MIR-BOSE · Project

Next-Generation Infrared Lasers That Work Without Traditional Power-Hungry Technology

manufacturingPrototypeTRL 3Thin data (2/5)

Imagine a regular laser as a crowd where you have to push everyone to jump at the same time — that takes a lot of energy. This project found a way to make particles naturally "fall into sync" on their own, like a stadium wave that starts spontaneously. The result is a new kind of laser that works in the infrared range — the part of the light spectrum used for gas detection, medical imaging, and security scanning — but needs far less energy to operate and works at any temperature. They actually demonstrated this new type of laser in the lab, proving that the physics works for real devices.

By the numbers

EUR 3,786,160

EU funding for development of bosonic laser technology

research partners across 5 countries collaborating on the technology

technical deliverables produced during the project

demonstrated bosonic laser device (proof of concept)

The business problem

What needed solving

Current mid-infrared and terahertz laser sources are power-hungry, temperature-sensitive, and struggle to generate high-power pulses — creating serious limitations for gas sensing, medical diagnostics, and security screening equipment. Companies in these sectors face expensive cooling requirements, unreliable field performance, and insufficient pulse power for demanding applications.

The solution

What was built

The project demonstrated bosonic lasing by optical pumping — a new type of laser that operates without traditional population inversion. Across 16 deliverables, the team worked on mid-IR and THz laser devices, inverse-Q-switching for high-power pulses, and quantum light sources generating squeezed states of light.

Audience

Who needs this

Mid-infrared laser source manufacturers looking for next-generation technologyIndustrial gas sensing and emissions monitoring equipment makersMedical device companies developing breath analysis or tissue imagingSecurity and defense firms building THz screening and detection systemsPhotonics component suppliers serving the IR and THz markets

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Industrial Gas Sensing & Emissions Monitoring

mid-size

Target: Environmental monitoring equipment manufacturers and industrial emissions compliance firms

If you are a gas sensing equipment manufacturer struggling with mid-infrared laser sources that are expensive, power-hungry, and temperature-sensitive — this project developed bosonic lasers that achieve temperature-independent operation in the mid-IR range. These could replace current quantum cascade laser solutions with devices that consume less power and deliver higher output, reducing both unit cost and maintenance for field-deployed sensors.

Medical Diagnostics & Imaging

enterprise

Target: Medical device companies developing non-invasive breath analysis or tissue imaging systems

If you are a medical device company building breath analyzers or tissue scanners that rely on mid-infrared light sources — this project created laser sources operating in spectral ranges critical for detecting biomarkers. The temperature-independent operation means more reliable readings in clinical settings, and the high-power pulsed output from their inverse-Q-switching concept could improve signal-to-noise ratios in diagnostic instruments.

Defense & Security Screening

enterprise

Target: Security technology companies producing standoff detection or screening equipment

If you are a security technology firm needing compact, powerful infrared and terahertz sources for explosives detection or package screening — this project demonstrated high-power pulse generation in the mid-IR and THz ranges. Their approach overcomes current bottlenecks in generating strong THz pulses, which could enable faster scanning speeds and longer detection ranges for your screening equipment.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would it cost to license or integrate this laser technology?

Licensing terms would need to be negotiated directly with the consortium, led by Université Paris-Saclay. As a publicly funded RIA project with EUR 3,786,160 in EU funding, IP is typically held by the partners who generated it. Expect early-stage licensing costs, but also expect significant further development investment before commercial products.

Can this scale to industrial production volumes?

The technology has been demonstrated at lab scale — specifically bosonic lasing by optical pumping was achieved as a proof of concept. Scaling to production would require semiconductor fabrication partnerships and further engineering. The consortium includes 1 industrial partner and 1 SME, suggesting some industry awareness but limited manufacturing readiness.

What is the IP situation and how can we access the technology?

IP from this RIA project is owned by the consortium partners who created it, following standard Horizon 2020 rules. With 8 partners across 5 countries, licensing negotiations may involve multiple parties. The project website mir-bose.eu and coordinator at Université Paris-Saclay are starting points for IP discussions.

How does this compare to existing mid-infrared laser technology?

Current mid-IR lasers (quantum cascade lasers) rely on population inversion and are sensitive to temperature, requiring cooling systems. MIR-BOSE demonstrated lasers based on bosonic condensation that achieve temperature-independent operation. The project also introduced inverse-Q-switching for high-power pulse generation, addressing what they describe as severe bottlenecks in current technology.

What is the realistic timeline to a commercial product?

The project ran from 2017 to 2021 under FETOPEN, which funds high-risk, early-stage breakthrough research. Based on the demonstration of bosonic lasing at lab scale, a realistic path to commercial devices would likely require further development phases. Expect additional research and engineering work before market-ready products emerge.

Does this technology meet any regulatory requirements for industrial use?

Based on available project data, regulatory certification was not part of the project scope. Any commercial application in medical diagnostics, emissions monitoring, or security would require separate certification processes specific to the target market and geography.

Consortium

Who built it

The MIR-BOSE consortium brings together 8 partners from 5 countries (Germany, Greece, France, Italy, UK), led by Université Paris-Saclay. The team is heavily academic — 4 universities and 3 research organizations — with only 1 industrial partner and 1 SME, giving a 12% industry ratio. This composition reflects the early-stage, fundamental nature of the research. For a business considering this technology, the low industry involvement means the path from lab results to commercial products will require additional industrial partnerships and engineering capacity not currently in the consortium.

UNIVERSITE PARIS-SACLAYCoordinator · FR
UNIVERSITAET REGENSBURGparticipant · DE
IDRYMA TECHNOLOGIAS KAI EREVNASparticipant · EL
UNIVERSITY OF LEEDSparticipant · UK
UNIVERSITA DI PISAparticipant · IT
CONSIGLIO NAZIONALE DELLE RICERCHEparticipant · IT
CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE CNRSparticipant · FR
TEMATYSparticipant · FR

How to reach the team

Coordinator is Université Paris-Saclay (France). Use SciTransfer's coordinator lookup service to find the right contact person.

Order a report on this consortium See UNIVERSITE PARIS-SACLAY profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to explore licensing this infrared laser technology or connecting with the research team? SciTransfer can arrange an introduction and provide a detailed technology brief.

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