Solnil
SOLNIL is a Marseille-based deep-tech startup developing inorganic printable resists and etch-free nano-imprint lithography processes for fabricating photonic metasurfaces and optical components, primarily serving augmented reality hardware manufacturers and high-power laser system makers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2020
- HeadquartersMarseille, France
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Solnil does
SOLNIL is a Marseille-based deep-tech startup that develops inorganic printable materials and etch-free nano-imprint lithography (NIL) processes for the large-scale fabrication of photonic metasurfaces, anti-reflection coatings, and advanced optical components. The company's core platform combines two proprietary printable resists — HiRI-COAT (TiO2-based, with ultra-high refractive index up to 2.6) and AIR-COAT (SiO2-based, with ultra-low refractive index down to 1.12) — deposited via spin- or dip-coating at room temperature and atmospheric pressure. According to SOLNIL, this approach eliminates the vacuum, etching, UV, and lift-off steps required by incumbent top-down lithographic methods, delivering claimed CapEx reductions of more than 50x and CoO reductions of more than 4x.
The technology underpins five application areas: augmented reality near-eye displays (the strategic priority, supported by the EU-funded METAPRINT project), metalenses, high-power laser optics, structural colour, and microfluidics for DNA sequencing. In AR, the high-refractive-index meta-atoms enable diffractive waveguide near-eye displays with a field of view of up to 62 degrees — a 40% improvement over existing market offerings. In high-power laser applications, the nano-imprinted anti-reflection coatings achieve laser-induced damage thresholds exceeding 40 J/cm² at 1064 nm with no fatigue or incubation effects across 1 to 1000 pulses.
SOLNIL operates a B2B technology-licensing and custom-fabrication business model, monetising its patented NIL processes, printable resists, and pilot production capabilities through direct engagement with enterprise customers in AR and photonics. The company has secured EUR 2.47 million in non-dilutive Horizon Europe EIC Transition 2024 funding for the METAPRINT project, is a member of the AR Alliance (a division of SPIE), and conducts commercial outreach through trade fairs including LASER World of PHOTONICS, TechBlick, Touch Taiwan, and OPTICA OIC. SOLNIL is privately held as a French SAS with 1–10 employees.
Solnil firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Solnil
- Legal name
- SOLNIL
- Website
- https://solnil.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2020
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- SOLNIL is a Marseille-based deep-tech startup developing inorganic printable resists and etch-free nano-imprint lithography processes for fabricating photonic metasurfaces and optical components, primarily serving augmented reality hardware manufacturers and high-power laser system makers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Solnil industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Photonics Materials and Nano-Imprint Lithography
- NAICS
- Paint and Coating Manufacturing (325510)
- SIC
- Optical Instruments & Lenses (3827)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Optics & Laser/Light Engine Components (Lenses, Galvos, Laser Modules, UV Engines) (IMAAAIAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Optoelectronic / Photonics Foundries (Silicon Photonics/LED/Laser) (HDAHACAG), Photoresists & Lithography Chemicals (Resists/Developers/Anti-Reflective Coatings) (HDAHAGAE)
Keywords
Where Solnil is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Marseille
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Solnil business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Technology licensing and materials supply for nano-imprint photonic components: SOLNIL licenses its patented nano-imprint technology and supplies inorganic printable resists to AR hardware developers and photonics manufacturers. Revenue is generated through technology licensing, material supply contracts, and potentially pilot production line development (METAPRINT project).
- Custom photonic component fabrication and pilot production: The company provides custom nano-fabricated optical components (anti-reflection coatings, diffraction gratings, meta-surfaces) for augmented reality, high-power lasers, and other photonics applications. METAPRINT project targets a pilot-production line on 200 mm flat wafers and 100 mm curved wafers.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels6 records
Solnil product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Solnil develops proprietary inorganic printable resins (TiO2-based HiRI-COAT with ultra-high refractive index up to 2.6 and SiO2-based AIR-COAT with ultra-low refractive index down to 1.12) and an etch-free, room-temperature nano-imprint lithography process for large-scale fabrication of photonic metasurfaces, anti-reflection coatings, diffraction gratings, metalenses, structural colour pixels, and microfluidic flow cells. The company's technology serves application-specific photonic components for augmented reality near-eye displays, high-power laser systems, metalenses, structural colour, and DNA sequencing / microfluidics customers.
