Alpes Lasers

What Alpes Lasers does

Alpes Lasers is a Swiss engineering company founded in 1998 and headquartered in St-Blaise, Switzerland that pioneered Quantum Cascade Laser (QCL) commercialization approximately 25 years ago. The company designs and manufactures mid-infrared photonic light sources — Quantum Cascade Lasers, Interband Cascade Lasers (ICLs), and Short-Wave IR laser diodes — spanning the electromagnetic spectrum from THz through short-wave IR, along with matching housings (HHL, LLH, TO3), electronics (S-2 QCL pulser, S-4 CW driver, TC-3 temperature controller, RF-HHL module), accessories (beam combiners, submounts, cables, starter kits, Laser Pointer), and a tuning family that includes the QC-ET, QC-XT extended-tuning lasers and the GLIDER widely tunable light source.

The company serves a diversified set of verticals: environmental monitoring, healthcare and medical diagnostics, defence and security, industrial and food processing, research and academia, ICT, and aerospace — supporting use cases such as emissions monitoring, breath analysis, pathogen detection, explosives detection, industrial process monitoring, atmospheric sensing, and hyperspectral imaging. Alpes Lasers operates a sales-led B2B go-to-market combining direct field sales, a web-store self-serve channel, and a worldwide agent network; pricing is quote-based with comparable QCL components in the market priced USD 5,000 to USD 50,000 per unit, and the company also generates revenue from custom development, new-wavelength engineering, coatings, and contract research services.

A defining feature of the business model is heavy participation in European public R&D funding: Alpes Lasers currently holds 14 active EU grants (9 H2020 and 5 EUROSTARS), has raised over €10 million in non-dilutive funding over the past four years, and holds the position of most active SME in Switzerland in QCL and mid-IR photonics R&D. The company combines this R&D-funded pipeline with commercial product launches (Compact TE-cooled THz emitters in July 2025, GLIDER in January 2025, RF-HHL Module in 2026), achieved ISO certification in April 2025, and distributes through a refreshed worldwide agent network.

Name

Alpes Lasers

Legal name

Alpes Lasers

Website

https://alpeslasers.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Alpes Lasers is a Swiss engineering company that designs and manufactures mid-infrared photonic light sources — Quantum Cascade Lasers, Interband Cascade Lasers, and Short-Wave IR diodes — used for gas detection, spectroscopy, and sensing across environmental, healthcare, defence, industrial, and aerospace applications globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Semiconductor Lasers and Photonic Components

NAICS

Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing (334516), Electric Lighting Equipment Manufacturing (33513), Semiconductor Machinery Manufacturing (333242)

SIC

Optical Instruments & Lenses (3827), Semiconductors & Related Devices (3674), Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826)

akta.pro primary industry

Optoelectronic Emitters (LED/Laser/VCSEL) (HDAHALAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Optical & Light Sensors (Photodiodes/ALS/Color/UV) (HDAHALAE), Photomask Blanks, Masks & Reticles (Quartz/PELlicles) (HDAHAGAD)

Keywords

• Quantum cascade lasers
• Interband cascade lasers
• Mid-infrared photonics
• Gas detection sensors
• Short-wave IR diodes

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint-blaise

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Laser Sources Sales: Sale of Quantum Cascade Lasers, Interband Cascade Lasers, and Short-Wave IR laser diodes. Products available as off-the-shelf items or custom-developed for specific applications.
2. Packaging and Integration Services: Mounting and packaging of laser chips on heat-carrying substrates with electrical connections. Includes HHL, LLH, and TO3 housing options.
3. Accessories and Ancillary Equipment: Sale of complementary products including drivers (S-2, S-4), temperature controllers (TC-3), beam combiners, cables, and submounts
4. Custom Development Projects: R&D contract work and development projects, including new wavelength development and specialized coating services
5. EU Research Grant Participation: Revenue from participation in EU-funded research projects including H2020 and EUROSTARS programs

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Alpes Lasers designs, manufactures, and sells Quantum Cascade Lasers (QCLs), Interband Cascade Lasers (ICLs), and Short-Wave IR laser diodes as off-the-shelf products or custom developments. It also offers laser packaging options (HHL, LLH, TO3 housings), electronic accessories (drivers, temperature controllers, starter kits), and services such as installation, coatings, new wavelength development, and contract R&D. These light sources target gas detection, spectroscopy, medical diagnostics, environmental monitoring, defence, aerospace, and industrial sensing applications.

