Samsung Display, Intel Partner to Target Next-Gen AI PC Market: Week in Brief: 2/28/25

GlobalFoundries (GF) has signed a master research agreement with MIT to jointly pursue advancements for enhancing the performance and efficiency of critical semiconductor technologies. The collaboration will be led by MIT’s Microsystems Technology Laboratories and GF’s research and development team, GF Labs. Initial research will focus on AI and other applications with the first projects expected to leverage GF’s differentiated silicon photonics technology and 22FDX® platform to realize power efficiencies for datacenters and deliver decreased power consumption for intelligent devices at the edge, respectively.

CENTENNIAL, Colo. — Industrial blue laser technology developer NUBURU, Inc. has entered into a commitment letter including a transaction with a private equity investment group aimed at expanding its current defense business and establishing a new presence in the security sector. The expansion will be done through multiple acquisitions in two stages including the acquisition of a license and purchase of a 20% ownership interest for an aggregate price of $1.5 million in cash alongside $23.5 million in five-year notes bearing a 10% interest rate, as well as the acquisition of additional ownership interests involving the issuant of greater than 20% of the company’s outstanding common stock as part of the purchase price. The company plans with the first acquisition to develop a new hub focused on defense and security solutions and will embark on acquiring interests in additional technology companies that align with its strategic vision. NUBURU laid out a transformation plan earlier this month, including changes to leadership, as part of a year long saga of drifting in and out of compliance with the New York Stock Exchange.

Vice president of the client computing group at Intel David Feng (left) and executive vice president at Samsung Display Hojung Lee. Courtesy of Samsung Display.

SEOUL, South Korea — Samsung Display has signed a memorandum of understanding with Intel to develop display solutions optimized for Intel’s edge processor chips that enable enhanced AI capabilities. The companies will explore new possibilities in the fields of high-performance IT devices and premium laptops, including AI PCs. Furthermore, the companies intend to apply Intel’s system-on-a-chip technology to Samsung Display’s IT OLED panels to provide component solutions optimized for AI PCs, including high picture quality and low power consumption. Both companies expect to work together at domestic and international exhibitions.

MECHELEN, Belgium — Spectricity, a spectral imaging solutions developer, has opened a new office in Shanghai that will primarily focus on streamlining engineering support and product delivery processes for the Chinese and Asian markets. The company has stated that the expansion will help it to better understand and address the specific demands of these markets with greater speed and efficiency.

GARDNER, Mass. — Manufacturer of optical instruments for the medical and defense industries Precision Optics Corporation has closed its registered direct offering of common stock consisting of 1,272,500 shares at a purchase price of $4.00 per share, resulting in gross proceeds of approximately $5.1 million and expected net proceeds of approximately $5.0 million after deducting offering expenses. Precision Optics has stated that it intends to use the net proceeds from the offering to repay certain indebtedness, expand its facilities to support expected growth, and related general working capital purposes.

The Black Hornet 4 personal reconnaissance system. Courtesy of Teledyne FLIR Defense.

OSLO, Norway — Teledyne FLIR Defense has received an order from the German Army to provide its Black Hornet 4 personal reconnaissance systems to German armed forces, performing as the supplier within a two-year agreement with the Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology, and In-Service Support. Black Hornet 4s provide enhanced covert situational awareness to small fighting units with the ability to fly for over 30 min, more than 2 km, and function in 25-knot winds and rain.

The Laser Interferometer Space Antenna mission aims to deploy a space-based gravitational wave observatory. Courtesy of Exail.

SAINT-GERMAIN-EN-LAYE, France — Industrial robotics company Exail has been awarded a contract with the French Space Agency (CNES) to develop and deliver an ultra-stable laser system for the ground operations of the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) mission set to launch in mid-2030’s. LISA is a space mission jointly funded by the European Space Agency and NASA aiming at deploying a space-based gravitational wave observatory with sensitivity to gravitational waves between 0.1 mHz and 1 Hz. Exail’s laser system will generate laser radiation required for the optical test bench involved in these operations, which CNES is responsible for during ground qualification tests.

Andreas Bollu. Courtesy of Blickfeld.

MUNICH — Blickfeld, a lidar company, has established a security business unit to focus on the increasing importance of 3D lidar technology for modern security systems. The unit will be led by Andreas Bollu who previously served as the team lead for security solutions and an opto-electronics engineer at the company.

SHERBROOKE, Quebec — The Canadian government has invested a total of CAD $8.1 million ($5.6 million) into four entities representing the quantum sector in Sherbrooke, Quebec. These include Distriq — Quantum Innovation Zone Sherbrooke, the Quebec Digital and Quantum Innovation Platform, the Accélérateur de création d’entreprises technologiques, and Nord Quantique. The aim of the financial contributions is to support the adoption, development, and commercialization of quantum technologies and products.

TOKYO — Sumitomo Chemical, a chemistry company, has acquired the asset of a liquid crystal polymer (LCP) neat resin business from Syensqo SA/NV, a materials company, in an effort to expand its LCP business. By utilizing Syensqo's LCP patent and production technology, Sumitomo Chemical expects to expand its product lineup for ICT and mobility applications.