ATTOLIGHT SA

Their core work

Attolight is a Swiss instrumentation SME specializing in advanced electron microscopy and cathodoluminescence systems. They provide high-resolution imaging and metrology tools used to characterize semiconductor materials and devices at the nanoscale. In H2020, they contributed specialist measurement capabilities to large research consortia working on next-generation electronics (GaN power devices) and transnational access to electron microscopy infrastructure. Their role is that of a precision equipment provider enabling other partners' research and development.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

Attolight's earliest H2020 involvement (3DAM, 2016) centered on semiconductor metrology — measuring and characterizing advanced device structures in 3D. By 2019, their scope broadened in two directions: large-scale electron microscopy infrastructure (ESTEEM3) and applied power electronics (UltimateGaN). This suggests a shift from pure measurement science toward real-world semiconductor applications like 5G and smart grid technologies.

Moving from fundamental characterization tools toward application-driven measurement solutions for GaN, 5G, and energy-efficient electronics — a commercially promising direction.

How they like to work

Attolight always participates as a specialist partner, never as coordinator — consistent with their role as an equipment/technology provider embedded in larger research efforts. Their 65 unique partners across 18 countries indicate they integrate into large, diverse consortia (ESTEEM3 alone is a major pan-European infrastructure project). This suggests they are easy to onboard as a technical partner and accustomed to working within complex multi-partner setups.

Despite only 3 projects, Attolight has collaborated with 65 unique partners across 18 countries — a remarkably wide network driven by participation in large infrastructure consortia like ESTEEM3. Their reach spans most of Western and Central Europe.

What sets them apart

Attolight occupies a niche as one of very few SMEs providing advanced cathodoluminescence and electron microscopy instrumentation for semiconductor characterization. Their Lausanne base places them in Switzerland's precision technology ecosystem. For consortium builders, they offer a rare combination: commercial-grade measurement equipment plus experience operating within large EU research infrastructures — bridging the gap between lab-grade science and industrial metrology needs.

Highlights from their portfolio

• UltimateGaN
  Largest funded project (EUR 190,318) applying their characterization expertise to GaN power devices for 5G and smart grid — their most commercially oriented work.
• ESTEEM3
  Pan-European electron microscopy infrastructure project providing transnational access — positioned Attolight within the continent's premier microscopy network.