The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has opened the Quantum Diamond Lab at its Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL). The lab will be devoted to studying and refining the processes involved in using plasma to create diamond material for quantum information science applications. The Quantum Diamond Lab contains chemical vapor deposition machines which use plasma to create diamond material infused with other elements, allowing scientists to create qubits for quantum computing. (From left) PPPL senior strategic advisor Emily Carter, PPPL CEO Tim Meyer, PPPL managing principal research physicist Alastair Stacey, and director for the office of the vice president for PPPL Brandon Thorne. Courtesy of PPPL. LEUVEN, Belgium — MicroLED displays developer MICLEDI Microdisplays has closed a Series A round, bringing the company’s total funding to almost $30 million. Since its seed round, the company validated a 300mm wafer manufacturing methodology and blue and green GAN-based microLED arrays with pixel-by-pixel microlenses in its 300mm flow. MICLEDI will be releasing full-color modules with active backplanes and demo glasses in the first half of 2024. The Omega Laser Facility at the LLE. Courtesy of the University of Rochester. ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The University of Rochester’s Laboratory for Laser Energetics (LLE) will receive $99.4 million in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration’s (NNSA) Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF) program for its Omega Laser Facility for the 2024 fiscal year. The new funding will be used to conduct ICF research in support of the NNSA’s Stockpile Stewardship and Management Program, which maintains the safety, security, and effectiveness of the U.S. nuclear deterrent. Additionally, the funding will allow the facility to continue its research into fusion and the understanding of matter at extreme conditions. RA’ANANA, Israel — DriveNets, a networking solutions provider, and Infinera, an optical connectivity solutions company, have completed the testing and certification of multiple Infinera ICE-X ZR/ZR+ modules that are tunable, configurable, and manageable by DriveNets Network Cloud software. The combined solution offers a converged network infrastructure that will enable operators to lower their operating costs and complexity by reducing the number of network elements that they need to manage. DriveNets plans to announce additional joint solutions in coming weeks. TOKYO — NTT Corporation, a communications company, has established its NTT Innovative Devices Corporation subsidiary, which will focus on developing and manufacturing photonic-electronic convergence (PEC) devices. Formed out of the integration of NTT Electronics and an R&D unit within NTT Laboratories, NTT Innovative Devices will manufacture PEC devices in Japan while operating sales companies in the United States, Europe, Shenzhen, and Hong Kong. It currently has more than 500 employees. An artist’s interpretation of a global laser communication network. Courtesy of TNO. THE HAGUE, The Netherlands — TNO and laser communications company FSO Instruments have entered into 20-year license and cooperation agreements. These agreements give FSO worldwide rights to industrialize and commercialize TNO’s laser satellite communication technology to establish an European ecosystem for laser satellite communication, based in the Netherlands. In addition to a license agreement for current technologies, TNO and FSO Instruments have also agreed to a long-term cooperation for the development of technologies and applications for laser communication. GOLDEN, Colo. — Vescent, a quantum technology developer, has closed a $5 million seed funding round led by Corporate Fuel, with additional participation from Caruso Ventures. The round will serve to expand the company's market reach, scale manufacturing, and introduce new products. The company is a provider of frequency combs, lasers, and controls for quantum timing, quantum computing, quantum networking, and quantum sensing. SEATTLE — Provider of life science tools NanoString Technologies has reached an agreement with health care investment firm Patient Square Capital to purchase substantially all assets of NanoString’s global business operations as a going concern for $220 million. The agreement is part of a sale process under Section 363 of the Bankruptcy Code and is subject to Bankruptcy Court approval and customary closing conditions. A hearing to approve the stalking horse bid and bidding procedures is planned for March 28, with a hearing to approve the sale set for April 22. Cytek Biosciences’ 50,000 sq ft facility in Wuxi, China. Courtesy of Cytek Biosciences, Inc. FREMONT, Calif. — Cytek Biosciences, Inc., a cell analysis solutions company, has opened a new 50,000 sq ft facility in Wuxi, China. In addition to expanding Cytek's manufacturing capabilities, the facility also accommodates Cytek Wuxi operations, research and development, marketing, human resources, and sales teams. Program director of the master applied physics Aurèle Adam lecturing at Delft University of Technology. Courtesy of Delft University of Technology. DELFT, The Netherlands — Delft University of Technology, PhotonDelta, and Optics Netherlands have launched the "MasterPlus" Programme in Optics and Photonics (MPOP) in partnership with other technical universities in the Netherlands. MPOP will be open in September to eligible master’s students in applied physics and electrical engineering. Students of the program will participate in challenge-based projects and internships with companies and startups, including ASML, Signify, SMART Photonics, and LioniX International.