Swiss femtosecond laser technology company specializing in precision surface treatment and multi-scale micro-nanofabrication for industrial and optoelectronics applications.
HELIOTIS AG is a Swiss photonics and precision laser technology company specializing in femtosecond (ultrashort-pulse) laser systems and their industrial and scientific applications. They develop and apply laser-based manufacturing processes — from functional surface patterning at macro scale down to two-photon polymerization and atomic layer 3D nanoprinting at the nano/micro scale. In EU consortia, they act as a deep technical specialist, contributing expertise in laser parameter optimization, multi-beam optical system design, and process automation for high-precision manufacturing. Their work sits at the intersection of photonics hardware, advanced materials processing, and micro-optoelectronics fabrication.
Both FemtoSurf and Mesomorph are built on ultrashort-pulse laser technology — FemtoSurf targeting solid-state 2-3 kW industrial systems, Mesomorph extending this to femtolaser ablation in multi-technology micro-fabrication.
FemtoSurf (2019-2022) focused specifically on functionalized surface patterning using femtosecond laser parameters with multi-beam automated processing on an optical chain.
Mesomorph (2020-2024) combines two-photon polymerization, femtolaser ablation, and atomic layer 3D nanoprinting in an all-in-one machine for multi-scale micro-optoelectronics manufacturing.
Mesomorph explicitly targets high-value micro-optoelectronics and microsystems as the application domain for their multi-technology fabrication platform.
FemtoSurf included on-the-fly quality assessment as a component of the automated multi-beam laser processing chain.
HELIOTIS entered H2020 funding through FemtoSurf with a focus on industrial-scale femtosecond laser surface treatment — optimizing parameters for solid-state, multi-kilowatt systems applied to surface functionalization in manufacturing contexts. Their second project, Mesomorph, reveals a clear pivot toward higher-precision, smaller-scale fabrication: the keywords shift to two-photon polymerization, atomic layer 3D nanoprinting, and microsystems, which operate at dramatically finer resolution than surface patterning. The trajectory points toward multi-technology hybrid micro-fabrication platforms rather than single-process industrial lasers — a move from macro-industrial to nano-micro precision manufacturing.
HELIOTIS is moving from single-process laser surface treatment toward integrated, multi-technology micro-fabrication machines that combine photonic, chemical, and additive processes — suggesting future collaborations will likely sit in micro-optics, photonic integrated circuits, or advanced microsystems manufacturing.
HELIOTIS has participated in both projects as a consortium member, never as coordinator — indicating they operate as a specialized technology contributor rather than a project driver. With 21 unique partners across 7 countries over just 2 projects, they work in medium-to-large consortia averaging around 10 partners per project, suggesting comfort in multi-stakeholder research environments. This profile is consistent with a deep-technology company that brings proprietary laser system expertise and manufacturing know-how to consortia that need it, without seeking the administrative burden of coordination.
HELIOTIS has built a network of 21 unique consortium partners spanning 7 countries through only 2 projects, reflecting active engagement in well-connected European research consortia rather than isolated bilateral collaborations. No repeated partner pattern is detectable from this small dataset, suggesting they are still expanding their European network.
HELIOTIS stands out as one of very few private Swiss companies (non-SME, non-academic) operating at the intersection of industrial femtosecond laser systems and nano-scale additive manufacturing — a combination that few technology providers can credibly span. Their involvement in Mesomorph's all-in-one hybrid fabrication machine signals proprietary hardware or process IP, not just research participation. For consortium builders, they offer Swiss precision engineering credibility, laser photonics depth, and the rare ability to bridge macro-industrial processing and nano-scale fabrication in a single organization.
