CoeLux VR · Project

Artificial Sunlight Windows Ready for Mass Production in Any Indoor Space

constructionMarket-readyTRL 9

Imagine a window that looks and feels like real sky and sunlight — except there's no window, and you could be 10 floors underground. CoeLux spent 12 years figuring out how to use special nanoparticles and LEDs to recreate the way the atmosphere scatters sunlight, complete with warm direct light and a blue sky glow. They already had a high-end version, but it was expensive and hard to produce at scale. This project was about building the factory-ready production line so these artificial skylights could reach hospitals, offices, and underground spaces worldwide.

By the numbers

12 years

Research investment before commercialization

EUR 2,179,363

EU contribution for production scale-up

New modular product lines (SkyBlade and SkyCasket)

Development stages in the industrialization plan

Consortium partner (single-company SME project)

The business problem

What needed solving

Millions of people work, heal, and travel in spaces with zero natural light — underground stations, windowless hospitals, deep-plan offices. Poor lighting damages wellbeing, productivity, and real estate value. Existing artificial lighting solutions feel flat and lifeless, nothing like real sunlight streaming through a window.

The solution

What was built

CoeLux delivered two new modular artificial skylight systems — SkyBlade and SkyCasket — designed for mass production. They scaled up the proprietary nanodispersion coating process, integrated a custom LED optical system, and established a lean manufacturing supply chain with product certification and IP protection. A final demonstrator version was completed and showcased publicly.

Audience

Who needs this

Hospital and healthcare facility designers building windowless clinical spacesCommercial real estate developers adding value to deep-plan or underground propertiesMetro and underground transit operators improving station ambianceHigh-end hotel and spa designers creating premium indoor experiencesArchitects designing underground or windowless retail and workspace environments

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Healthcare & Hospital Design

enterprise

Target: Hospital construction firms and healthcare facility managers

If you are a hospital designer dealing with windowless operating rooms, MRI suites, or basement-level patient areas — this project delivered production-ready artificial skylight systems (SkyBlade and SkyCasket) that reproduce real sunlight and sky indoors. Staff wellbeing and patient recovery in windowless clinical environments is a documented problem. CoeLux built modular systems backed by 12 years of research, now scalable through lean manufacturing.

Commercial Real Estate & Office Design

mid-size

Target: Property developers and workplace design firms

If you are a commercial property developer struggling to add value to deep-plan office floors or underground retail spaces with no natural light — CoeLux industrialized two modular artificial skylight products that transform dark interiors with realistic sun and sky effects. These certified, trademark-protected systems went through a full supply chain setup for volume production. Premium positioning makes them ideal for high-end office and retail differentiation.

Underground Infrastructure & Transport

enterprise

Target: Metro station operators and tunnel construction companies

If you are a transport infrastructure operator dealing with traveler discomfort and poor ambiance in underground stations or long tunnels — CoeLux developed factory-ready lighting systems that create the perception of open sky and natural sunlight. The modular design (SkyBlade and SkyCasket) allows integration into ceiling panels across large underground areas. The production chain was organized with lean manufacturing principles for consistent, scalable delivery.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What does this technology actually cost?

The project does not disclose unit pricing. CoeLux positions its products as high-end, which historically meant premium price points. The entire purpose of this EUR 2,179,363 EU-funded project was to bring production costs down through industrialization and lean manufacturing, so pricing should be more accessible than the original niche product (CoeLux HE).

Can this be produced at industrial scale?

Yes — that was the core goal. The project set up a full production supply chain with external suppliers for semi-finished components and internal standardized manufacturing. Two new modular product lines (SkyBlade and SkyCasket) were specifically designed for large-scale production, unlike the earlier handcrafted version.

Who owns the IP and can I license this technology?

CoeLux SRL owns all intellectual property. The project explicitly invested in product certification, trademark registration, and IP protection. Any licensing or purchasing arrangement would need to go through CoeLux directly — this is proprietary nanotechnology developed over 12 years.

What exactly are SkyBlade and SkyCasket?

These are two modular artificial skylight systems designed during this project. Based on available project data, both are ceiling-integrated units that use nanomaterial-coated diffusion panels and custom LED systems to simulate realistic sunlight and sky. The modular design allows flexible installation in various ceiling configurations.

Is this just a fancy light, or is there real science behind it?

This is not a blue LED panel. CoeLux uses a proprietary nanodispersion coating that mimics how Earth's atmosphere scatters sunlight — the same Rayleigh scattering that makes the sky blue and sunsets warm. After 12 years of research, they produced a system that creates genuine depth perception and natural light-shadow effects, not just colored illumination.

How long has this been in development?

CoeLux invested 12 years of research before this project. The first commercial product (CoeLux HE) already existed when this project started in 2015. The project ran for 2 years (2015-2017) focused purely on scaling production, not basic research.

Is the product certified for commercial installation?

The project included product certification as a specific goal. Based on available project data, CoeLux pursued certification and trademark protection to prepare for global market entry. Specific certification standards achieved are not detailed in the project description.

Consortium

Who built it

This is a single-company project — CoeLux SRL is an Italian SME that received the full EUR 2,179,363 under the SME Instrument Phase 2. No universities or research institutes are involved, which tells you this is not a research project — it is pure commercialization. CoeLux is both the inventor and the manufacturer, meaning any business deal goes directly to the technology owner with no consortium politics. The 100% industry ratio and SME status signal a company focused on bringing its product to market, not publishing papers.

How to reach the team

CoeLux SRL is based in Italy. Contact their commercial team through coelux.com for product inquiries and partnership opportunities.

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Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want an introduction to the CoeLux team for your lighting project? SciTransfer can arrange a direct meeting with the right person — contact us for a briefing.

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