FEMTOCHIP · Project

Shrinking Room-Sized Ultrafast Lasers Down to a Single Chip

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Imagine a laser system that today fills a shoebox and costs a fortune — used in everything from medical diagnostics to telecom networks. The FEMTOCHIP team figured out how to squeeze that same powerful laser onto a tiny chip, the way we once shrunk room-sized computers into smartphones. They built working chip-scale prototypes that fire ultra-short light pulses, opening the door to affordable, portable precision laser tools. This could make advanced laser technology accessible to industries that currently can't justify the size or price tag.

By the numbers

20 years

Duration of femtosecond laser development enabling this breakthrough

EUR 3,418,525

EU funding invested in chip-scale laser development

6 partners

Consortium size across 4 countries

3 demonstrators

Physical chip demonstrators built and delivered

1.6 µm

Target wavelength for SiN photonic integrated circuit

33%

Industry partner ratio in consortium

The business problem

What needed solving

Femtosecond lasers are essential tools in telecom, medical diagnostics, precision measurement, and quantum technology — but current systems are bulky (shoebox-sized or larger) and prohibitively expensive for many applications. This size and cost barrier keeps powerful laser technology locked in well-funded labs instead of deployed where it is needed most. Companies building portable instruments, compact telecom equipment, or affordable diagnostic devices are stuck waiting for laser sources that match their form factor and budget requirements.

The solution

What was built

The project built 3 physical demonstrators: a silicon nitride photonic integrated circuit (PIC) operating at 1.6 µm, an optimised version of that PIC, and a full integrated device demonstration. These chip-scale prototypes aim to match the pulse energy, peak power, and timing stability of much larger fiber laser systems, using CMOS-compatible manufacturing processes.

Audience

Who needs this

Telecom equipment manufacturers needing compact, high-performance laser sourcesMedical device companies building portable spectroscopy or imaging toolsQuantum technology startups requiring stable ultrafast signal sourcesPhotonic chip foundries looking to expand their product portfolioMetrology and precision instrument manufacturers seeking miniaturized laser modules

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Optical Telecommunications

enterprise

Target: Telecom equipment manufacturers and fiber-optic network providers

If you are a telecom equipment company dealing with bandwidth bottlenecks and expensive signal processing — this project developed a chip-scale femtosecond laser that could replace bulky, costly laser modules in your systems. The integrated design with low-loss silicon nitride photonics means smaller footprint and potentially lower per-unit cost. With 3 working demonstrators delivered across the project, the core technology has been physically validated.

Biomedical Diagnostics & Imaging

mid-size

Target: Medical device companies building spectroscopy or imaging instruments

If you are a medical device manufacturer struggling with the size and cost of ultrafast laser sources in your diagnostic equipment — this project built a fully integrated chip-scale laser with performance matching shoebox-sized fiber lasers. Broadband optical spectroscopy is one of the explicitly targeted applications. A chip-based laser could make portable, point-of-care diagnostic tools viable where today only lab-bound instruments exist.

Precision Manufacturing & Metrology

SME

Target: Companies making optical clocks, frequency combs, or high-precision measurement systems

If you are a precision instruments company paying premium prices for femtosecond laser sources in your measurement systems — this project demonstrated integrated chip-scale lasers targeting the pulse energy, peak power, and jitter specs of much larger fiber laser systems. The consortium includes 2 industry partners and 2 SMEs with direct photonics expertise. Miniaturized sources could dramatically reduce your instrument size and bill of materials.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would a chip-scale femtosecond laser cost compared to current systems?

The project does not publish per-unit pricing. However, the core value proposition is replacing shoebox-sized fiber laser systems (which typically cost tens of thousands of euros) with CMOS-compatible chip-scale devices. CMOS compatibility suggests volume manufacturing could dramatically reduce costs over time.

Can this be manufactured at industrial scale?

The technology is built on CMOS-compatible ultra-low-loss silicon nitride (SiN) photonics, which is the same fabrication platform used in high-volume semiconductor manufacturing. This design choice was deliberate — it means existing chip foundries could potentially produce these lasers. However, the project delivered demonstrators, not production-ready products.

What is the IP and licensing situation?

The project was funded under Horizon 2020 RIA with EUR 3,418,525 in EU contribution across 6 partners in 4 countries. IP is typically shared among consortium members under H2020 rules. Licensing would need to be negotiated with the consortium, led by DESY in Germany.

How close is this to a product I can buy?

The project delivered 3 demonstrator devices including a 'Full device demonstration,' but this was a FET Open research project — meaning early-stage, high-risk technology exploration. Based on available project data, expect at least 3-5 years before commercial products emerge. Further engineering and packaging would be needed.

What applications does this actually enable?

The project objective explicitly lists optical telecommunications, photonic analog-to-digital conversion, signal sources for quantum technologies, and broadband spectroscopy for environmental and biomedical sciences. These are all fields where femtosecond lasers are already proven but currently too large and expensive for widespread deployment.

Who are the industry partners in the consortium?

The consortium includes 6 partners across Germany, Netherlands, Finland, and Switzerland, with 2 industry partners (including 2 SMEs) alongside 3 universities and 1 research organization. The coordinator is DESY, a major German research center. The 33% industry ratio signals real commercial interest in the technology.

Consortium

Who built it

The FEMTOCHIP consortium brings together 6 partners from 4 countries (Germany, Netherlands, Finland, Switzerland) — a strong European photonics corridor. Led by DESY, one of the world's leading particle accelerator labs, the team combines 3 universities with deep expertise in ultrafast lasers and silicon nitride photonics, plus 2 SMEs that bring commercial photonics manufacturing know-how. The 33% industry ratio is notable for a FET Open project, which are typically dominated by academics. The inclusion of 2 SMEs suggests the technology was designed with eventual commercialization in mind from the start, not just as a lab curiosity.

DEUTSCHES ELEKTRONEN-SYNCHROTRON DESYCoordinator · DE
UNIVERSITEIT TWENTEparticipant · NL
AALTO KORKEAKOULUSAATIO SRparticipant · FI
ECOLE POLYTECHNIQUE FEDERALE DE LAUSANNEparticipant · CH
EURA AGparticipant · DE
LIGENTEC SAparticipant · CH

How to reach the team

DESY (Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron) in Hamburg, Germany — contact through SciTransfer for introductions to the project team.

Order a report on this consortium See DEUTSCHES ELEKTRONEN-SYNCHROTRON DESY profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to explore licensing or partnership opportunities for chip-scale femtosecond laser technology? SciTransfer can connect you directly with the FEMTOCHIP consortium. Contact us for a detailed briefing.

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