Teem Photonics
Teem Photonics is a French photonics company (founded 1998, ~50 staff, Meylan) that designs and manufactures passively Q-switched microchip pulsed lasers and glass-based Photonic Integrated Circuits (ioNext platform), selling globally through OEM partnerships and distributors for industrial, sensing, biomedical, defense, and datacom applications.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1998
- HeadquartersMeylan, France
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Teem Photonics does
Teem Photonics is a French photonics company founded in 1998 and headquartered in Meylan near Grenoble, employing approximately 50 people across R&D and series manufacturing. The company operates two principal product lines: passively Q-switched microchip pulsed lasers, and glass-based Photonic Integrated Circuits (PICs/PLCs) under its ioNext platform. Microchip laser products include the Microchip, PowerChip, PicoSpear, PicoOne, and PicoMega series covering wavelengths from deep UV (213 nm) through mid-IR (2 µm and OPO tunable 3-13 µm), with pulse durations as short as 100 ps, peak power up to 200+ kW, and air-cooled sealed packaging achieving demonstrated lifetimes over 100,000 hours in infrared wavelengths.
The ioNext integrated photonics line uses a proprietary ion-exchange waveguide process on glass substrates to deliver low propagation loss (<0.15 dB/cm), polarization-maintaining performance (PER > 20 dB), and 4-week custom PIC turnaround. The platform is complemented by WAFT (Waveguide Array to Fiber Transposer) interposers for edge, top, and evanescent coupling between PICs and fiber arrays up to 256 ports, custom AWG multiplexers/demultiplexers, Picomove interferometers, and full-service assembly/packaging. Teem Photonics also operates a pure-play PIC foundry via Circuits Multi-Projets (CMP) for prototyping and low-volume production.
The business model combines OEM-embedded laser and PIC component sales with foundry and assembly services. Revenue is generated through hardware sales of laser heads with compatible controllers, custom and catalog PICs, and PDK-based foundry services. Distribution spans a global network of country-specific technical distributors and direct sales across Europe, North America, South America, and Asia-Pacific. Customers are industrial OEMs integrating the components into LiDAR, laser ranging, PCB repair, material ablation, atmospheric monitoring, bioimaging, quantum photonics, sensing, defense, space, and datacom/telecom applications. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is provided on inquiry.
Teem Photonics firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Teem Photonics
- Legal name
- Teem Photonics
- Website
- https://teemphotonics.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1998
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Teem Photonics is a French photonics company (founded 1998, ~50 staff, Meylan) that designs and manufactures passively Q-switched microchip pulsed lasers and glass-based Photonic Integrated Circuits (ioNext platform), selling globally through OEM partnerships and distributors for industrial, sensing, biomedical, defense, and datacom applications.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Teem Photonics industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Photonics Components
- NAICS
- Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing (33441)
- SIC
- Optical Instruments & Lenses (3827), Semiconductors & Related Devices (3674)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Optoelectronic Emitters (LED/Laser/VCSEL) (HDAHALAL)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Optoelectronic / Photonics Foundries (Silicon Photonics/LED/Laser) (HDAHACAG), Optoelectronics & Photonics (LED/Laser/Optical ICs) (HDAHAAAH)
Keywords
Where Teem Photonics is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Meylan
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Teem Photonics business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Laser Products Sales: Sale of microchip pulsed laser products across multiple series (Microchip, PowerChip, PicoSpear, PicoOne, PicoMega) and wavelengths from 213 nm to 2 µm. Sold as laser heads with compatible controllers. Target customers include industrial OEMs integrating lasers into their instruments and systems.
- Photonic Integrated Circuit (PIC/PLC) Products: Sale of glass-based photonic integrated circuits including custom PLCs, AWG multiplexers/demultiplexers, WAFT interposers, SSC components, Picomove interferometers. Both standard catalog products and customer-defined custom designs are offered with 4-week turnaround.
