MetaOptics to Deploy Direct Laser Writer at Stanford’s nano@stanford Facility
MetaOptics Ltd (Catalist: 9MT), together with its subsidiaries, has entered into an agreement to install and deploy its Direct Laser Writer (DLW) at nano@stanford, Stanford University’s shared-use nanofabrication facility. The deployment marks a significant milestone in the company’s strategy to expand its presence in the United States and strengthen collaborations with leading universities and technology companies.
The agreement comes shortly after MetaOptics was accepted as an Associate Member of Stanford Engineering’s SystemX Alliance Program. The company said the combination of its SystemX membership and the new deployment will provide opportunities to demonstrate its metalens technology, engage with prospective customers and establish deeper connections within Silicon Valley’s technology ecosystem.
The DLW is designed to support the rapid prototyping and fabrication of metalens samples on 4-inch glass wafers. According to MetaOptics, the system can enable prototypes to be developed within weeks, while also supporting small-volume production for pilot projects and early assessments of customer demand.
By allowing customers and partners to test and refine metalens designs more quickly, the company expects the equipment to shorten the development cycle between an initial concept and a potential commercial product. The capability is particularly aimed at applications where manufacturers need to evaluate designs before committing to larger-scale production.
The DLW will be installed at nano@stanford, an open-access facility that provides researchers, companies and government organisations with access to advanced nanofabrication and characterisation equipment. The facility serves more than 1,400 industry, government and university members each year.
Under the agreement, MetaOptics’ DLW will be managed by nano@stanford and made available to eligible facility members. This arrangement is intended to give researchers and industry users direct access to the company’s metalens fabrication technology while generating practical feedback from potential customers and technical users.
The DLW features a 100-nanometre ultra-high-precision laser system capable of simultaneously fabricating more than 100 metalenses, with individual devices measuring as little as 0.1 millimetre in diameter. MetaOptics said the system is designed to support a range of emerging photonics applications, including co-packaged optics, high-speed optical interconnects and imaging.
In co-packaged optics, metalenses can be used to help structure and manage light within increasingly compact optical systems. Collimating metalenses can also improve the efficiency of high-speed optical interconnects, while imaging metalenses offer potential applications in compact optical and imaging systems.
The deployment is also expected to provide MetaOptics with an opportunity to obtain direct feedback from users operating the equipment in a research and development environment. nano@stanford has agreed to support user demonstrations and provide feedback on the DLW, which the company believes will contribute to the technical validation of its equipment and metalens products.
MetaOptics said the facility could ultimately function as a “mini foundry” in Silicon Valley, providing small-volume manufacturing and rapid-turnaround prototyping capabilities. Such an infrastructure could allow prospective customers to test metalens designs, conduct pilot builds and evaluate commercial applications before moving to higher-volume manufacturing.
The company views this capability as an important part of its U.S. commercialisation roadmap. Rather than relying solely on long-distance development and manufacturing processes, the localised prototyping infrastructure could enable faster interaction between MetaOptics and customers in the U.S. market.
The company also intends to leverage its participation in Stanford Engineering’s SystemX Alliance Program to expand its engagement with technology companies and other industry participants. The programme includes a number of major U.S. technology companies, creating potential opportunities for MetaOptics to demonstrate its technology and explore future partnerships.
For MetaOptics, the deployment represents more than an equipment installation. The company expects the presence of its DLW at nano@stanford to strengthen customer engagement, accelerate product development and provide greater visibility for its metalens technology among researchers and industry stakeholders in the United States.
Commenting on the agreement, Thng Chong Kim, Executive Chairman of MetaOptics, said the deployment at nano@stanford would strengthen technical validation while providing opportunities to gather user feedback and increase engagement with potential industry partners and customers.
“By placing our DLW within nano@stanford’s shared-use environment, we are able to strengthen technical validation, gather valuable user feedback, and increase engagement and collaboration with potential industry partners and end customers,” Thng said.
He added that MetaOptics’ membership in Stanford Engineering’s SystemX Alliance Program, together with its collaboration with nano@stanford, would reinforce the company’s broader U.S. expansion strategy and deepen its participation in Silicon Valley’s innovation ecosystem.
With the DLW deployment, MetaOptics is positioning rapid prototyping, customer engagement and small-volume production as key components of its efforts to commercialise metalens technology in the U.S. market. The company expects the facility to serve as a platform for collaboration, technology demonstration and potential customer development as it works to expand its presence in the global photonics industry.
