Photonics HandbookBusiness
TNO to Build Secondary Mirror for Keck Observatory: Week in Brief: 12/12/25
TORONTO, Dec. 12, 2025 — Xanadu Quantum Technologies signed a memorandum of understanding with the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) in Singapore. The agreement builds on Xanadu’s existing partnership with A*STAR Institute of Microelectronics (A*STAR IME) and extends to include the A*STAR Institute of High Performance Computing (A*STAR IHPC) and A*STAR Quantum Innovation Centre. The partnership aims to advance R&D in quantum technologies, with the goal of establishing long-term research collaborations and exploring the potential of creating joint quantum laboratories and operations in Singapore.
GLASGOW — The Fraunhofer Centre for Applied Photonics secured £8 million ($11 million) from the U.K. Government to accelerate innovation in photonics and quantum technologies. The funding will support the center’s R&D efforts over the next four years. The funding coincides with the U.K.’s partnership with Germany, with a further £6 million in funding to support quantum R&D which will launch next year, each country will contribute £3 million to the fund.
HSINCHU, Taiwan — Semiconductor foundry United Microelectronics Corporation (UMC) and imec established a licensing agreement for the transfer of imec’s iSiPP300 silicon photonics process, featuring co-packaged optics compatibility, to accelerate UMC’s silicon photonics roadmap. The licensed technology will enable UMC to bring 12-in silicon photonics platform to market, targeting next-generation connectivity.
REDMOND, Wash. — Lumotive, a developer of programmable optical semiconductor technology, is undertaking an international expansion along with key leadership hires to meet demand for its Light Control Metasurfaces platform across robotics, industrial automation, and smart-infrastructure markets. The company has established a Center of Excellence in Muscat, Oman, and added an office in Taiwan. Lumotive also appointed Tristan Joo executive vice president of global business, and added Hassan Moussa as vice president of customer engineering and general manager of Lumotive Oman.
TNO’s design for the Keck Observatory’s secondary mirror. Courtesy of TNO.
THE HAGUE, Netherlands — The Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research (TNO) signed its first contract with the W.M. Keck Observatory to initiate the design of Keck’s Adaptive Secondary Mirror. This mirror will use TNO’s patented hybrid variable reluctance (HVR) technology to improve the view of the Keck Observatory on Maunakea, Hawaii, 4145 m above sea level. The project is a collaboration with the Keck community, including the Keck Observatory, the University of California, Caltech, NASA, and the University of Hawaii.
BAE Systems secured a contract with the U.S. Navy worth up to $1.7 billion. Courtesy of BAE Systems.
NASHUA, N.H. — The U.S. Navy has awarded BAE Systems a five-year indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract for APKWS laser-guidance kits to equip U.S. armed forces with tens of thousands of additional low-cost precision munitions. The contract has a maximum value of $1.7 billion, with an initial $322 million order. BAE Systems also secured a $36 million contract from Lockheed Martin to deliver Multifunction Modular Mast systems for integration onto U.S. Navy submarines.
OXFORD, England — Quantum Dice, a U.K.-based quantum photonics and probabilistic computing firm, secured a $2 million grant from the European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator program, with the project officially underway following its October kick-off. The grant will enable Quantum Dice to accelerate the development and commercialization of its probabilistic computing platform, powered by the company’s ORBIT quantum-enabled probabilistic processor. The company was chosen out of 1000 applicants to receive the funding.
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Marvell Technology introduced its Golden Cable initiative, a strategic program designed to accelerate and broaden the active electrical cable ecosystem and enable faster time-to-market for hyperscale(r) AI deployments. The initiative provides a validated cable architecture tested across leading platforms, advanced firmware and calibration data for simplified integration and interoperability, and an open approach that enables partners to scale production rapidly while maintaining design flexibility. It also supports product differentiation by allowing customers to incorporate their own intellectual property for custom features such as cable gauges, bend radius and reach.
AMS Technologies expanded its technology center in Krakow, Poland. Courtesy of AMS Technologies.
PLANEGG, Germany — AMS Technologies, a provider and distributor of optical technologies and thermal management and power electronics solutions, is expanding its technology center for thermal management solutions and electronics as well as advanced manufacturing services in Kraków, Poland with a new facility. The facility brings together engineering and production under one roof, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and accelerating the development of tailored technologies for applications in medical and aesthetics, analytics, and defense.
TOKYO — AGC Inc. will exit business in specialty glass for chemical strengthening. The company is the producer of the Dragontail series, used as cover glass for electronic devices such as smartphones and tablets. The company cited falling market prices and slow order growth in the deterioration of the business’ performance, stating that it had determined that it would be difficult to recover profitability in the future. Manufacturing of the product is scheduled to end in the third quarter of 2026.
Teledyne has been contracted by the U.S. Marine Corps Systems Command to provide more than 600 of its advanced Teledyne FLIR Defense Rogue 1 lethal loitering munitions systems. Courtesy of Teledyne FLIR.
BOSTON — Teledyne FLIR Defense was awarded a $42.5 million contract by the U.S. Marine Corps Systems Command for Delivery Order 3 of its Organic Precision Fires-Light (OPF-L) program. Teledyne FLIR will deliver more than 600 of its advanced Rogue 1 lethal loitering munition systems, along with ground control stations and training kits, for fielding to Marine Corps units starting this summer.
COLLEGE PARK, Md. — IonQ, through its subsidiary ID Quantique, deployed Slovakia’s first national quantum communication network. Developed in partnership with the Institute of Physics, Slovak Academy of Sciences (IPSAS), the system features a resilient hybrid architecture designed to strengthen the country’s cybersecurity infrastructure and support Europe’s quantum digital programs. The project is part of the European Quantum Communication Infrastructure (EuroQCI) initiative.
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