Startup picked for Rs 70 crore programme to develop advanced photonics tech

BENGALURU: The Centre has picked an Indian advanced photonics and defence technology company as the “development-cum-production partner” (DCCP) for a Rs 70-crore advanced photonics development programme, aimed at taking strategic optical technologies from research and development towards fabrication, testing and production.Olee.space has been selected as the DCPP, for the programme, which is expected to run for 24 months. According to the company, the programme will cover research and technology development, engineering, fabrication, system integration, testing, validation and production readiness, with progress assessed through milestone-based development and acceptance.The development of photonics, which involves technologies based on the generation and control of light, is becoming increasingly important for sectors such as communications, aerospace, industrial systems and advanced manufacturing.The programme is intended to strengthen capabilities in areas including optical sources, precision optics, photonic architectures, system engineering and scalable manufacturing. It could also help build domestic engineering, manufacturing and supply-chain capabilities needed to develop and produce photonic systems.For Olee.space, the nomination marks a move beyond research and development towards the engineering, integration and possible production of strategic optical systems.James Solomon, CEO of Olee.space, said the company saw scope for further development of core photonics technologies and their applications. “We believe the core photonics is far more exciting and to be discovered. We have struck the first rock, we would be the one mining it economically. The applications are endless, we have presented 15 already and we would build further in shared photonics architecture,” Solomon said.The significance of the programme, the firm said, lies in its focus on moving technology through the stages between laboratory research and production. Besides developing the underlying technology, the process will involve engineering it into systems that can be fabricated, integrated, tested and validated.Get the latest Business News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.