Munster-based DeepTech startup Pixel Photonics announced additional funding of €1 million to further develop its waveguide-integrated superconducting nanowire single photon detectors (WI-SNSPDs) for multi-mode detection.
The funding came in the form of a grant from the German Federal Agency for Breakthrough Innovation (SPRIND).
“The SPRIND funding perfectly complements our journey alongside visionary VCs like Quantonation and HTGF, providing a crucial boost to the development of our technology beyond quantum applications. This support enables us to accelerate progress and bring our innovations to market faster. Our multi-mode capable single-photon detectors will seamlessly integrate into established optical systems, making the adoption of SNSPD technology effortless for industry players. By offering a versatile detection platform, this innovation expands possibilities across a broad range of applications while unlocking new opportunities in medtech and diagnostics. Ultimately, this advancement has the potential to open entirely new markets for Pixel Photonics, with strong multi-million-euro revenue potential,” says Nicolai Walter, CEO of Pixel Photonics.
Pixel Photonics GmbH is a nanophotonics startup founded in 2021 as a spin- off from the University of Münster by Nicolai Walter, Dr. Wladick Hartmann, Dr. Fabian Beutel, Dr. Martin Wolff and Christoph Seidenstücker with the goal of commercialising highly scalable single-photon detectors.
The applications of Pixel Photonics’ technology range from optical quantum computing, quantum key distribution and microscopy to metrology and sensor technology.
The company consists of an international team of 39 employees pursuing a technological approach to single photon detection that combines scalability with high detection efficiency at high speed.
In addition to EXIST funding, the company has received venture capital funding from Quantonation and HTGF as well as research grants from the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) , the European Innovation Council (EIC) and the European Space Agency (ESA).
This development represents a technological breakthrough in ultra-precise photon detection and enables new applications in fields such as microscopy, diagnostics and laser communication.
Light is the central information carrier in numerous high-tech applications – from microscopy and telecommunications to quantum computing. Highly sensitive detectors are essential for reliably detecting even the lowest signal strengths, with SNSPD currently being the detectors of choice.
However, existing highly efficient detector solutions, especially in the near-infrared spectral range, are often limited to light in a single optical mode, making interfacing with many applications challenging, especially in life sciences, microscopy, diagnostics and LiDAR, which typically work with multimodal light – according to Pixel Photonics.
This is where Pixel Photonics looks to come in: With the help of the SPRIND grant of €1 million, the DeepTech startup will now push ahead with a multi-mode adaptation of its detection technology.
The development of multi-mode-capable single photon detectors will open up new technological possibilities for Pixel Photonics and reportedly push existing boundaries in photon detection.
Read the orginal article: https://www.eu-startups.com/2025/02/lighting-the-way-pixel-photonics-raises-e1-million-for-multi-mode-single-photon-detection/
