What Covesion does

Covesion Ltd is a UK-based private photonics component manufacturer specializing in non-linear optical technologies for wavelength conversion, photon generation, and electro-optic modulation. The company's core offering is built on Magnesium-oxide-doped Periodically Poled Lithium Niobate (MgO:PPLN) in both bulk crystal and waveguide formats, supplemented by electro-optic modulators (visible phase, visible amplitude, and telecom variants), temperature controllers with 0.001°C stability, and laser systems obtained through the parent group's portfolio (including the recently acquired Radiantis range). Covesion serves a research-led and OEM customer base spanning quantum technology (QKD, quantum computing, quantum sensing, atomic clocks), laser and scientific instrumentation, environmental and life sciences, aerospace and defense (including maritime quantum navigation), and general photonics research.

The company's value proposition rests on proprietary poling technology enabling multiple grating periods per crystal, quasi-phase matching expertise that eliminates spatial walk-off, and conversion efficiencies up to 70% in waveguide formats. Products span wavelengths from 390 nm to 6 μm in both free-space and fiber-coupled configurations, with ruggedized variants under development for space and maritime deployment. Covesion operates from a headquarters at the University of Southampton Science Park and a manufacturing facility in Nursling, Southampton.

Covesion generates revenue primarily through hardware sales of catalog components and custom-engineered OEM solutions, supplemented by technical sales support and bespoke product design services. Distribution combines direct technical sales (consolidated in 2025 under Hawthorn Photonics Group) with an international distributor network. The company is a brand under Hawthorn Photonics Group alongside AdvR and Radiantis, and participates in multiple Innovate UK-funded research collaborations (HiREP, CASPA, SNORQL, HARLEQUIN). Notable customers and partners include ID Quantique, ORCA Computing, CPI TMD Technologies, CERN, NASA, NIST, Fraunhofer, the University of Southampton, and HighFinesse GmbH.

Name

Covesion

Legal name

Covesion Ltd

Website

https://covesion.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Covesion manufactures MgO:PPLN bulk crystals, waveguides, electro-optic modulators, and laser systems for wavelength conversion, serving quantum technology, scientific instrumentation, aerospace/defense, and photonics research customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Non-linear optical components

NAICS

Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (33451)

SIC

Optical Instruments & Lenses (3827)

akta.pro primary industry

Optoelectronic Components (LEDs, photodiodes, optocouplers, optical sensors) (IMAGAJAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Optoelectronics & Photonics (LED/Laser/Optical ICs) (HDAHAAAH)

Keywords

• Non-linear optical components
• Periodically poled crystals
• Electro-optic modulators
• Frequency conversion devices
• Photonics laser systems

Headquarters

HQ city

Romsey

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Non-linear Optical Components and Crystals: Sale of PPLN bulk crystals, waveguides, fiber-coupled components, and custom optical solutions for frequency conversion applications
2. Electro-optic Modulators: Phase modulators, amplitude modulators, telecom modulators, and custom modulator solutions based on LN, MgO:LN, and KTP technologies
3. Laser Systems: CW and pulsed laser systems including frequency-stabilized and tunable platforms through access to Radiantis range
4. Electronics and Accessories: Temperature controllers, ovens, device mounts, packaging, and custom electronic control systems
5. Custom Engineering and OEM Solutions: Bespoke product design and manufacturing capabilities for non-stock items, custom waveguide and RF electrode design, and application-specific integration support

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Covesion researches, develops, and manufactures non-linear optical components based on MgO:PPLN (magnesium oxide-doped periodically poled lithium niobate) bulk crystals and waveguides for photon generation, frequency conversion, and electro-optic modulation. The product portfolio includes free space and fiber-coupled PPLN crystals and waveguides, visible and telecom electro-optic modulators, CW and pulsed laser systems, temperature controllers, ovens, and custom OEM solutions spanning wavelengths from 390 nm to 6 μm. Customers are research institutions, OEMs, and industrial users in quantum technology, scientific instrumentation, life sciences, aerospace, and defense.

