FIRST LIGHT IMAGING SAS

Their core work

First Light Imaging is a French deep-tech SME that designs and manufactures high-performance scientific cameras, with a specialization in ultra-fast, low-noise infrared imaging systems. Their flagship work, the OCAMIR project, was explicitly aimed at producing the world's fastest low-noise infrared camera — a product targeting professional scientific instrumentation markets. They subsequently integrated into the European astronomy community through OPTICON, the pan-European Optical Infrared Coordination Network, positioning their camera technology as a hardware supplier to major research infrastructure. In practical terms, they build the detectors and camera systems that observatories, research labs, and environmental sensing platforms depend on for high-fidelity imaging in demanding conditions.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

First Light Imaging's H2020 trajectory follows a classic deep-tech SME path: first securing SME Instrument Phase 2 funding to commercialize a specific product (the OCAMIR infrared camera, 2015–2017), then embedding themselves in a large pan-European research infrastructure network (OPTICON, 2017–2021). The early phase was about proving and funding the technology; the later phase was about reaching the community of end users — observatories and astronomy institutes — who would buy it. No keyword-level data was provided, so evolution is inferred from project roles and funding schemes alone.

They appear to be transitioning from standalone product development toward becoming an embedded supplier within European scientific infrastructure networks — a path that typically leads to more stable institutional customers and consortium invitations as a hardware specialist.

How they like to work

First Light Imaging has played both roles: coordinator on their own SME instrument project (OCAMIR), and participant in a large multi-institution network (OPTICON). Their coordinator role was on a small, focused commercial development grant — typical for technology SMEs pushing a single product — while their OPTICON participation placed them inside a consortium of likely 30+ organizations across Europe. This suggests they are comfortable leading when the task is technology delivery, but also able to operate as a specialist hardware contributor inside much larger collaborative structures.

Their combined network spans 42 unique partners across 16 countries, though the large majority of this reach is almost certainly attributable to OPTICON, which is one of Europe's broadest astronomy coordination networks. Their direct bilateral network as an SME is likely much smaller.

What sets them apart

First Light Imaging occupies a rare niche: a commercial SME building scientific-grade cameras at performance levels — speed, noise floor, infrared sensitivity — that are normally only achieved by large research institute instrument teams. Their validation through the highly competitive SME Instrument Phase 2 (OCAMIR) and their acceptance into OPTICON both signal that the European astronomy and research infrastructure community recognizes them as a credible hardware partner. For a consortium needing a specialized detector or camera system rather than a generic industrial supplier, they are one of the few commercial European options at this performance tier.

Highlights from their portfolio

• OCAMIR
  Coordinator role on an SME Instrument Phase 2 grant — one of Horizon 2020's most competitive schemes — to commercialize a camera explicitly positioned as the world's fastest low-noise infrared device.
• OPTICON
  Participation in the flagship EU coordination network for optical-infrared astronomy, providing access to observatories and research institutes across Europe as potential customers and partners.