- Foundry and Manufacturing Services: Teem Photonics offers PIC/PLC prototyping and low-volume production through CMP, PDK-based chip fabrication in pure-play foundry model, chip shaping, pigtailing, assembly, and packaging services. Volume manufacturing supported via internal facilities and external partners.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Direct sales via Teem Photonics headquarters |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels3 records
Teem Photonics product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Teem Photonics manufactures passively Q-switched microchip pulsed lasers (sub-nanosecond pulses, IR to deep UV wavelengths, peak power exceeding 200 kW) and glass-based Photonic Integrated Circuits (ioNext platform, PICs/PLCs) produced via a proprietary ion-exchange waveguide process. The company also supplies WAFT interposers for fiber-array-to-PIC coupling, custom AWGs, Picomove interferometers, and PIC packaging/assembly services for OEM customers in industrial, sensing, biomedical, defense, and datacom markets.
Product overview
Teem Photonics is a French photonics company offering two main product lines: microchip pulsed lasers and integrated photonics (glass-based PICs). The laser portfolio spans multiple series including Microchip (100 ps to 3 ns pulses, 213 nm to 1064 nm), PowerChip (high peak power up to 160 kW), PicoSpear (amplified microchip with 250 ps pulses), PicoMega (120 ps with fiber amplification), and PicoOne (650 ps amplified). Mid-IR coverage includes 2 µm and OPO sources (7.5-13 µm). The ioNext integrated photonics platform provides glass-based PICs via ion-exchange process with 4-week turnaround, complemented by WAFT interposers for PIC-to-fiber coupling, custom AWGs, and Picomove interferometers. All products share common themes: sub-nanosecond pulse control, fiber compatibility, and industrial-grade reliability.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- ioNext: Glass-based Photonic Integrated Circuits (PICs) / Planar Lightwave Circuits (PLCs) platform using ion-exchange technology for waveguide manufacturing
- PicoSpear
- PicoOne
- PicoMega
- PowerChip
- MicroChip
- WAFT
- SSC
Products and services
- ioNext Photonic Integrated Circuit Platform Glass-based Photonic Integrated Circuit (PIC) / Planar Lightwave Circuit (PLC) platform manufactured via proprietary ion-exchange process, offering <0.15 dB/cm propagation loss, <1 mm bend radius, 400-2000 nm operation, and intrinsic polarization-maintaining performance (PER >20 dB). Used by industrial OEMs building datacom, telecom, sensing, and quantum-photonic systems.
- WAFT (Waveguide Array to Fiber Transposers) Interposers Glass interposers providing coupling between optical fiber arrays and high-confinement photonic integrated circuits (Si, SiN, InP). Three variants — EC-WAFT (edge-coupling), TC-WAFT (top-coupling), EV-WAFT (evanescent coupling) — with up to 256 optical ports and pitch down to 15 µm. Targets PIC manufacturers needing efficient fiber-array packaging.
- SSC (Spot Size Converters) Spot Size Converters enabling mode-field-diameter conversion for efficient coupling between photonic integrated circuits and optical fibers, integrated with WAFT interposers for advanced packaging schemes.
- Custom Photonic Integrated Circuits (PICs/PLCs) Customized glass-based photonic integrated circuits manufactured via ion-exchange process, with 4-week turnaround. Building blocks include splitters, directional couplers, star couplers, MUX/DEMUX, AWGs, polarizers, and Bragg gratings. Sold to OEMs and research institutions for prototyping and volume production.
- Custom Arrayed Waveguide Gratings (AWG) Custom AWG-based multiplexers and demultiplexers with low PDL and high channel isolation (>25 dB), supporting CWDM, LWDM, and DWDM configurations in C-band, O-band, and SWIR wavelengths. Used in datacom and telecom networks.
- Picomove Interferometers Compact, stable, high-performance interferometers based on a monolithic ioNext chip in a high-grade casing, providing picometer-scale displacement and vibration measurements at an eye-safe 1.55 µm wavelength and compatible with commercial telecom laser sources.
- Photonic Assembly and Packaging Services Full-service photonics integration including optical design, dicing, polishing, chip shaping, pigtailing, testing, and assembly, based on 20+ years of photonics integration experience. Sold to OEMs requiring custom packaging of photonic integrated circuits.