Product overview

Covesion is a non-linear optical technology company that researches, develops, and manufactures products for photon generation, conversion, and modulation. The product portfolio centers on MgO:PPLN (magnesium oxide-doped periodically poled lithium niobate) bulk crystals and waveguides as the core enabling technology, supplemented by a comprehensive range of electro-optic modulators (visible phase modulators, visible amplitude modulators, telecom modulators), laser systems (CW broadly tunable lasers like Titan, locked laser systems, and pulsed OPO systems including ORIA IR, ORIA Blue, Inspire, and Zenith), and essential accessories (temperature controllers, ovens, device mounts and packaging). The company offers both commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) products across free space and fiber-coupled configurations, as well as fully custom solutions for specialized OEM and research applications. Solutions span wavelength ranges from 390nm to 6µm, supporting applications in quantum technology, lasers and scientific instrumentation, environmental/medical/life science, aerospace and defense, and general research.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• MgO:PPLN Bulk Crystal Magnesium oxide-doped periodically poled lithium niobate bulk crystals for highly efficient nonlinear wavelength conversion, available in free space and fiber-coupled configurations. Used by research institutions, OEMs, and industrial customers for frequency conversion from UV to mid-IR (390 nm to 6 μm).
• MgO:PPLN Waveguide Waveguide-based MgO:PPLN components offering maximum conversion efficiency for OEMs and researchers, available in free space and fiber-coupled formats. Conversion efficiencies up to 70% and operation up to Watt level.
• Visible Phase Modulators Fiber-coupled electro-optic phase modulators providing broadband modulation for visible and near-infrared wavelengths, designed for low Vπ, low insertion loss, and high optical power handling.
• Visible Amplitude Modulators Fiber-coupled electro-optic amplitude modulators providing high-speed modulation across visible and NIR wavelengths in compact, integration-ready packages.
• Telecom Modulators X-cut APE lithium niobate phase modulators engineered for low insertion loss, minimal residual amplitude modulation (RAM), and low Vπ at telecom wavelengths.
• Temperature Controllers Compact electronic controllers for maintaining thermal stability within 0.001°C, designed for stable, seamless integration with free space alignments and fiber-coupled components.
• Ovens & Accessories PPLN crystal ovens and mounting accessories providing complete PPLN solutions for free space applications.
• Device Mounts & Packaging Packaging options and mounting solutions designed to enhance durability, stability, and ease of integration for fiber-coupled devices, including protective housings and reinforced fiber jacketing.
• Locked Laser System Fully integrated, turnkey solution delivering automatically stabilized, narrow-linewidth output at 1560 nm/780 nm with exceptional frequency stability for Rb atom applications including quantum sensing, precision timing, and quantum computing.
• Titan CW Broadly Tunable Laser Fully automated continuous-wave OPO delivering mid-infrared output across 1435–4138 nm with multi-watt power, TEM00 beam quality, narrow linewidth, and integrated spectral monitoring.
• Pulsed Laser Systems (ORIA IR, ORIA Blue, Inspire, Zenith) Broadly tunable pulsed optical parametric oscillators (OPOs) delivering rapid, gap-free tuning across 340–4000 nm, including femtosecond (ORIA IR, Inspire) and picosecond (Zenith) systems.
• Custom Modulator Solutions Bespoke electro-optic modulator solutions tailored to specific requirements, including waveguide and RF electrode design along with advanced packaging for unique application needs.
• Custom Waveguide Solutions Custom PPLN crystals and waveguides with tailored poling patterns, including aperiodic and chirped gratings, and bespoke packaging for specialized wavelength conversion requirements.
• Frequency Conversion Solutions Precision-engineered frequency conversion solutions based on bulk and waveguide MgO:PPLN, PPLN, and PPKTP enabling efficient access to wavelengths beyond conventional lasers, including free space up-conversion, down-conversion, and photon pair generation.
• Quantum Frequency Conversion Specialized frequency conversion solutions for quantum applications, including fiber-coupled waveguides optimized for photon pair generation and entanglement for QKD and quantum networking.

