Active Surfaces Secures $5.6M in Funding for Solar Tech: Week in Brief: 5/17/24
QuEra Computing, a developer of neutral-atom quantum computing technology, has doubled its footprint in Boston by adding another building. The addition, Quera said, addresses growing demand for its quantum computers in the U.S., Europe, and Asia. The additional space supports research, development, and production of multiple quantum computers, as well as providing office space for customer support and administrative functions.
The flexible solar panel developed by Active Surfaces. Courtesy of Active Surfaces.
WOBURN, Mass. — Flexible solar panel MIT spin out Active Surfaces has raised $5.6 million in an oversubscribed pre-seed funding round led by Safar Partners, a deep tech venture capital fund. The funding will go toward scaling the company's laboratory-fabricated 4 in × 4 in photovoltaic devices with roll-to-roll semiconductor printing technologies to enable mass production of thin, flexible solar materials of any size. The devices, Active Surfaces said, can be integrated into virtually any surface.
An overview of newcleo’s lead fast reactor. Courtesy of Exosens.
BRIVE-LA-GAILLADE, France — Photonis, an Exosens brand, and nuclear innovation company newcleo have signed a purchase order under which Photonis will provide development and technical support to explore the deployment of nuclear instrumentation detectors in the reactor core of newcleo's Small Modular Reactor demonstrator. Photonis, in addition to its other offerings, is a manufacturer of neutron detectors. newcleo’s reactor design is a compact and transportable 200Mwe module. The company is currently designing a lead-cooled fast reactor fueled with mixed oxide.
TOKUSHIMA, Japan — LED manufacturer Nichia has launched the Nichia Automotive Innovation Center located in Aachen, Germany. The center will allow for collaboration with industry and the R&D team at the company's headquarters in Japan to develop lighting solutions for improvement of road safety, visual comfort, and energy efficiency, as well as enhancing the aesthetic appeal and functionality of vehicles. It is equipped with an array of laboratory tools for testing, modeling, monitoring, analysis, and rapid prototyping.
TORONTO — POET Technologies Inc., a designer and developer of PICs for data centers, has been selected by Foxconn Interconnect Technology, an interconnect solutions company, to integrate its optical engines into Foxconn's 800G and 1.6T optical transceiver modules. As part of the collaboration, POET will develop and supply its silicon PIC optical engines based on its POET Optical Interposer technology. The company expects to complete the design of the optical engines for Foxconn by Q3 2024 and start optical engine production at its joint venture with Quanzhou Sanan Optical Communication Technology, Super Photonics Xiamen, by Q4 2024.
UbiQD CEO Hunter McDaniel on stage at a NMAEA event in Albuquerque, N.M. Courtesy of UbiQD.
LOS ALAMOS, N.M. — Quantum dot technology manufacturer UbiQD has been awarded $615,000 in funding, comprised of $565,000 from the New Mexico Economic Development Department through the New Mexico Advanced Energy Award (NMAEA) Pilot Program, alongside a $50,000 bonus awarded for delivering the best pitch. The NMAEA rewards selected businesses with significant funding to help turn ideas into practical solutions. The company was also awarded support on May 10 from the New Mexico Job Training Incentive Program to train 10 new hires for an approved sum of $307,000. UbiQD will use the funding to expand its solar energy initiatives in New Mexico.
TRI's new facility. Courtesy of TRI.
TAIPEI, Taiwan — Test Research, Inc. (TRI), a test and inspection systems provider, has opened a R&D and manufacturing facility situated next to its existing manufacturing hub in Linkou, Taiwan. The facility will offer dedicated demo rooms and a new space for workshops and seminars.
(From left) ams OSRAM CEO Aldo Kamper alongside governor of Styria Christoper Drexler, Styrian minister for economic affairs Barbara Eibinger-Miedl, and federal minister of labor and economy Martin Kocher. Courtesy of ams OSRAM.
PREMSTÄTTEN, Austria — Intelligent sensors and emitters developer ams OSRAM has presented plans with the Austrian government and government of Styria to invest a total of €588 million ($639.1 million) in the development of a new production site at ams OSRAM’s headquarters in Premstätten, Austria by 2030. The planned facility will produce highly differentiated optoelectronic sensors for medical and automotive applications. There are also plans to manufacture products for industrial and consumer goods applications. The company expects a total of 250 new jobs to be created in the next few years due to the expansion.
MUMBAI, India — Natural resources company Vedanta Ltd. has acquired AvanStrate Inc., a manufacturer of thin film-transistor liquid-crystal display glass substrates. The acquisition of AvanStrate aligns with Vedanta's adapted business model of pivoting towards technology and diversifying into high-tech manufacturing, while expanding its presence in high-growth markets. According to Vedanta, the acquisition positions the company to establish India's first integrated fab for display glass and panels.
SAINT-ETIENNE, France — Wyse Light, an optical metrology solutions developer, has moved its offices to the Building for High Technology Startups in Saint-Etienne, France. The move will place the company in the vicinity of engineering schools such as the Institut d'Optique Graduate School, Telecom Saint-Etienne, and the Hubert Curien Laboratory, which specializes in optics and AI.
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