Instituto Milenio de Investigación en Óptica MIRO

What Instituto Milenio de Investigación en Óptica MIRO does

Instituto Milenio de Investigación en Óptica (MIRO) is a non-profit scientific research institute headquartered in Concepción, Chile, that conducts theoretical and experimental research in optics, quantum information, and optical communications. It operates as a multi-institutional consortium linking five Chilean universities: Universidad de Concepción (headquarters), Universidad de Chile, Universidad de Santiago, Universidad de Los Andes, and Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. MIRO is funded by the Iniciativa Científica Milenio of ANID, the Chilean national research agency, and operates without equity shareholders or commercial revenue streams.

The institute runs four primary research lines: Quantum Light (entanglement, quantum teleportation, QKD, higher-dimensional quantum systems), Optical Communications (free-space optical systems using orbital angular momentum and adaptive optics for atmospheric turbulence mitigation), Novel Light Sources (nonlinear organic crystals for second-order nonlinear optics), and Photonic Lattices and Pattern Formation (programmable vortex arrays in liquid crystals). Notable technical capabilities include one of only five femtosecond-laser optical-fiber fabrication platforms worldwide, photonic molecule fabrication, quantum state storage using flatband systems, and experimental setups for higher-dimensional quantum measurement. Research outputs are disseminated through peer-reviewed journals including Physical Review Letters, Nano Letters, and Physical Review D, and via international conferences such as Quantum Optics 2024.

MIRO's business model is grant-funded public-sector research rather than commercial product sales. Downstream activity occurs through technology transfer and a science-based spin-off (SeQure Quantum) targeting quantum cryptography and communications, plus industry partnerships with telecommunications operators (GTD, Entel Digital) and engagement with policy makers. The institute also invests heavily in human-capital formation: it operates an annual Quantum Computing School (one of the first in Latin America taught in Spanish), the Quantum Builder Minecraft educational game for high schoolers, the La Caja Cuántica public exhibition, and science communication events including rap battles and scientific cafés.

Name

Instituto Milenio de Investigación en Óptica MIRO

Legal name

Instituto Milenio de Investigación en Óptica MIRO

Website

https://miroptics.cl

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

MIRO is a Chilean non-profit research institute, funded by ANID, that conducts quantum optics, free-space optical communications, and photonic lattice research across five Chilean universities and runs quantum computing education programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Scientific Research Institute

NAICS

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (541), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Quantum Tech Commercialization, IP, Tech Transfer & Venture Research (HDAGAMAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Quantum Education, Workforce Development & Academic Centers (HDAGAMAM), Quantum Education & Certification Programs (HDAGALAA), Quantum Community, Developer Relations & Ecosystem Programs (HDAGALAJ)

Keywords

• Quantum optics research
• Optical communications
• Photonics research
• Quantum information science
• Scientific research institute

Headquarters

HQ city

Concepción

HQ country

Chile

HQ region

Latin America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

MIRO is a non-profit scientific research institute that conducts theoretical and experimental research in optics, quantum information, and optical communications across four research lines: Quantum Light, Optical Communications, Novel Light Sources, and Photonic Lattices and Pattern Formation. The institute also delivers educational offerings including the annual Escuela de Computación Cuántica (Quantum Computing School), the Quantum Builder Minecraft-based educational game, and La Caja Cuántica interactive science exhibition. All activities are funded through Chilean government scientific grants and the institute does not sell commercial products or services.

Product overview

MIRO is a Millennium Institute for Research in Optics that conducts scientific research in optics, optical communications, and quantum information across five Chilean universities. The institute offers educational products including the annual Quantum Computing School (Escuela de Computación Cuántica), the Quantum Builder Minecraft-based educational game for teaching quantum computing concepts, and La Caja Cuántica interactive light exhibition. The institute operates four main research lines: Quantum Light (quantum information and entanglement), Optical Communications (FSO systems with OAM and adaptive optics), Novel Light Sources (nonlinear organic crystals), and Photonic Lattices (programmable vortex arrays in liquid crystals).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Escuela de Computación Cuántica (Quantum Computing School) An intensive introductory quantum computing course offered annually in Chile, featuring theoretical classes and hands-on Qiskit programming workshops. Covers quantum security, quantum chemistry, and quantum machine learning topics, designed for university students.
• Quantum Builder A Minecraft-based educational video game developed by MIRO researchers that challenges participants to solve quantum computing circuits to advance levels, introducing basic quantum computing concepts to middle and high school students.
• La Caja Cuántica (The Quantum Box) An interactive science exhibit and light art installation that brings quantum physics phenomena to the public through five interactive stations explaining wave-particle duality, quantum superposition, and entanglement. Created in partnership with Teatro Biobío and located in Concepción, Chile.