Quantifiable outcome

• Waveguide conversion efficiency up to 70% for SHG
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CPI TMD TechnologiescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Partner in HARLEQUIN quantum-hybrid inertial navigation project. Covesion supplied locked laser systems for maritime sea trials aboard THV Galatea.
• University of StrathclydecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Academic partner in HARLEQUIN-ST project for quantum navigation technology development.
• Trinity HouseminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Provided THV Galatea vessel for HARLEQUIN quantum navigation sea trials.
• NLA InternationalminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Partner in HARLEQUIN-ST project for quantum navigation technology.
• CERNcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch collaboration in photonics technologies. CERN is a partner organization working with Covesion on advancing non-linear optical technologies for scientific applications.
• ETH ZürichcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic research partnership with ETH Zürich for photonics research and development activities.
• NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with NIST on standards and research in photonics measurement and quantum technologies.
• Heriot-Watt UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership for photonics research and development.
• Max Planck GesellschaftcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch collaboration with Max Planck Society institutions on advanced photonics technologies.
• MIT Lincoln LaboratorycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch collaboration with MIT Lincoln Laboratory on photonics technologies.
• NASAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpace-related photonics research partnership with NASA for advancing optical technologies.
• Stanford UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic research partnership with Stanford University in photonics and quantum technologies.
• UCL (University College London)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership for photonics research collaboration.
• University of BirminghamcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch collaboration with University of Birmingham on photonics technologies.
• University of SouthamptoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrong partnership including headquarters at Southampton Science Park; collaboration on Optoelectronics Research Centre (ORC) projects.
• ORCA ComputingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerQuantum computing partner developing photonic quantum computing technologies.
• Fraunhofer Centre for Applied PhotonicscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on HiREP project (High Rate of Entangled Photons) - Innovate UK funded project led by Covesion for developing high-rate entangled photon-pair source.
• STFC RAL SpacecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerScience and Technology Facilities Council Rutherford Appleton Laboratory - partner in space-based quantum technology projects including SNORQL for rugged PPLN waveguides.
• Hawthorn Photonics GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent company grouping Covesion, AdvR, and Radiantis brands with integrated sales organization and complementary photonics portfolio.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Thorlabs: Dominant broad-line photonics distributor and manufacturer with extensive nonlinear crystal, modulator, and laser system catalogs. Covesion's offerings sit within Thorlabs' much wider portfolio; Thorlabs is the canonical broad incumbent competing on selection, scale, and delivery speed rather than deep PPLN specialization.
• M Squared Lasers: UK-based photonics company producing CW and pulsed lasers, quantum systems, and photonic instrumentation. Comparable customer segments (quantum, research, defense) and overlapping product categories through its SolsTiS and Equinox platforms, though broader in laser systems than Covesion.
• Coherent: Global photonics conglomerate spanning lasers, optics, and materials including lithium niobate and nonlinear crystal technologies. Competes with Covesion at the OEM level on laser systems and modulator/waveguide components but as part of a vastly broader portfolio.

Direct peers

• AdvR: Sister brand within Hawthorn Photonics Group focused on KTP and Rb-exchanged waveguides for quantum and sensing applications. Highly comparable: same group, same customer base, and adjacent nonlinear waveguide technology that frequently appears alongside Covesion PPLN in the same integrated photonic systems.
• EKSMA Optics: Lithuanian manufacturer of nonlinear crystals (BBO, LBO, KTP, PPLN), electro-optic modulators, and ultrafast optics. Comparable catalog of nonlinear frequency-conversion components sold to research and OEM laser customers.
• HC Photonics: Taiwan-based manufacturer of PPLN and MgO:PPLN crystals, waveguides, and quasi-phase-matching devices. Closely comparable as a direct PPLN crystal and waveguide competitor serving quantum, telecom, and laser OEMs in the Asia-Pacific region.
• SRICO: US-based specialist in lithium niobate-based electro-optic modulators and PPLN waveguide devices for quantum and defense applications. Comparable product line (LN modulators + PPLN waveguides), overlapping customer profile (NIST, defense primes), and similar reliance on frequency-conversion technology.
• Raicol Crystals: Israel-based producer of nonlinear optical crystals including PPLN, MgO:PPLN, BBO, and KTP. Direct overlap on PPLN crystal supply for SHG, OPO, and quantum applications, competing for similar research and OEM customers.
• GWU-Lasertechnik: German supplier of nonlinear crystals (BBO, LBO, KTP, PPLN, LiNbO3), OPO systems, and laser instrumentation. Direct overlap on PPLN crystals and tunable laser systems comparable to Covesion's frequency-conversion portfolio.

Emerging players

• Quantum Opus: US-based supplier of superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors and entangled photon-pair sources for quantum communications. Adjacent and partially overlapping — Quantum Opus consumes PPLN-based photon-pair sources similar to those Covesion supplies, making it both a potential customer and a complementary emerging player in the quantum photonics stack.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

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 Covesion