secpho deep tech cluster

What secpho deep tech cluster does

SECPHO (Southern European Cluster in Photonics and Optics) is a non-profit innovation cluster founded in 2009 and headquartered in Terrassa, Barcelona, Spain. It operates a deep tech ecosystem of over 160 member organizations that includes research institutions, technology companies, startups, investors, and large corporates. The cluster specializes initially in photonics and optics, and has expanded to cover 16 deep tech domains including advanced sensing, microelectronics and semiconductors, artificial intelligence and data, robotics and drones, quantum technologies, communication systems, advanced materials, additive manufacturing, IoT, cybersecurity, laser systems, biotechnology, AR/VR, blockchain, and advanced lighting.

SECPHO's core products and services revolve around open innovation facilitation rather than proprietary technology. The organization operates the Koonstel open innovation platform for digital member-to-member connections, the Open Innovation Club forum for technology experts and investors, and a portfolio of in-person events including the annual SECPHO Summit, Tech Meetings, Market Focus events, Innovation Workshops, and international missions. Its proprietary three-step methodology (Challenge approach + Tech Scouting + Innovation workshop) structures how industry challenges are matched with research solutions. Additional services include the Portal de Ayudas funding portal, Tech Transfer activities, the annual Catálogo SECPHO ecosystem mapping, and the Light! magazine. SECPHO is one of the few clusters certified by Spain's MINCOTUR as an AEI (Innovable Business Association), enabling its members to access non-reimbursable grants of up to €300,000 for innovation projects.

SECPHO generates revenue through membership fees from its 160+ member organizations, event organization and sponsorship, innovation project facilitation services (including coordination of government-funded research programs), and visibility/promotional services. The cluster's go-to-market is community-led, combining direct membership engagement with event-driven networking and self-serve digital channels via Koonstel. Distribution is primarily domestic within Spain, with international reach through missions and partnerships with EPIC, Photonic21, OPTICA, and CDTI Innovación (its first institutional partner as of February 2026). Customer segments span research institutions and universities (primary), technology companies and startups (primary), large enterprises and corporates (primary), and investors (secondary).

Name

secpho deep tech cluster

Legal name

SOUTHERN EUROPEAN CLUSTER IN PHOTONICS AND OPTICS

Website

https://secpho.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

SECPHO is a Barcelona-based non-profit deep tech innovation cluster founded in 2009, uniting 160+ research institutions, technology companies, startups, investors, and corporates across photonics, AI, quantum, and microelectronics. It facilitates open innovation through events, its Koonstel platform, and AEI-certified access to government grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Deep Tech Innovation Cluster Services

NAICS

Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (5416)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Technical & Scientific Expert Networks (BPAHALAH)

Keywords

• Deep tech innovation cluster
• Photonics ecosystem
• Open innovation services
• Technology transfer facilitation
• Industry-academia networking

Headquarters

HQ city

Barcelona

HQ country

Spain

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: SECPHO generates revenue through membership fees from its over 160 member organizations including companies, technology centers, and research groups. Members receive benefits including access to the innovation ecosystem, networking events, and collaborative project opportunities.
2. Event Organization and Sponsorship: Revenue from organizing technology summits, innovation workshops, tech meetings, market focus events, and international missions. The cluster hosts the annual SECPHO Summit and numerous sector-specific events throughout the year.
3. Innovation Project Facilitation: SECPHO facilitates collaborative innovation projects between members and coordinates participation in government-funded research programs. As a MINCOTUR-certified AEI (Innovative Business Association), members can access grants of up to 300k euros for innovation projects.
4. Visibility and Promotional Services: Revenue from providing visibility to members through the Light! magazine, website news, newsletter, and social media channels. SECPHO also connects members with companies that demand expert services.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

SECPHO operates a deep tech innovation ecosystem and membership-based cluster connecting over 160 organizations — companies, technology centers, research groups, investors, and large enterprises — across photonics, quantum, microelectronics, AI, robotics, biotechnology, advanced materials, and other frontier technologies. It sells membership-based innovation services including Open Innovation Club forums, the Koonstel open innovation platform, Tech Scouting, proprietary Innovation Workshops, international connection services, collaborative project management, and visibility services through its Light! magazine and SECPHO Catálogo annual publication.

Product overview

SECPHO (Southern European Cluster in Photonics and Optics) operates as a dynamic innovation ecosystem rather than a traditional product company. The organization offers a portfolio of services including the Open Innovation Club forum, the koonstel open innovation platform, Tech Scouting and Innovation Workshops with a proprietary three-step methodology, access to public and private financing through the Portal de Ayudas, international connection services, collaborative project management, and visibility services via their Light! magazine and digital channels. Their SECPHO Catalog serves as an annual publication documenting the deep tech ecosystem. The ecosystem connects researchers, engineers, investors, entrepreneurs, and large companies passionate about science and technology across 16 technology areas including photonics, microelectronics, AI, robotics, quantum technologies, IoT, cybersecurity, biotechnology, and advanced materials.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• koonstel: Open innovation platform that transforms the way connections are made and business is generated within the SECPHO ecosystem.
• Open Innovation Club
• light! Magazine

