Making an impact with Photonics

We spent some time with our newest team member, Bertrand Frossard, to talk about business development opportunities in the world of photonics and ultrafast lasers. “I joined Chromacity in October 2020, after 18 years experience in the medical device industry, and more specifically, in next-generation prosthetic solutions. I don’t come from the world of photonics and ultrafast lasers, but over the years, I have specialised in penetrating new markets with disruptive technologies which add real value to society. The ultrafast lasers developed by Chromacity fit perfectly into this path. The laser manufacturer has ambitious plans to further develop its international commercial activity, and recruited for a Business Development Manager – the role that I have the pleasure to occupy today. ”

“Since joining Chromacity, my initial impression has been confirmed. The innovation in photonics is even stronger than expected, and the fields of application are more varied than I’d imagined. Photonics is an extremely dynamic, sophisticated and globalised environment that impacts us all, without necessarily realising. This is a real source of motivation because there is something new to learn every day in terms of technology and application markets. I personally have an interest in the fields of microscopy, environment and agritech applications. In these areas, advances achieved from the photonics sector are creating a real positive societal impact to tackle global challenges, today, and for the years ahead.”

Optical Parametric Oscillators

“As far as my objectives are concerned, they consist mainly of expanding our activity to industrial markets. Historically, Chromacity has focused on manufacturing ultrafast lasers for academia in order to develop an efficacy in the technology, and now, we are well positioned for our next phase of growth. This will be driven through developing collaboration with industrial partners, who will play a key role in terms of scalability and OEM opportunities. I am thinking more specifically here about our Optical Parametric Oscillators (OPO) which can be deployed for several industrial use-cases, especially as this type of solution is robust, easy-to-operate and economical. With these aspects, I’m involved in defining our pricing policy and the educational programs that we are putting in place in order to expand our product offering outside the academic sphere.”

“The most significant innovation in my opinion is our Chromacity mid-IR OPO which covers the 5 – 12 µm spectral region. Firstly, because it allows smooth spectral tunability beyond 8 µm. Secondly, because it opens promising application possibilities in FTIR spectroscopy, particularly for remote multi-species analysis of volatile organic compounds within energy, security and defence sectors.”

The future of Photonics

“We have many exciting developments underway in 2021. Our range of pulsed femtosecond lasers will expand considerably to cover the UV field for research into quantum optics, and in the near IR for life-science imaging and test and measurement applications.”

“From a laser offering perspective, we hope to occupy a strategic niche within technologies that we have already developed. For instance, the Chromacity 1040 and OPO have been used in pioneering quantum research to develop secure satellite communications. Emerging quantum technologies certainly has the potential to transform a range of sectors including telecommunications, defence, transport and healthcare.

“The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic should not be underestimated, as its consequences will not be cyclical. The current health situation seems to indirectly accelerate the need for a more effective battle for the preservation of the environment. The photonics industry, and ultrafast lasers, in particular, are at the forefront of this battle. Environmental applications are definitely a sector which will grow in the years to come, and for which, our OPO solutions are uniquely positioned to support.”

“Finally, from an economic point of view, the laser market will most certainly continue to consolidate with mergers and acquisitions between laser manufacturers themselves, or through buyout processes by integrators. My wish is that as the future horizons for photonics research expands by 2030, Chromacity will be one of the leading players in the market for ultrafast lasers.”