At a glance
| Booth | I3000 |
| Country | GB |
| Website | www.vectorphotonics.co.uk/technology |
Company profile
VECTOR PHOTONICS LIMITED is a University of Glasgow deep-tech spin-out and specialist semiconductor-laser company developing patented Photonic Crystal Surface Emitting Laser (PCSEL) technology, a new type of semiconductor laser that combines high optical power, excellent beam quality, broad wavelength flexibility and low-cost scalable manufacturing in a surface-emitting architecture, with advantages over conventional edge-emitting lasers. The company was formed as a separate business in March 2020 from a University of Glasgow photonics academic group, has proven its proprietary PCSEL technology in both R&D laboratory environments and commercial fabs, and is transferring design and process knowledge into an industrial environment for high-volume manufacture. Its development history includes producing the world’s first all-semiconductor PCSEL, demonstrating simultaneous high power, coherence and phase control in one device, demonstrating 2D optical beam shaping and steering, producing the world’s first 1550nm PCSEL to show telecom potential, and producing PCSELs in a commercial fab to confirm volume-production readiness. VECTOR PHOTONICS LIMITED operates a fabless model that outsources fabrication to semiconductor foundry partners around the world with different design, manufacturing, test, characterisation, volume and production capabilities; the model is intended to add supply-chain resilience, flexibility and scalability, support rapid market introduction and volume increases, reduce bottleneck risk and protect against consolidation, while the company retains design and production know-how through experienced internal engineers. The company lists funding milestones of £2.4m in UK Government grants, £1.6m equity investment, £2.4m equity investment and £3.3m in UK Government grants, and states that it has secured public and private investment and multiple awards recognizing technological innovation and commercial potential. The company cites a 2024 Yole Développement forecast of an $8.9bn combined semiconductor-laser market, including $5.1bn for EELs and $3.8bn for VCSELs, and positions PCSELs as an opportunity across that market while initially focusing on next-generation datacenters and broadening applications in communications, LiDAR, sensing and industrial processing. The company is supported by a team with semiconductor-laser, photonics and commercialisation expertise and, as it moves toward volume deployment, is focused on commercial traction and stronger engagement across the global photonics supply chain.
Exhibits
PCSEL technology supports next-generation communications, including free-space optical links, and VECTOR PHOTONICS LIMITED has used PCSELs to transmit data across the River Clyde; the technology is also positioned for emerging AI and hyperscale data-centre optical interconnects, LiDAR, sensing and industrial processing. The company seeks partnerships with foundries to fabricate PCSELs, joint development with organizations developing CPO and transceivers, joint development of Free Space Optical Communication links for ground and space applications, and systems testing and evaluation with datacentre hardware suppliers. Its PCSEL technology has been demonstrated in both R&D laboratory environments and commercial fabs, supporting the move from device development toward volume deployment and commercial engagement across the photonics supply chain.
Capabilities and products
- PCSEL semiconductor laser technology development
- PCSEL commercial-fab volume-production readiness validation
- PCSEL 2D optical beam shaping and steering
- 1550nm PCSEL telecom laser
- PCSEL free-space optical communications