The Dublin company’s patented photonic chip technology generates ultra-pure wireless signals for AI data centres, satellite communications and next-generation mobile networks.

Dublin-based integrated photonics company Pilot Photonics has been approved for a recommended investment of up to €10.4m from the Horizon Europe European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator, one of Europe’s most competitive deep tech funding programmes.

The company has developed patented photonic chip technology that it said uses laser light to generate extremely pure wireless signals, built for AI data centres, satellite communications, and 5G and 6G mobile networks.

Photonic circuits offer greater power efficiency, higher bandwidth signal processing and capabilities that conventional electronics cannot replicate, according to the company.

Demand for photonic integrated circuits is already accelerating across two key sectors. Data servers have adopted the technology to meet the bandwidth demands of AI, while the commercial space industry has turned to photonic chips to cut the size, weight and power consumption of its systems. Pilot Photonics said it has secured validation from leading international customers in both markets.

The integration of photonic components into compact, production-scalable chips is also said to be lowering the barrier to entry for industries that depend on these capabilities, making the technology commercially as well as technically significant.

The EIC Accelerator funding will support the company’s next phase of growth, covering product qualification, high-volume manufacturing, and team expansion in Ireland and internationally.

William Oppermann, CEO of Pilot Photonics, said being selected by the EIC was “a major endorsement of Pilot Photonics’ technology, team and commercial ambition”.

“This support gives us the platform to move from breakthrough innovation to industrial scale-up, building a stronger team in Ireland, qualifying our products for global customers and establishing the supply chain required to compete internationally,” he said.

Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke, TD described the investment as “a testament to the innovation and dedication of the Pilot Photonics team”, pointing to the company’s contribution to Europe’s digital sovereignty across 6G, satellite systems and secure communications.

Enterprise Ireland, which leads the National Support Network for Horizon Europe in Ireland, supported Pilot Photonics through its EIC National Contact Point Support team. Kevin Burke, national director for Horizon Europe at Enterprise Ireland, said the award was “international recognition of the breakthrough nature of Pilot Photonics’ technology” and the team’s progress in bringing products to market.

The EIC Accelerator is part of the EU’s Horizon Europe 2021 to 2027 Research and Innovation Programme. It provides deep tech start-ups and scale-ups with a blended finance package combining grant funding of up to €2.5m and equity investment ranging from €500,000 to €10m.

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