GLOphotonics
GLOphotonics is a Limoges, France-based deep-tech company that designs and manufactures Hollow-Core Photonic Crystal Fiber (HCPCF) and Photonic MicroCell (PMC) components for laser beam delivery, pulse compression, telecom, spectroscopy, and quantum technology applications, serving research institutes, industrial laser users, and defense customers worldwide.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersLimoges, France
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What GLOphotonics does
GLOphotonics is a privately held French deep-tech company headquartered in Limoges that designs and manufactures gas-phase photonic components built on proprietary Hollow-Core Photonic Crystal Fiber (HCPCF) technology and its functionalized derivative, the Photonic MicroCell™ (PMC). Its fiber guides light in a hollow channel surrounded by microstructured cladding, achieving loss figures below 10 dB/km in the inhibited-coupling configuration and enabling high-power and ultra-short pulse handling that conventional solid-core fibers cannot match. The product portfolio spans bespoke HCPCF fibers (UV, Blue, Green, NIR, and SWIR variants), Beam Delivery Systems, the FastLas pulse compression module, the CombLas multi-line Raman laser source, telecom-oriented hollow-core patchcords, the PowerLink configurable gas-fillable platform, and quantum technology products including the CES 2023 Innovation Award-winning Photonic-MicroCell-Atomic-Clock and frequency references for spectroscopy.
The company operates on a predominantly custom/bespoke revenue model, charging via quote on solutions that range from one-off specialty fibers to complete integrated systems at TRL3 through TRL9, supplemented by hardware sales of its branded product lines and R&D services with European research partners. Its 2 fiber drawing towers, ISO Level 7 clean rooms, and 150 m² of fabrication capacity support vertical integration from preform drawing through to hermetically sealed microcell modules. GTM is hybrid: direct enterprise sales for complex custom work from Limoges, augmented by six dedicated regional distributors across China, Japan, and Korea, and active participation in CLEO, SPIE Photonics West, Laser World of Photonics, OPIE, CIOE, and EPIC meetings.
The company serves six primary use-case segments: laser micro-machining and material microprocessing, bio-photonics, telecom/datacom, sensing and frequency reference, advanced sciences and defense, and quantum technology. Its customers include CERN for Large Hadron Collider improvement work, alongside a network of research institutes (CNRS-University of Limoges, University of Bath, University of Bologna, University of Innsbruck, Wigner Institute) and industrial laser OEMs. The company's growth is anchored by ongoing EU-funded quantum consortia (Cryst3, V-Mag) and a 2020 strategic investment from TRUMPF.
GLOphotonics firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- GLOphotonics
- Legal name
- GLOphotonics
- Website
- https://glophotonics.fr
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- GLOphotonics is a Limoges, France-based deep-tech company that designs and manufactures Hollow-Core Photonic Crystal Fiber (HCPCF) and Photonic MicroCell (PMC) components for laser beam delivery, pulse compression, telecom, spectroscopy, and quantum technology applications, serving research institutes, industrial laser users, and defense customers worldwide.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
GLOphotonics industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Specialty Photonic Fiber Components
- NAICS
- Fiber Optic Cable Manufacturing (335921)
- SIC
- Optical Instruments & Lenses (3827)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Fiber Optic Cabling (Singlemode/Multimode) (HDAFALAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Quantum Photonics & Quantum Imaging (Single-Photon, Lidar, Ghost Imaging) (HDAGAHAF), Quantum Sensor Components & Subsystems (Lasers, Vacuum, Photonics, Diamond/NV, MEMS) (HDAGAHAM)
Keywords
Where GLOphotonics is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Limoges
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices5 records
Markets served
GLOphotonics business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- Custom/Bespoke Fiber and Component Sales: Sale of highly tailored Hollow-Core Photonic Crystal Fibers and bespoke photonic components and systems, ranging from TRL3 to TRL9 technology readiness levels
- Beam Delivery Products: Sale of beam delivery product family including patchcords, BDS, BDC for ultra-fast and high-power lasers
- FastLas Pulse Compression Systems: Scalable pulse compression modules for ultra-short laser pulse shortening
- CombLas Frequency Conversion Lasers: Multi-line Raman laser sources spanning UV-VIS spectral range for spectroscopy and bio-imaging
- Quantum Technology Solutions: Bespoke prototype quantum technology solutions including atomic clocks, quantum sensors, and entangled photon sources
- R&D Services and Technology Consulting: Custom deep-tech solutions with connections to leading research institutes across Europe, 150 m2 of fabrication facilities
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom/Bespoke Solutions |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels7 records
Marketing channels5 records
GLOphotonics product offering
Product offeringCore offering
GLOphotonics designs, manufactures, and sells specialty hollow-core photonic crystal fiber (HCPCF) products and functionalized gas-filled Photonic MicroCells (PMC). Its portfolio spans bespoke HCPCF fibers optimized for UV to SWIR wavelengths, beam delivery modules for ultra-fast and high-power lasers, pulse compression systems (FastLas), multi-line frequency-conversion lasers (CombLas), telecom hollow-core fibers, frequency references, and photonic-microcell-based quantum technology solutions. Products serve laser micro-machining, bio-photonics, telecom/datacom, sensing, quantum technology, and advanced defense/scientific research customers.
