochemical etching to create infrared filters for industrial applications, such as gas identification and thermal vision.
These investments highlight the growing interest and innovation in the photonics sector, particularly in enhancing and customizing optical materials for diverse applications.
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