LIGHTBEE SL

Their core work

LIGHTBEE SL is a Spanish SME specializing in Visible Light Communication (VLC) technology — using LED lighting to transmit data wirelessly. They develop secured mobile access solutions powered by VLC, targeting applications like access control, indoor positioning, and IoT connectivity. Their work bridges the gap between academic VLC research and real-world deployment, with strong involvement in both product development (SME Instrument phases) and European training networks that advance the VLC field.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

LIGHTBEE began in 2015-2016 with a clear commercial focus: developing their own VLC-based mobile access product through the SME Instrument (LIGHTKEY phases 1 and 2), securing nearly EUR 943K to bring it to market. From 2017 onward, their involvement shifted toward collaborative research — joining two Marie Curie training networks (VisIoN, ENLIGHTEM) and an Innovation Action (ELIOT) that tackle broader challenges like IoT integration, energy efficiency, standardization, and interoperability. This evolution suggests a company that built core VLC product expertise first, then positioned itself as an industry partner within the European VLC research ecosystem.

LIGHTBEE is moving from product-focused VLC development toward becoming a key industry voice in VLC standardization and IoT integration across Europe.

How they like to work

LIGHTBEE shows a balanced profile: they led their own product development as coordinator (LIGHTKEY phases 1 and 2) but also contribute as a partner in larger consortia. With 34 unique partners across 12 countries, they have built a wide European network despite being a small company. Their participation in two MSCA training networks suggests they are valued by academia as an industry partner who can ground research in real-world applications.

LIGHTBEE has collaborated with 34 distinct partners across 12 countries, giving them a broad European network concentrated in the VLC and optical wireless communications community. Their training network participation connects them to leading universities and research groups in this specialized field.

What sets them apart

LIGHTBEE is one of very few European SMEs fully dedicated to Visible Light Communication technology, operating from the Canary Islands. Unlike university labs that study VLC theoretically, LIGHTBEE brings commercial product development experience — they built and tested actual VLC access solutions through the SME Instrument. This makes them a rare industry partner for any consortium needing real-world VLC deployment expertise rather than just academic research.

Highlights from their portfolio

• LIGHTKEY
  Progressed through both SME Instrument phases (feasibility + commercialization), receiving EUR 943K total to develop their core VLC mobile access product — showing strong EU confidence in their technology.
• ELIOT
  Innovation Action addressing VLC deployment in real environments with focus on positioning, security, and standardization — their most application-oriented collaborative project.
• ENLIGHTEM
  Marie Curie training network on low-energy VLC-IoT systems, positioning LIGHTBEE as an industry training host shaping the next generation of VLC researchers.