Product overview

Alpes Lasers is a Swiss engineering company that produces a comprehensive portfolio of advanced laser sources spanning Quantum Cascade Lasers (QCLs), Interband Cascade Lasers (ICLs), and Short-Wave IR laser diodes. The product portfolio includes: (1) Core Laser Sources - Quantum Cascade Lasers, Interband Cascade Lasers, and Short-Wave IR Laser Diodes as the foundational products covering a broad range of the electromagnetic spectrum; (2) Laser Variants including Room Temperature CW and Pulsed Single Mode Lasers (DFB), High Power Lasers (1W+ average, 9W+ peak), High Peak Power Lasers (20W+ peak), Frequency Comb Lasers, Broad Gain Illuminators, Extended/eXtended Tuning Lasers (QC-ET, QC-XT), Cryogenic Single Mode Lasers, and Compact TE cooled THz emitters; (3) Packaging Options - HHL (sealed, compact), LLH (versatile, research-grade), and TO3 (small OEM) housings; (4) Electronics & Accessories - S-4 CW Driver (500mA-2A), S-2 QCL Pulser, TC-3 Temperature Controller, Starter Kits (CW and Pulsed), Beam Combiner, Laser Pointer, RF-HHL Laser Module, Submounts, and various connecting cables; (5) Services including Installation, Start-up, Coatings, New Wavelength Development, and Contract Research. The products serve applications across Bio/Aggro/Food, Medical/Health, Environment, Industry 4.0, ICT, Basic Science, Defence/Security, and Aerospace sectors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Quantum Cascade Lasers (QCLs)

Quantifiable outcome

• Detection sensitivity down to ppm or ppb levels
• +4 more outcomes

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Ulm UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2023Collaborating with Alpes Lasers in the NETHELIX project to develop novel smart portable sensors for simultaneous measurement and control of harmful gases in underground and open-pit mines. The university provides research expertise in quantum cascade laser applications.
• CSEM Centre Suisse d'Electronique et de Microtechnique SAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2023Swiss research institution collaborating on NETHELIX project, providing expertise in electronics and microtechnology development for gas sensing applications.
• Sandvik Mining and Construction OymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead partner in NETHELIX project representing the mining sector, providing requirements and end-user perspective for gas detection solutions in mining operations.
• FORTHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in DemosAxia project focusing on strategy development, innovation, training and outreach activities in South-East and South-West Europe.
• INSminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in DemosAxia project for strategy development and innovation activities.
• CEA-LetiminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in DemosAxia project, contributing to innovation and technology transfer activities.
• Altus LSAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in NETHELIX project focused on commercial and manufacturing aspects.
• Technical University of FreibergminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner in NETHELIX providing research expertise.
• NTUA (National Technical University of Athens)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner contributing to NETHELIX project research activities.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Broad incumbents

• Hamamatsu Photonics: Large Japanese photonics incumbent offering mid-IR light sources, detectors, and spectroscopic systems. Competes with Alpes Lasers in QCL/ICL sources but as part of a much broader portfolio.
• Thorlabs: Broad photonics and laser components supplier with growing mid-IR/THz capabilities (including AdTech Optics); competes with Alpes Lasers across multiple product lines and provides global scale that Alpes Lasers lacks.

Direct peers

• nanoplus Nanosystems: Manufacturer of distributed feedback (DFB) laser diodes in the near- and mid-infrared, overlapping with Alpes Lasers' ICL and SWIR diode offerings for gas sensing and spectroscopy.
• Daylight Solutions (Leonardo DRS): A direct competitor in QCL-based products for defense, spectroscopy, and industrial sensing; now owned by Leonardo DRS, giving it significantly larger commercial reach into defense primes. Closest direct overlap with Alpes Lasers' QCL/mid-IR portfolio.
• Block Engineering: Develops QCL-based mid-IR spectrometers and laser systems for chemical detection and standoff sensing, directly competing in defense/security and industrial spectroscopy segments where Alpes Lasers sells its tunable QCLs.
• mirSense: French developer of QCL-based multi-gas sensing modules and laser sources for industrial, environmental, and defense applications. Highly comparable to Alpes Lasers' QCL/ICL source portfolio and use cases.
• AdTech Optics (Thorlabs): QCL manufacturer acquired by Thorlabs, producing mid-IR quantum cascade laser products for spectroscopy and sensing. Directly comparable to Alpes Lasers' core QCL offering, with the added scale of Thorlabs' global distribution.
• Sacher Lasertechnik: German manufacturer of tunable external-cavity diode lasers and mid-IR laser systems used in spectroscopy and sensing; directly comparable to Alpes Lasers' tunable QC-ET, QC-XT, and GLIDER products.

Emerging players

• Aeris Technologies: Builds QCL-based trace gas detection instruments for environmental, security, and industrial monitoring; an application-layer peer that sources mid-IR lasers similar to Alpes Lasers' components.
• Praevium Research: Developer of VCSELs, quantum cascade lasers, and broadband sources for sensing and imaging; a smaller but technically focused peer competing in mid-IR/THz laser sources.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/AlpesLasers
• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=7I91pbZiT3o&t=1s
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/alpes-lasers-s-a-

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Alpes Lasers