Vector Photonics received more than 2.4 million pounds of equity investment to accelerate the commercialization of semiconductor laser technology

Recently, Vector Photonics, a laser developer based in Glasgow, UK, announced that it had obtained the latest round of equity investment of more than 2.4 million pounds to further commercialize its unique all-semiconductor photonic crystal surface emitting laser (PCSEL) technology.

It is reported that Clean Growth Fund is the leading investor of this round of financing, and Foresight WAE Technology Funds, UK Innovation and Science Seed Fund (UKI2S), Scottish Enterprise, the National Economic Development Agency of Scotland, and Equity Gap, the Angel Investment Alliance, etc. participate in the investment.

(Image source: Vector Photonics)

Vector Photonics is a manufacturer of spectral instrument products derived from the University of Glasgow in the United Kingdom in 2020. It mainly produces III-V semiconductor lasers based on PCSEL technology. Shortly after its establishment, the company received a subsidy of 280000 pounds from the British Government's Innovation UK. Its primary target is the data communication market. It is said that its laser can significantly reduce the power consumption of next-generation data center and co-location optical applications. In the future, its PCSEL technology will also achieve significant performance improvements in metal and plastic 3D printing, laser radar/light detection and ranging (LiDAR) and optical sensing, which are the fastest growing technology markets in the world.

The company's PCSEL (photonic crystal surface emitting laser) has comprehensively improved the manufacturing and performance of semiconductor lasers. Compared with the existing laser technology, it has significant advantages in the rapidly developing technology application market such as data communication and rapid prototyping manufacturing. Under the leadership of CEO Neil Martin, Vector Photonics is accelerating the commercialization of PCSEL technology, aiming to innovate the manufacturing and performance of lasers.

Vector Photonics has formed a world-class technical and commercial team, including the inventor of PCSEL technology itself. It is reported that the company recently hired Peter Linton as a factory application engineer to help the company's global NEM (network equipment manufacturer) customers promote PCSEL design.

Photonic crystal surface emitting laser (PCSEL) technology has the advantages of low cost, high intensity, wide wavelength range and high power, which is conducive to reducing power consumption, delay, size and cost of physical connection, and is expected to completely change the manufacturing and performance of semiconductor lasers. This combination of key characteristics makes them have great advantages over VCSELs (vertical cavity surface emitting lasers) and EEL lasers (edge emitting lasers) commonly used at present. In addition, PCSEL lasers are easy to package and integrate into PCBs and electronic components.

(Image source: Vector Photonics)

Source: OFweek