LIGHTWARE VETITESTECHNIKAI KORLATOLT FELELOSSEGU TARSASAG

Their core work

Lightware is a Budapest-based technology SME specialising in professional audio-visual signal infrastructure — specifically the transmission of high-bandwidth, uncompressed video and audio signals over long distances. Their H2020 work centred on developing hardware and protocols capable of carrying uncompressed AV signals beyond the limits of conventional cabling, a critical challenge in broadcast, live events, and large-venue installations. They are a product company rather than a research institution: the EU projects funded the development and commercialisation of a specific signal-processing product line. In the professional AV industry Lightware is recognised for matrix switchers, signal extenders, and distribution amplifiers used in demanding installations.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

Lightware's H2020 activity spans only 2015–2018 and covers a single continuous development arc: a Phase 1 feasibility study (2015–2016, €50k) followed directly by Phase 2 full development (2016–2018, €1.72M) on the identical topic. There is no meaningful shift in focus — this is a company that identified one high-value product challenge, validated it, and then executed. Because keywords are absent from both records and the timeline is short, it is not possible to trace a genuine evolution of themes.

Lightware used EU funding as a single focused product-development vehicle; there is no signal of broadening into new research areas, suggesting future collaboration interest would most likely involve AV infrastructure integration rather than exploratory R&D.

How they like to work

Lightware operated exclusively as a solo coordinator under the SME Instrument programme, which by design does not require consortium partners. They have zero recorded consortium partners across both projects, meaning there is no evidence of collaborative research habits — they work as an independent innovator, not a network builder. A partner considering working with them should expect a supplier or technology-provider relationship rather than a co-development dynamic.

Lightware has no recorded consortium partners and no international research collaborations within H2020. Their EU project activity was entirely self-contained, reflecting the solo-company nature of the SME Instrument scheme.

What sets them apart

Lightware is one of the very few Central-Eastern European hardware companies to complete both phases of the SME Instrument for a professional AV product, signalling genuine product maturity rather than early-stage research. Their differentiation lies in deep engineering focus on a narrow but commercially significant problem — uncompressed, low-latency signal transmission — rather than broad digital or ICT positioning. For a consortium needing a proven AV signal-infrastructure component or a commercial integration partner, they bring working hardware and a completed development cycle.

Highlights from their portfolio

• LIGHTWARE
  Phase 2 SME Instrument award of €1.72M is among the larger single-company grants in the ICT/AV space and confirms the project passed rigorous commercial-viability assessment.
• Lightware
  Phase 1 feasibility study (€50k) that successfully unlocked Phase 2 funding demonstrates a validated business case for uncompressed long-distance AV signal technology.