Products and services

• Open Innovation Club A subscription forum of innovation connecting expert technologists, investors, and large companies to foster collaboration and identify business opportunities within the SECPHO deep tech ecosystem.
• Portal de Ayudas A funding portal providing SECPHO members access to grants, subsidies, and non-reimbursable financing opportunities for innovation projects, including up to €300k via AEI certification.
• Innovation Workshops Tech Transfer and Innovation workshops that generate collaborations between tech companies, researchers, and investors using SECPHO's proprietary three-step methodology (Challenge approach + Tech Scouting + Innovation workshop).
• Koonstel Platform An open innovation platform that transforms how organizations connect and generate business opportunities within the SECPHO deep tech ecosystem.
• Tech Scouting Service Identification of real challenges and technological needs of industry, managing the entire open innovation process for member organizations and corporate clients.
• International Connection Services Internationalization services facilitating access to global deep tech ecosystems, partner search, and participation in European and international funding programs and calls.
• Collaborative Project Management Full support in launching and managing collaborative innovation projects, from ideation through execution, leveraging SECPHO's member ecosystem and AEI certification status.
• Visibility and Positioning Services Visibility and positioning services for member innovation experts delivered through press, social media, website, newsletter, and the Light! magazine publication.
• SECPHO Catálogo (Annual Catalog) Annual catalog publication documenting the Spanish deep tech ecosystem, including member organizations, technologies, sectors, and capabilities.
• Light! Magazine Digital magazine providing visibility to member services through articles, announcements, and news published on the SECPHO website, newsletter, and social networks.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 160 organizations in the deep tech ecosystem
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and strategic.

• CDTI InnovacióncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 February 2026CDTI Innovación, Spain's state innovation agency, became the first institutional partner of SECPHO. This partnership strengthens CDTI's positioning in frontier technologies and enables collaboration on technology transfer, internationalization, and innovation initiatives. The alliance aligns with CDTI's 2024-2027 Strategic Plan, which identifies deep-tech promotion as a cross-cutting priority.
• PIXSpaincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSECPHO joined PIXSpain to drive the integrated photonics ecosystem in Spain. PIXSpain is a competence center focused on photonic integrated circuits and technologies.
• SETT (Sociedad Española de Transformación Tecnológica)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSECPHO and SETT signed a collaboration agreement to boost investment in Deep Tech in Spain. SETT coordinates strategic technology projects in Spain.
• The Optical Society (OSA / OPTICA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSECPHO was the first European cluster to join OSA (now OPTICA), the leading global society for optics and photonics professionals, enabling international connections and visibility for the Spanish deep tech ecosystem.
• SQuA (Spanish Quantum Alliance)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerSECPHO participates in SQuA, the Spanish alliance for quantum technologies, contributing to the development of quantum technology ecosystem in Spain.
• European Photonics Industry Consortium (EPIC)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerSECPHO collaborates with EPIC for international photonics industry connections and European ecosystem development.
• Photonic21coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSECPHO participates in Photonic21, the European technology platform for photonics, connecting Spanish deep tech with European initiatives.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Photonics21: European Technology Platform for photonics, of which SECPHO is a member. Operates as a pan-European multi-stakeholder forum and Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda driver, directly comparable in mission to SECPHO but at EU-wide scale.
• AIM Photonics: US-based Integrated Photonics Manufacturing Institute operating as a public-private partnership with similar cluster-like functions (technology roadmapping, foundry access, ecosystem building) in photonics.
• PhotonHub Europe: Pan-European photonics digital innovation hub offering tech scouting, brokerage, training, and funding access to companies. Operates a near-identical service portfolio to SECPHO but at EU-wide scale with direct EU funding.
• Photonics Finland: National photonics cluster for Finland connecting companies, research institutes, and academia. Closely mirrors SECPHO's structure (membership-based deep tech ecosystem) but serves the Finnish market.
• EPIC (European Photonics Industry Consortium): Industry association with 800+ members promoting the photonics industry in Europe. SECPHO is a partner; the organizations share photonics-focused networking, brokerage, and ecosystem-building activities, though EPIC operates globally while SECPHO is Spain-centric.
• Optitec (Pôle Optitec): French competitiveness cluster dedicated to photonics and imaging, with a comparable cluster model (membership, tech scouting, innovation project facilitation, and government grant access) focused on the French deep tech ecosystem.
• Photonics BW: German state-level photonics network for Baden-Württemberg, providing innovation networking and R&D collaboration services. A regional cluster peer with a comparable focus on photonics-driven deep tech ecosystems.

Others

• Innovate UK Business Connect (formerly KTN): UK's innovation and knowledge transfer network connecting businesses with researchers, investors, and government programs. Operates at larger scale but shares SECPHO's mission of cross-sector deep tech matchmaking and innovation project facilitation.
• OPTICA (formerly The Optical Society / OSA): Global scientific society for optics and photonics of which SECPHO was the first European cluster member. While a society rather than a cluster, OPTICA provides international visibility, networking, and standards-setting that directly overlaps with SECPHO's mission.

Regional players

• Photonics Industry Consortium of Canada: Canadian photonics industry association serving as the national cluster for photonics companies and researchers. Operates a similar membership-driven model to SECPHO but for the Canadian deep tech ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/secpho
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCnO2rLdLdHn8_dMhcKh9X_A
• Facebookfacebook.com/secpho
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/secpho-deep-tech-cluster
• Instagraminstagram.com/secpho

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about secpho deep tech cluster