Photonics News: Week in Brief: 07/09/21

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Jul 2021FREIBURG IM BREISGAU, Germany — Fraunhofer Energy Research opened a showroom called ENIQ: Energy Intelligence by Fraunhofer, on the EUREF-Campus in Berlin. The facility functions as an interactive educational platform. It has two rooms for workshops, three offices, a large open-air event area, and auditorium with stair seating and an exhibition area. The showroom contains digital demonstrators and technology exhibits that regularly change to flank the on-site events and provide a technology showcase for Fraunhofer energy research.

NIQ Showroom on the EUREF campus in Berlin. Courtesy of Fraunhofer.

ENIQ showroom on the EUREF-Campus in Berlin. Courtesy of Fraunhofer.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — NASA’s Near-Earth Object Wide-Field Infrared Survey Explorer (NEOWISE) will continue its search for asteroids and comets, including objects that could pose a hazard to Earth. A mission extension means the telescope will continue operations until June 2023. To date, NEOWISE has provided size estimates of more than 1850 near-Earth objects.

MONTREAL — Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions (CED) announced $57.25 million in funding for the Institut National d’Optique (INO). The support is composed of two nonrepayable contributions: $50 million over five years, from 2021 to 2026, to implement the Programme d’innovations technologiques (PIT), and $5 million to acquire strategic equipment. The PIT fosters the development of optics and photonics-based innovations. A $2.5 million contribution has also been granted to INO for a related project to acquire and install scientific equipment for use in developing terahertz technology, among other things.

GENEVA — Semiconductor provider STMicroelectronics and metasurface developer Metalenz announced a co-development and license agreement that will see STMicroelectronics develop manufacturing processes for Metalenz’s meta-optics technology for next-generation smartphones, consumer devices, health care, and automotive applications. The technology is expected to be ready for mass production by the end of 2021.

JENA, Germany — Jenoptik has sold its crystal-growth business to Hellma Materials. The two companies signed a contract at the beginning of July. The acquisition remains subject to regulatory approval. Both companies have agreed not to disclose the purchase price. Jenoptik’s crystal-growing activities are bundled in Photonic Sense GmbH. Hellma Materials will take over all 25 employees of the company and will continue production at the Eisenach site.

MUNICH — Rohde & Schwarz has acquired ETH Zurich spinoff Zurich Instruments. The acquisition brings Rohde & Schwarz into the quantum computing market and further expands the company’s test and measurement division. Zurich Instruments, founded in 2008, has more than 100 employees at its Zurich headquarters and regional offices in China, the U.S., France, South Korea, Japan, and Italy. All functions at Zurich Instruments will remain in place, from development and production to marketing and sales.

NEW YORK — Satellite imaging company Satellogic and CF Acquisition Corp. V, a special purpose acquisition company sponsored by Cantor Fitzgerald, have entered into a definitive merger agreement that will result in Satellogic becoming a publicly traded company. The transaction is expected to be completed early in the fourth quarter of 2021, subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions.

BRATTLEBORO, Vt. — Omega Optical Holdings has completed the acquisition of Spectral Systems LLC. Founded in 1983, Spectral Systems is a designer and manufacturer of infrared optical coatings, components, and assemblies. Omega Optical designs and manufactures precision optical filters, coatings, components, and assemblies. The company is backed by Boston-based private equity firm Artemis Capital Partners, which acquired Omega Optical in September 2020.

HOD HASHARON, Israel — CONTROP Precision Technologies, a provider of electro-optics and IR technology for defense and homeland security, has acquired ESC BAZ, which specializes in smart video and observation technology. The acquisition will expand CONTROP’s portfolio and enable it to provide end-to-end solutions for the homeland security and paramilitary markets.

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