Product overview
GLOphotonics is a French company that designs and produces gas-phase photonic components based on Hollow-Core Photonic Crystal Fiber (HCPCF) technology and its functionalized form, the Photonic MicroCell (PMC). The company offers a multi-product portfolio centered on two core technology platforms: bespoke HCPCF fibers (available in UV, Blue, Green, NIR, and SWIR wavelength variants) and Photonic MicroCell modules. The product ecosystem includes Beam Delivery Systems (Patchcord, BDP, BDC, BDS-HP, BDS-HP-STB) for laser delivery; FastLas for pulse compression; CombLas (UV and Vis) for frequency conversion and multi-line laser generation; PowerLink for configurable gas-fillable fiber platforms; Quantum Technology products including Frequency References (iodine and acetylene PMC) and Quantum Technology Solutions; Telecom hollow-core fiber solutions; and custom Technology Solutions services. The company also developed the PMCAC (Photonic-MicroCell-Atomic-Clock), which won a CES 2023 Innovation Award.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- PowerLink™: Customizable module for integrating gas-filled hollow-core fibers into advanced optical systems, designed for non-linear optics, pulse compression, spectroscopy, and laser physics applications.
- FastLas
- CombLas
- BDS (Beam Delivery System)
- Photonic MicroCell™ (PMC)
- HCPCF (Hollow-Core Photonic Crystal Fiber)
Products and services
- Hollow-Core Photonic Crystal Fiber (HCPCF) Bespoke hollow-core optical fibers with microstructured cladding that guide light in a hollow channel. Available in multiple wavelength-optimized variants including UV (320-380nm), Blue (360-520nm), Green (445-585nm), NIR (700-1150nm), and SWIR (1400-2375nm) ranges. Sold as the foundational product to laser, telecom, and research customers.
- PowerLink Configurable, standard gas-fillable HCPCF platform with hermetic opto-mechanical Photonic MicroCell for non-linear optics, gas spectroscopy, and laser physics applications. Customizable with gas filling, pressure control, and fiber type options.
- Beam Delivery System (BDS) Laser beam delivery modules including Patchcord, BDP (Beam Delivery Patchcord), BDC (Beam Delivery Cable), BDS-HP (high power), and BDS-HP-STB (with active pointing stabilization) and BDS-HP-STB-PM (polarization maintenance). Designed for ultra-fast and high-power laser applications in industrial and research settings.
- FastLas Scalable pulse compression module using gas-filled HCPCF to shorten ultra-short laser pulses to less than 50 fs. Handles wavelengths from UV to IR and energy levels from µJ to hundreds of µJ. Built on IC-HCPCF and PMC technology.
- CombLas Multi-line Raman laser sources generating multiple lasers in a single device. CombLas UV covers 250-400nm (up to 20 lasers) and CombLas Vis covers 350-950nm (more than 20 lasers) for spectroscopy and bio-imaging applications.
- Frequency References Plug-and-play spectroscopic frequency standards based on PMC technology. Iodine-filled PMC for visible spectral range and acetylene-filled PMC for IR telecom band (S-C band). Sold to researchers and instrument manufacturers.
- Quantum Technology Solutions Bespoke prototype solutions for quantum memories, quantum sensing, and entangled photon sources using atom/molecule-filled photonic microcells, offering quantum-limited performances. Custom development services targeting quantum technology developers and integrators.