Product overview
SOLNIL is a deep-tech startup developing inorganic printable materials (HiRI-COAT with ultra-high refractive index up to 2.6 and AIR-COAT with ultra-low refractive index down to 1.12) and etch-free nano-imprint lithography processes for large-scale fabrication of photonic metasurfaces, advanced optical coatings, and components. The company's core offering is its materials-and-process platform that enables cost-effective, scalable manufacturing of optical nanostructures without traditional etching steps. This platform underpins multiple application areas including Augmented Reality near-eye displays (NEDs), Metalenses, High Power Laser optics, Structural Colour, and Microfluidics. The METAPRINT project specifically targets AR smart-glasses via nano-imprint lithography of titania-based meta-optics.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Nano-Imprint Materials for Advanced Photonics (HiRI-COAT and AIR-COAT) Inorganic printable resins (TiO2-based HiRI-COAT with refractive index up to 2.6 and SiO2-based AIR-COAT with refractive index down to 1.12) supplied with an etch-free, room-temperature nano-imprint lithography process for large-scale fabrication of photonic metasurfaces, anti-reflection coatings, and advanced optical components. Targeted at AR hardware manufacturers, photonics companies, high-power laser system makers, and advanced photonics R&D teams.
- Augmented Reality Optics Nano-imprinted high- and low-refractive-index gratings for light in-coupling and out-coupling in augmented reality near-eye displays (NEDs) based on diffractive waveguides, enabling field of view up to 62 degrees at RI = 2.6. Designed for AR device makers and smart glasses developers.
- Metalenses Ultra-high (HiRI-COAT, RI = 2.55) and ultra-low (AIR-COAT, RI = 1.12) refractive index materials enabling metalenses with 600 nm meta-atom heights, one-step fabrication, high RI contrast, and multilayer stacking for advanced wavefront shaping. Targeted at metalens developers and photonics researchers building flat optics for imaging, sensing, and photonic integration.
- High Power Laser Optics Broadband and wide-angle anti-reflection nanostructures (moth-eye) and diffraction gratings fabricated via nano-imprint lithography on glass, fused silica, and sapphire, achieving LIDT greater than 40 J/cm2 at 1064 nm with 12 ns pulses, transmission above 98% up to 50 degree incidence angles, reflection below 0.5% per face, and spectral bandwidths of 400-1400 nm or 800-2000 nm. Targeted at industrial laser, lidar, directed-energy, and semiconductor capital equipment manufacturers.
- Structural Colour Nano-imprinted TiO2 RGB pixels producing structural colour via interference and diffraction effects, with hydrophobic SiO2 surfaces achieving water contact angles up to 150 degrees. Targeted at display manufacturers, BIPV facade developers, anti-counterfeiting feature makers, colour filter producers, and ink-free printing companies.
- Microfluidics Nano-patterned SiO2 and TiO2 flow cells for advanced microfluidics and DNA sequencing, featuring 200 nm bowl wells in square or hexagonal arrays for trapping DNA fragments, with durability greater than 100 cycles in high and low pH solutions. Targeted at life sciences and biotech companies developing next-generation DNA sequencing platforms.
Quantifiable outcome
- Field of view increased by 40% vs. current AR market offerings through photonic meta-surfaces (METAPRINT)
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use Solnil
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Solnil technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature7 records
Solnil partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and moderate.
- AR Alliance (SPIE)coreSOLNIL joined the AR Alliance, a division of SPIE focused on augmented reality, as a member alongside 17 other companies (AlphaLum, Appotronics, Augmenteum, CREAL, EyeJets, GIS, Gixel, Goertek, Kyocera SLD Laser, Nichia America Corporation, OORYM Optics, OQmented, RAONTECH, TDK, TechnoTeam, TriLite Technologies, and University of Rochester). The alliance aims to harmonize approaches for advancing and growing the global AR supply chain while accelerating innovation in the augmented reality hardware development ecosystem.
