MODULIGHT OYJ

Their core work

Modulight is a Finnish SME specializing in advanced sensing and photonic components for perception systems. Their H2020 work centers on developing sensor technologies — including lidar, radar, and time-of-flight devices — used in automotive driver assistance, adverse weather detection, and smart environment monitoring. They contribute hardware and sensing expertise to large electronic components consortia, enabling machines to perceive and interpret their surroundings reliably. Based in Tampere, Finland's photonics hub, they operate at the intersection of optoelectronics and intelligent sensing.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

Modulight's early H2020 participation (2015-2018) focused squarely on automotive sensing — making driver assistance systems more robust and reliable, including under adverse weather. By 2020, their focus broadened significantly: NextPerception introduced edge computing, explainable AI, and human monitoring alongside their core sensor work. This shift suggests a deliberate move from pure hardware sensing toward intelligent, software-enhanced perception systems that serve multiple domains beyond vehicles.

Modulight is moving from being a sensor component supplier toward providing intelligent perception solutions that combine hardware with distributed AI — expect future work in smart buildings, health monitoring, or industrial safety.

How they like to work

Modulight operates exclusively as a participant, never leading consortia — consistent with a specialized SME contributing specific technical components to larger efforts. They work in sizable ECSEL-type consortia (69 unique partners across 10 countries), which means they are comfortable in large, multi-partner projects typical of the European electronics ecosystem. Their role is that of a focused technology contributor rather than a project orchestrator.

Modulight has collaborated with 69 unique partners across 10 countries, primarily through large ECSEL electronic components consortia. Their network spans a significant portion of Europe's electronics and automotive sensing ecosystem.

What sets them apart

Modulight brings specialized photonic and sensing hardware expertise from Tampere, Finland's established photonics cluster. Unlike many sensor companies that focus on either hardware or software, their trajectory shows them bridging physical sensing devices with intelligent processing — a combination increasingly demanded in autonomous systems. For consortium builders, they offer a reliable SME partner that delivers focused sensor technology contributions without competing for leadership roles.

Highlights from their portfolio

• NextPerception
  Their most recent and largest-funded project (EUR 171,300), marking a strategic expansion from automotive sensors into AI-enhanced perception for human monitoring and smart environments.
• DENSE
  Longest-running project (2016-2020) with highest single funding (EUR 173,025), tackling the specific challenge of sensor reliability in fog, rain, and snow — a critical unsolved problem for autonomous driving.