- IFULS (Integrated Fibered USP Laser System) Fully integrated ultra-fast fibered laser system delivering ultra-short pulses with high peak power, high beam quality, and a fully integrated system design for industrial and research users.
- PMCAC (Photonic-MicroCell-Atomic-Clock) Miniaturized atomic clock using Photonic MicroCell technology with time-keeping accuracy of not losing or gaining 1 millisecond in a millennium — over 100 times better than existing miniature clocks. Sold to quantum and precision timing customers.
- Technology Solutions Custom deep-tech solutions ranging from TRL3 to TRL9 leveraging 2 fiber drawing towers, ISO Level 7 clean rooms, 150 m² of fabrication facilities, and experienced R&D staff for bespoke fiber designs and quantum technology development. Sold as contracted R&D services to research institutes and industrial customers.
Quantifiable outcome
- Loss figures below 10 dB/km achieved in IC-HCPCF technology
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use GLOphotonics
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
GLOphotonics technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
GLOphotonics partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core, major, foundational, partner and regional.
- ALPHA-RLHminorFrench photonics/electronics cluster organizing conferences where GLOphotonics team members present. Thomas Billotte presented at 'Matériaux pour la photonique de demain' conference.
- Cryst3 (Horizon 2020 Project)coreHorizon 2020 funded European project on quantum technologies. GLOphotonics co-organized workshop on Quantum in Photonic Microstructures and works with academic and industrial partners on quantum technology advancement.
- V-Mag ConsortiummajorEuropean quantum technology project at University of Mainz. GLOphotonics providing HCPCF and PMC technology for all-optical vector magnetometry development with applications in physics, biology, geophysics, medicine, navigation and defence.
- CNRS-University of LimogescoreStrong ongoing partnership with CNRS-University of Limoges maintaining innovative edge and technology development. GPPMM research group collaboration including joint workshop organization (Quantum in Photonic Microstructures Workshop).
- EPIC - European Photonics Industry ConsortiummajorActive member participating in technology meetings, delegations, and events. CEO and team members present at EPIC meetings on specialty optical fibers, quantum technology, laser microprocessing, and oceanography applications.
- University of Bath (UK)foundationalFounding research origin - technology spun out from Fetah Benabid's research group at University of Bath, UK, then continued at CNRS France.
- Light ConversionpartnerTechnology collaboration at EPIC meetings on laser microprocessing applications. Joint presentations on new developments and applications.
- CERNmajorCollaboration on Large Hadron Collider improvement - GLOphotonics provided ultrafast laser beam technology using hollow-core photonic crystal fibers for precise guidance of ultrashort laser pulses.
- Leading European Research InstitutespartnerCollaborative research projects with major US and EU academic and research institutes including University of Bologna, University of Innsbruck, Wigner Institute in Budapest.
- Xinuo Photonics (Sinoptix)regionalRegional distribution partner for China market. Shanghai-based office, contact Christy Wang. Hosts CEO at trade events like Laser World of Photonics Shanghai.
- Eachwave Scientific Instrument Co., LtdregionalRegional distribution partner for Hong Kong and Shanghai markets. Contact Dean Deng. Provides local sales and support for GLO products.
- Kantum ElectronicsregionalRegional distribution partner for Japan (Yokohama). Contact Mr Kazuhisa Omi. Provides local sales and technical support.
- AUTEXregionalRegional distribution partner for Japan (Tokyo). Contact Mr Hiroshi Yamamoto. Supports local market coverage.
- I-WaveregionalRegional distribution partner for Japan (Tokyo). Contact Kosuke Takezawa. Provides local sales support.
- AYIN Technology CorporationregionalRegional distribution partner for Korea (Suwon-si, Gyeonggi-do). Provides local market coverage and support.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
GLOphotonics competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- NKT Photonics: Danish specialty fiber manufacturer offering photonic crystal fibers, supercontinuum sources, and ultrafast lasers. Directly comparable to GLOphotonics as a specialty fiber company serving quantum, bio-photonics, and laser delivery markets, though significantly larger and broader in product range.
- Lumenisity (Microsoft): Hollow-core fiber specialist acquired by Microsoft in 2022 for low-latency datacenter applications. Closest direct peer in hollow-core photonic crystal fiber technology, particularly for telecom/datacom use cases that overlap with GLOphotonics' telecom offering.
