Optical telecom technology company POET Technologies reached an agreement with Beijing FeiYunYi Technology (BFYY) to design optical engines for deployment in optical modules in the telecom market globally, beginning in China. The agreement, valued at up to $1 million over two years period, includes nonrecurring engineering for POET and an initial purchase order for 10,000 units that will be used to sample customers. BFYY was recently formed for the purpose of selling modules using POET-designed optical engines sourced from POET’s join venture company, Super Photonics Xiamen. PHOENIX — Quantum Energy Inc., a developer of photonic energy systems for the direct generation and distribution of electrical energy, executed a letter of intent with FlooidCX Corp. (FLCX) to merge the two companies. Post-merger, the combined company will operate under the name Quantum Energy Inc. and will trade on the OTC markets under the existing ticker QREE. LONDON — Quantum Motion, a quantum computing scale-up founded by University College London professor John Morton and Oxford University professor Simon Benjamin, raised more than £42 million ($50 million) in equity funding, led by Bosch Ventures. Funding will be used to establish deeper ties with manufacturing partners and to expand the company’s headquarters. Quantum Motion raised more than $50 million to develop scalable quantum computers using silicon chip technology. Courtesy of Quantum Motion. MONMOUTH JUNCTION, N.J. — Princeton Infrared Technologies was selected by AFWERX, a technology directorate of the Air Force Research Laboratory and the innovation arm of the Air Force, for a $749,961 Small Business Innovation Research Phase II contract. The contract is focused on the development of extended SWIR for hyperspectral imaging on unmanned systems to investigate its potential to fill capability gaps. In this program, a microlens array will be fabricated directly into the detector array substrate to mitigate cost, improve alignment accuracy and structural integrity, and facilitate wafer-scale manufacturing. APOPKA, Fla. — The U.S. Marine Corps awarded Northrop Grumman the initial production and operations contract for the Next Generation Handheld Targeting System (NGHTS). NGHTS is a compact targeting system that provides advanced precision targeting and is capable of operating in GPS-denied environments. The system features three sensors: a color day imager, a low-light imager, and a thermal imager for creating images in total darkness. To create efficiencies and prioritize sustainment, Northrop Grumman designed various parts for NGHTS that can be 3D printed in the field rather sending them elsewhere for repair. NGHTS is a laser-based device that provides enhanced capability to identify and designate targets from extended ranges. Courtesy of Northrop Grumman. DITZINGEN, Germany — TRUMPF completed its assimilation of software startup XETICS, and announced that XETICS’ software solutions will be incorporated into TRUMPF’s Oseon software and that the startup’s workforce will be transferred to TRUMPF software development and to Smart Factory Consulting GmbH, a TRUMPF company founded in 2022. Enhancements to the Oseon software include the addition of a new module for production planning, which is to be launched at the INTEC trade show taking place March 7-10. Graphical depiction of the Pfeiffer Vacuum Future Factory Asslar, expected to be completed in 2024. Courtesy of Pfeiffer Vacuum. AßLAR, Germany — Pfeiffer Vacuum broke ground on an industrial complex at Berliner Strasse. The site expansion, known as the “Future Factory Asslar,” will be constructed at the premises of the current Pfeiffer Vacuum company. The project will expand the company’s manufacturing and logistics capacities. The centerpiece of the development is the 8000-sq-m logistics center with an integrated, fully automated warehouse. A further 1000 sq m will be used to create an additional production area as well as a service environment. The logistics center is expected to be completed in 2024.