Photonics drives €370B spinout boom
Photonics is emerging as a core driver of Europe’s rapidly growing deep-tech spinout ecosystem.
A major new study has revealed that Europe’s university spinouts have grown into a technology ecosystem worth €370 billion, with photonics and quantum science playing a central enabling role across key industries.
The “European Spinouts Report 2025”, produced by Dealroom.co, analysed more than 17,000 university spinouts created since 1990, including 7,300 deep-tech and life sciences companies. These firms now employ over 160,000 people and collectively represent one of Europe’s most dynamic sources of science-driven innovation.
Photonics is highlighted as a foundational technology underpinning advances in sectors ranging from semiconductors and robotics to climate technologies and advanced sensing systems. The science of harnessing light enables critical applications in communications, imaging, manufacturing and diagnostics.
Dr Lutz Aschke, President of Photonics21, said Europe’s strength in optical science is translating into globally competitive companies, adding that ensuring these spinouts scale within Europe will be key to long-term industrial success.
The report also points to rapid acceleration in recent years, with nearly 40% of total spinout value created by companies founded since 2015. Since 2019, spinouts have accounted for around 40% of all new deep-tech and life sciences startups, reflecting growing investor interest in science-led innovation.
As global competition intensifies in areas such as semiconductors and quantum technologies, the findings highlight the strategic importance of converting Europe’s research excellence into scalable industrial capability.