Broad incumbents
- OFS (Furukawa Electric): Major specialty and telecom fiber manufacturer (subsidiary of Furukawa Electric) producing a wide range of optical fibers including bend-insensitive, rare-earth-doped, and photonic fibers. Comparable as a large incumbent in the optical fiber space with much greater scale and broader product portfolio.
- Coherent Corp: Large photonics and laser components company (formerly II-VI) offering fiber optics, lasers, and materials processing solutions. Overlaps with GLOphotonics in laser beam delivery components and materials processing applications, though at much greater scale across multiple markets.
- Thorlabs: Broad photonics components catalog company serving research, OEM, and industrial customers with optical fibers, lasers, and opto-mechanical components. Comparable as a supplier of specialty fiber and photonics components to the same research and OEM customer base that GLOphotonics serves.
- Sumitomo Electric Lightwave: Major manufacturer of optical fiber cables and connectivity products for telecom and enterprise networks. Comparable as a large-scale optical fiber company with established telecom channels that could compete in hollow-core fiber for telecom applications.
- Hamamatsu Photonics: Japanese photonics manufacturer of photodetectors, light sources, and imaging systems. Overlaps with GLOphotonics in photonic components for sensing, bio-imaging, and quantum applications, though with a much broader product catalog and global scale.
- Exail (formerly iXblue): French photonics and quantum sensing company offering fiber-optic gyroscopes, atomic clocks, and quantum sensors. Comparable as a European photonics company with quantum sensing products that overlap with GLOphotonics' PMCAC atomic clock and quantum sensing solutions.
Emerging players
- ID Quantique: Swiss quantum technology company offering quantum key distribution, quantum random number generators, and single-photon detectors. Comparable as an emerging player in the quantum technology ecosystem where GLOphotonics' PMC and quantum solutions also compete.
- OptaCore: Emerging specialty fiber company developing hollow-core and photonic bandgap fibers for telecom and sensing. Comparable as a smaller emerging player in the hollow-core fiber space, focused on similar use cases in telecommunications and data center connectivity.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
GLOphotonics social profiles
Digital presenceGLOphotonics financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
GLOphotonics leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
GLOphotonics funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
GLOphotonics 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 GLOphotonics
What does GLOphotonics do?
GLOphotonics designs, manufactures, and sells specialty hollow-core photonic crystal fiber (HCPCF) products and functionalized gas-filled Photonic MicroCells (PMC). Its portfolio spans bespoke HCPCF fibers optimized for UV to SWIR wavelengths, beam delivery modules for ultra-fast and high-power lasers, pulse compression systems (FastLas), multi-line frequency-conversion lasers (CombLas), telecom hollow-core fibers, frequency references, and photonic-microcell-based quantum technology solutions. Products serve laser micro-machining, bio-photonics, telecom/datacom, sensing, quantum technology, and advanced defense/scientific research customers.
Is GLOphotonics a public or private company?
GLOphotonics is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was GLOphotonics founded?
GLOphotonics was founded in 2015. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is GLOphotonics based?
GLOphotonics is headquartered in Limoges, France, in the Europe region.
How does GLOphotonics make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Custom/Bespoke Fiber and Component Sales are the primary driver. The others are beam Delivery Products, fastLas Pulse Compression Systems, combLas Frequency Conversion Lasers, quantum Technology Solutions and R&D Services and Technology Consulting.
Who are GLOphotonics's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are NKT Photonics and Lumenisity (Microsoft). Broad incumbents are OFS (Furukawa Electric), Coherent Corp, Thorlabs, Sumitomo Electric Lightwave, Hamamatsu Photonics and Exail (formerly iXblue). Emerging players are ID Quantique and OptaCore.
Does GLOphotonics have an API?
No public API is recorded for GLOphotonics.
What industry is GLOphotonics in?
GLOphotonics's product category is Specialty Photonic Fiber Components. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDAFALAB, Fiber Optic Cabling (Singlemode/Multimode), with a secondary code of HDAGAHAF, Quantum Photonics & Quantum Imaging (Single-Photon, Lidar, Ghost Imaging). Its NAICS code is 335921 and its SIC code is 3827.