Quantifiable outcome

• Three researchers ranked in top 2% of world's most cited scientists
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 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 major, minor and core.

• Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI/SBFI)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 June 2026Swiss delegation visited MIRO laboratories at Universidad de Chile to explore bilateral collaboration opportunities in research, innovation, and advanced human capital formation. Visit included representatives from Swiss National Science Foundation, University of St. Gallen, University of Bern, University of Geneva, and Embassy of Switzerland in Chile.
• Entel DigitalmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 May 2024Entel Digital delegation visited MIRO laboratories and SeQure Quantum startup to explore quantum technology applications. Julian San Martin (VP Entel Digital) noted significant opportunities for quantum communications in telecommunications.
• Círculo de Innovación ICAREminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 5 December 2023Innovation circle bringing together technology companies to learn about MIRO's research capabilities. Delegation of approximately 20 representatives from companies including Google Cloud, ENEL, COPEC, NTT Data, PwC, Aguas Andinas, and others visited MIRO laboratories.
• GTD (Grupo de Tecnologías Digitales)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 September 2023Pioneering collaboration agreement for quantum technology development. GTD and MIRO signed agreement to explore applications of quantum communications and cryptography in GTD's telecommunications infrastructure.
• Universidad de Los AndescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHome to MIRO researcher Jaime Anguita's optical communications laboratory where postdoctoral researcher Nelly Cerpa implements adaptive optics systems for free-space optical communications.
• Universidad de Santiago de Chile (USACH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocation of Dinesh Singh's Nanosynthesis Laboratory developing new materials including nano-MOFs for energy storage applications and Tania Brito's postdoctoral research on quantum dot materials.
• SeQure QuantummajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerScience-based startup emerging from MIRO's quantum information research at Universidad de Concepción. Developing commercial quantum cryptography and communication solutions. Visited by Entel Digital and ICARE delegations.
• Center for Physical Technologies (FTMC) LithuaniaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational collaboration on terahertz spectroscopy research for biomaterial analysis. Joint study with Birger Seifert analyzing optical properties of cow bones for prosthetic applications.
• INRAE France (National Institute for Research on Agriculture, Food and Environment)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational research collaboration on biomaterial analysis using terahertz spectroscopy techniques for veterinary bone studies.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Joint Quantum Institute (JQI): US-based joint quantum research institute between NIST and the University of Maryland. Comparable to MIRO as a multi-institutional government-affiliated quantum research center focused on quantum optics, information, and measurement.
• Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics: Privately funded independent research institute in Canada focused on fundamental physics including quantum information. Comparable to MIRO in operating as an independent, non-university-affiliated research organization pursuing theoretical and experimental quantum work.
• Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics: Government-funded research institute focused on quantum optics, cold atoms, and quantum information processing. Highly comparable to MIRO in mission, scientific scope, and non-commercial research model, but operates at much larger scale in Germany.
• QuTech: Joint quantum technology research institute of TU Delft and TNO in the Netherlands. Comparable to MIRO for its mission of advancing quantum computing and quantum networking, with strong industry partnerships and a national-level mandate.
• Center for Quantum Technologies (CQT): National-level quantum research center hosted at the National University of Singapore. Closely comparable to MIRO in being a government-funded multi-institutional quantum research hub pursuing quantum optics, communications, and computing research.
• Institute for Quantum Information and Matter (IQIM), Caltech: NSF-funded physics frontier center at Caltech focused on quantum information science and quantum optics. Comparable to MIRO in mission and academic positioning, with similar research lines in photonic quantum systems.

Emerging players

• SeQure Quantum: Chilean quantum cryptography and communications startup spun out of MIRO's research at Universidad de Concepción. Directly comparable as the commercial translation of MIRO's quantum communications research and a key partner in MIRO's tech transfer pipeline.

Regional players

• Brazilian Center for Physical Research (CBPF): Brazilian Ministry of Science research institute for physics including quantum optics and photonics. Comparable as a regional Latin American government-funded physics research institute, though broader in scope than MIRO.
• CONICET Argentina: Argentine government research council hosting multiple physics and photonics research groups. Comparable as a regional Latin American government-funded research organization with active quantum and optics programs.

Broad incumbents

• NTT Research Physics & Informatics Labs: Industry-funded basic research lab of NTT with programs in quantum optics, photonics, and information physics. Comparable to MIRO in scientific scope but operates as part of a much larger corporate R&D ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCE7e0xwCEdYNV8ENtVZt-UQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/institutomileniomiro
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/instituto-milenio-de-investigaci%C3%B3n-investigaci%C3%B3n-en-%C3%B3ptica
• Instagraminstagram.com/miroptics
• Xx.com/miroptics

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 Instituto Milenio de Investigación en Óptica MIRO