Hamamatsu Unveils Photonics Innovation Awards: Week in Brief: 2/14/25
FREMONT, Calif., Feb. 14, 2025 — Seagate Technology Holdings plc, a mass-capacity data storage company, has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Intevac, a supplier of thin-film processing systems. The all-cash transaction carries a value of $4 per share. The deal is expected to close this spring. Intevac sold its photonics business unit in Jan. 2022 to EOTECH LLC for $100 million.
TUCSON, Ariz. — Optical and ultrashort pulse laser technologies developer Applied Energetics has opened a new Battle Lab facility designed to test, demonstrate, and advance emerging laser technologies in dynamic environments. Located in the University of Arizona Tech Park and adjacent to the company's headquarters, the Battle Lab is also expected to provide the capacity to manufacture and integrate advanced lasers as Applied Energetics makes the technology transition to the next stage of its lifecycle. Patrick Roumayah, who previously served as a senior scientist for the company, has been appointed director of the Battle Lab, system integration and test.
Hamamatsu’s Photonics Innovation Awards will be announced at LASER World of PHOTONICS 2025 in Munich and include a €10,000 (~$10,427) cash prize. Courtesy of Hamamatsu Photonics.
HERRSCHING AM AMMERSEE, Germany — Hamamatsu Photonics has launched the Photonics Innovation Awards, an initiative aiming to foster innovation through concepts that leverage photonics technology across industries and potentially turn them into market-ready solutions, according to the company. The inaugural awards, which will be announced at LASER World of PHOTONICS 2025, are open to startups, OEMs, and established industries and ask for proposed solutions addressing critical challenges including sustainability, healthcare, and autonomous driving. Winners will receive a €10,000 cash prize, one year of promotional support to help develop their projects, and access to Hamamatsu’s pilot line service.
LAFAYETTE, Colo. — Xairos Systems, Inc., a developer of global resilient space-based timing architecture, has been selected by SpaceWERX, the innovation arm of the U.S. Space Force, for a Direct-to-Phase II contract. The $1.9 million award will support Xairos' focus on demonstrating fusion position, navigation, and timing of quantum and optical synchronization of clock ensembles to address challenges in the Department of the Air Force. Xairos’ team recently completed a preliminary design review while working along side partners Luminous Cyber Corporation and Eritek Inc.
KISTA, Sweden — Photonics and wireless technologies company Siver Semiconductors AB has signed a strategic memorandum of understanding (MOU) with an undisclosed optical infrastructure solutions company for large-scale AI workloads to enable volume production of high-performance laser arrays. The MOU includes a program worth $4.3 million to focus on production qualification, high-volume manufacturing readiness, and preproduction units for system testing and field trials.
REDMOND, Wash. — Lumotive, a programmable optical semiconductor technology developer, has formed a strategic partnership with 3D solid state lidar manufacturing facility E-Photonics to spearhead advanced manufacturing of lidar and 3D sensing technologies in Saudi Arabia. E-Photonics will leverage Lumotive's light control metasurface technology to develop and manufacture next-generation 3D sensing solutions for robotics, drones, and smart infrastructure applications. The company is set to introduce two lidar products that use Lumotive's solid-state beam steering technology.
COLLEGE PARK, Md. — Quantum computing and networking company IonQ has entered into a partnership with General Dynamics Information Technology (GDIT) to combine GDIT’s deep technical and government agency mission expertise with IonQ’s quantum technology. The companies will co-develop and market advanced quantum processing and networking applications to address high-impact use cases, including quantum AI extensions, resource optimization, and anomaly detection. This collaboration aims to deliver transformative capabilities for federal and state governments. The partnership builds on one made earlier this year between IonQ and GDIT and a major intelligence agency to advance its quantum readiness.
Topcon and Pix4D have entered into an agreement that includes Topcon becoming an authorized distributor of Pix4D’s photogrammetry software portfolio. Courtesy of Topcon.
LIVERMORE, Calif. — Distributor of precision measurement and workflow solutions Topcon Positioning Systems and photogrammetry software developer Pix4D have entered into a strategic agreement that includes Topcon becoming an authorized distributor of Pix4D’s photogrammetry software portfolio. The agreement enables customers to access Pix4D’s advanced photogrammetry software solutions through Topcon’s established global distribution network, streamlining the procurement process for end-users while ensuring comprehensive technical support.
ROTTERDAM, Netherlands — Nearfield Instruments, a provider of metrology and inspection solutions, has established Nearfield Instruments USA Inc., a U.S. subsidiary. Nearfield Instruments USA Inc. specializes in high-precision, nondestructive metrology and inspection solutions that enable semiconductor manufacturers to achieve accuracy in process control at the nanoscale. The move strengthens the company’s presence in North America, allowing it to better support customers in the region and includes the opening of several office and technical locations throughout the year.
TOKYO — FUJIFILM Corporation plans to invest 4 billion yen ($26.2 million) in its site in Antwerp, Belgium, to expand its production capacity. The subsidiary, FUJIFILM Electronic Materials (Europe) N.V., will introduce new production facilities for chemical mechanical planarization slurries and will enhance the production facilities for developers used in the photolithography process. The new slurry production facilities and the enhanced developer production facilities are both scheduled to start operation in the spring of 2026.
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