- Microchip Series Sub-Nanosecond Lasers (SNP, SNG, SNV, SNU) Passively Q-switched microchip lasers producing sub-nanosecond pulses with pulse durations from 100 ps to 3000 ps, repetition rates up to 130 kHz, and wavelengths from 213 nm deep UV to 1064 nm IR, with air-cooled operation. Used in LiDAR, PCB repair, scientific research, and sensing.
- PowerChip Series High-Peak-Power Microchip Lasers (PNP, PNG, PNV, PNU, PND) High-peak-power passively Q-switched microchip lasers in an integrated laser head, power supply, and air-cooling package, with peak power up to 160 kW (IR), 85 kW (green), and 70 kW (UV), compact and rugged turnkey design. Targeted at OEM industrial applications.
- PicoSpear Amplified Microchip Laser Series Amplified microchip laser series delivering sub-nanosecond pulses as short as 250 ps and peak power exceeding 260 kW, with Gaussian TEM00 beam profile (M² = 1.2) and air-cooled sealed packaging. Used in LiDAR, laser ranging, PCB repair, and material ablation by industrial OEMs.
- PicoMega Compact Amplified Laser Series Compact amplified laser platform with microchip seeder and MOFA (Master Oscillator Fiber Amplifier) amplification producing pulses as short as 120 ps at repetition rates up to 150 kHz, with a single longitudinal mode option. Targets OEM industrial and scientific integration.
- PicoOne Compact Amplified Laser Series Compact amplified laser platform using microchip seeder and MOFA amplification, producing 650 ps pulses at up to 100 kHz and 700 mW average power, with single-emission-frequency operation. Targets OEM industrial integration.
- 2 Micron Pulsed Microchip Laser Mid-infrared pulsed source with tunable wavelength from 1.94 to 1.96 µm or fixed at 1.95 µm, pulse energy up to 270 µJ and repetition rate up to 5 kHz. Used for LiDAR, atmospheric gas detection, and medical procedures.
- Mid-IR Widely Tunable OPO Source Optical Parametric Oscillator (OPO) source with wide spectral tunability — 7.5 to 13 µm (LWIR) or 3 to 5 µm (MWIR) — narrow linewidth down to 100 MHz, and peak power up to 100 W. Used for LiDAR remote gas detection.
- Laser Controllers (BLC, MLC, ALC, PCR Series) Controllers for Teem Photonics laser platforms including BLC-06A-MR1 for PicoSpear, MLC series for Microchip, ALC series for PicoOne/PicoMega, and PCR modules for CDRH compliance, providing RS232 communication, status LEDs, temperature protection, and automatic parameter acquisition. Sold alongside laser heads to OEM customers.
Quantifiable outcome
- Peak power exceeding 200 kW in a compact amplified microchip laser (PicoSpear 260K, 250 ps pulses)
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Teem Photonics
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Teem Photonics technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Teem Photonics partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Circuits Multi-Projets (CMP)coreCMP and Teem Photonics partnership makes Teem Photonics processes available for prototyping and low-volume production through CMP. Universities, research labs, and industrial companies can access design and manufacturing of photonics circuits on glass substrates via CMP's services, along with a range of coupling and packaging solutions including WAFT Waveguide Array for Fiber Transposer devices.
- PHIX Photonics AssemblycorePHIX Photonics Assembly and TEEM Photonics joined forces to scale up WAFT (Waveguide Array to Fiber Transposer) assembly manufacturing. The collaboration enables customers to get prototype designs off the lab alignment stage and provides an off-the-shelf solution for multiple chip platforms. Pre-assembled glass WAFT to Fiber array solutions are offered to support early development phases and volume manufacturing.
- ONERA and THALES R&TminorThe 2 µm pulsed microchip laser was developed in partnership with ONERA and THALES R&T as part of a project funded by the French Directorate General of Armaments (DGA).
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Teem Photonics competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Lumentum: Former parent of Teem's microchip laser line (acquired 2005) and a leading manufacturer of pulsed lasers, optical components, and photonic modules for industrial, telecom, and datacom applications. Directly comparable in lasers; broader scale and product portfolio.
