Pilot Photonics lands €10.4m EIC award
Dublin-based Pilot Photonics has secured up to €10.4 million from the European Innovation Council Accelerator to support the industrial scale-up of its photonic integrated circuit technology for AI data centres, satellite communications and next-generation mobile networks.
Pilot Photonics has been awarded up to €10.4 million in funding through the European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator to accelerate the commercialisation and scale-up of its photonic integrated circuit (PIC) technology.
The Dublin-based company develops patented photonic chips that use laser light to generate ultra-pure wireless signals for applications including AI data centres, satellite communications, and emerging 5G and 6G networks.
The funding will support product qualification, high-volume manufacturing, supply chain development and the expansion of the company's workforce in Ireland and internationally.
Photonic integrated circuits are playing an increasingly important role in next-generation communications infrastructure, offering higher bandwidth, improved power efficiency and greater integration than conventional electronic approaches.
Pilot Photonics said its technology has already been validated by leading international customers in both the AI data centre and commercial space sectors.
William Oppermann, CEO of Pilot Photonics, said the EIC award marks an important milestone in the company's growth.
"This support gives us the platform to move from breakthrough innovation to industrial scale-up, building a stronger team in Ireland, qualifying our products for global customers and establishing the supply chain required to compete internationally," he said.
The EIC Accelerator, part of the EU's Horizon Europe programme, provides blended finance to support high-potential deep-tech companies as they bring innovative technologies to market.
The investment strengthens Pilot Photonics' position as it scales production of its PIC technology to meet growing demand from communications and data infrastructure markets.