- PhotonHub EuropemoderatePhotonHub Europe is listed as a supporting partner/organization on SOLNIL's website. PhotonHub is a European photonics innovation hub providing support for SME technology development and commercialization.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Solnil competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Dispelix: Finnish developer of diffractive waveguides for AR/MR near-eye displays, serving consumer and enterprise OEMs. Direct comparable as Solnil's METAPRINT metasurfaces target the same in-coupling/out-coupling function in AR glasses.
- Lumus: Israeli pioneer of reflective waveguide technology for AR smart-glasses with manufacturing partnerships (Schott, Quanta). Direct peer in the AR waveguide/component supply chain that Solnil's printable-resin gratings also serve.
- Metalenz: US-based metalens startup commercialising high-RI meta-optics for consumer electronics and automotive sensing (partnered with STMicroelectronics). Direct competitor in the ultra-thin flat-optics / high-RI metasurface category Solnil targets.
- WaveOptics (Snap Inc.): UK diffractive waveguide developer acquired by Snap Inc. for Spectacles AR. Direct comparable as a dedicated AR waveguide supplier now backed by a hyperscale consumer platform buyer.
- Morphotonics: Dutch roll-to-plate and roll-to-roll nano-imprint lithography equipment and process provider for optical applications including AR waveguides. Peer in the NIL manufacturing-platform category with overlapping target markets.
- NIL Technology: Danish nano-imprint lithography specialist supplying diffractive optical elements, meta-optics, and nanostructured components to AR, laser, and sensing customers. Closest direct competitor — same NIL process platform, same target customer base in AR waveguides and photonics.
Broad incumbents
- ams OSRAM: Global optical-sensing, micro-display, and photonic-components incumbent (including the former Heptagon optics business). Broad incumbent that could license or compete with Solnil's metasurface/AR-coating IP.
- Magic Leap: US AR smart-glasses and optics platform developer with proprietary waveguide manufacturing. Broad incumbent in Solnil's primary AR end-market and a potential customer for NIL-printed waveguide components.
Others
- EV Group: Austrian supplier of nano-imprint lithography equipment (EVG® NIL systems) used worldwide for photonics, AR waveguide, and semiconductor manufacturing. Adjacent enabling vendor whose tools Solnil's customers (and competitors) deploy.
Emerging players
- Holo/Or: Israeli designer and manufacturer of diffractive optical elements and micro-optics for laser, biomedical, and AR applications. Emerging peer in the same micro/nano-optics niche with overlapping laser and AR customers.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Solnil social profiles
Digital presenceSolnil compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Solnil financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Solnil leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Solnil funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Solnil 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 Solnil
What does Solnil do?
Solnil develops proprietary inorganic printable resins (TiO2-based HiRI-COAT with ultra-high refractive index up to 2.6 and SiO2-based AIR-COAT with ultra-low refractive index down to 1.12) and an etch-free, room-temperature nano-imprint lithography process for large-scale fabrication of photonic metasurfaces, anti-reflection coatings, diffraction gratings, metalenses, structural colour pixels, and microfluidic flow cells. The company's technology serves application-specific photonic components for augmented reality near-eye displays, high-power laser systems, metalenses, structural colour, and DNA sequencing / microfluidics customers.
Is Solnil a public or private company?
Solnil is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Solnil founded?
Solnil was founded in 2020. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Solnil based?
Solnil is headquartered in Marseille, France, in the Europe region.
How does Solnil make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Technology licensing and materials supply for nano-imprint photonic components are the primary driver. The others are custom photonic component fabrication and pilot production.
Who are Solnil's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Dispelix, Lumus, Metalenz, WaveOptics (Snap Inc.), Morphotonics and NIL Technology. Broad incumbents are ams OSRAM and Magic Leap. EV Group is listed as an others. Holo/Or is listed as an emerging player.
Does Solnil have an API?
No public API is recorded for Solnil.
What industry is Solnil in?
Solnil's product category is Photonics Materials and Nano-Imprint Lithography. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAAAIAC, Optics & Laser/Light Engine Components (Lenses, Galvos, Laser Modules, UV Engines), with a secondary code of HDAHACAG, Optoelectronic / Photonics Foundries (Silicon Photonics/LED/Laser). Its NAICS code is 325510 and its SIC code is 3827.