- nLIGHT: US-based manufacturer of high-power semiconductor and fiber lasers targeting industrial, aerospace, and defense OEMs. Comparable customer profile (OEM integration) and overlap with Teem's pulse laser product lines.
- HÜBNER Photonics: European pulsed laser specialist (formerly part of Hübner Group, now Cobolt/Hubner brand) producing passively Q-switched and actively modulated lasers for OEM integration. Closest pure-play comparable to Teem's microchip laser business.
- Effect Photonics: Dutch integrated photonics company producing coherent optical modules using Indium Phosphide and silicon nitride PICs. Compares to Teem on the PIC side but on a competing (semiconductor rather than glass) platform.
- VLC Photonics: Spanish photonic integrated circuit design house and pure-play foundry offering indium phosphide, silicon nitride, and polymer PIC design services. Comparable business model to Teem's PDK/foundry offering but on non-glass platforms.
Broad incumbents
- Hamamatsu Photonics: Large Japanese photonics manufacturer offering pulsed lasers, photonic devices, and optical sensors across industrial, biomedical, and scientific markets. Overlaps with Teem in pulsed lasers and photonic modules, but at much greater scale and breadth.
- Coherent (II-VI/Coherent Corp.): Global vertically integrated photonics conglomerate producing solid-state, fiber, and diode lasers plus PICs and materials. Competes with Teem's laser business in industrial OEM and is many orders of magnitude larger.
- Thorlabs: Broad-line photonics components and instruments supplier including pulsed lasers, optical fibers, and integrated photonics components. Direct overlap with Teem's PIC and laser catalog from a distribution-led, multi-thousand-SKU model.
Emerging players
- PHIX Photonics Assembly: European photonic packaging specialist and explicit Teem partner (WAFT collaboration). Comparable in the PIC-to-fiber packaging bottleneck Teem's WAFT targets; an adjacent rather than directly competing peer.
- Ligentec: Swiss/European silicon nitride PIC foundry with fast-turn prototyping similar to Teem's CMP-enabled offering. Comparable foundry customer base in research and industrial PIC prototyping.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Teem Photonics social profiles
Digital presenceTeem Photonics financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Teem Photonics leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Teem Photonics funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds6 records
Investors10 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Teem Photonics M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Teem Photonics
What does Teem Photonics do?
Teem Photonics manufactures passively Q-switched microchip pulsed lasers (sub-nanosecond pulses, IR to deep UV wavelengths, peak power exceeding 200 kW) and glass-based Photonic Integrated Circuits (ioNext platform, PICs/PLCs) produced via a proprietary ion-exchange waveguide process. The company also supplies WAFT interposers for fiber-array-to-PIC coupling, custom AWGs, Picomove interferometers, and PIC packaging/assembly services for OEM customers in industrial, sensing, biomedical, defense, and datacom markets.
Is Teem Photonics a public or private company?
Teem Photonics is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Teem Photonics founded?
Teem Photonics was founded in 1998. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Teem Photonics based?
Teem Photonics is headquartered in Meylan, France, in the Europe region.
How does Teem Photonics make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Laser Products Sales are the primary driver. The others are photonic Integrated Circuit (PIC/PLC) Products and foundry and Manufacturing Services.
Who are Teem Photonics's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Lumentum, nLIGHT, HÜBNER Photonics, Effect Photonics and VLC Photonics. Broad incumbents are Hamamatsu Photonics, Coherent (II-VI/Coherent Corp.) and Thorlabs. Emerging players are PHIX Photonics Assembly and Ligentec.
Does Teem Photonics have an API?
No public API is recorded for Teem Photonics.
What industry is Teem Photonics in?
Teem Photonics's product category is Photonics Components. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDAHALAL, Optoelectronic Emitters (LED/Laser/VCSEL), with a secondary code of HDAHACAG, Optoelectronic / Photonics Foundries (Silicon Photonics/LED/Laser). Its NAICS code is 33441 and its SIC code is 3827.