Vector Photonics

A Glasgow company, spun out of the University of Glasgow, developing a new type of semiconductor laser for data links, 3D printing and lidar.

About Vector Photonics

Vector Photonics develops lasers made from semiconductor chips. Its technology is called a photonic crystal surface emitting laser, or PCSEL. Today's lasers usually force a trade-off between power, speed and cost, and the company says PCSELs overcome that, calling them the first revolution in semiconductor lasers in 30 years. Because the lasers are made in a way that fits existing semiconductor manufacturing and can work at many wavelengths, it sees uses in high-speed data communications, metal and plastic 3D printing and lidar, the laser sensing used in cars and robots, where it hopes to remove moving parts.

The company was incorporated in Glasgow in 2020, about ten days before the first COVID lockdown, and was founded by Professor Richard Hogg of the University of Glasgow's James Watt School of Engineering, Dr Richard Taylor and Dr David Childs, based on research developed at UK universities. Taylor invented the technology during his PhD, then spent time in Tokyo before returning to turn it into a business. In November 2021 the founders received the Royal Academy of Engineering's Colin Campbell Mitchell Award for outstanding contribution to UK engineering. They said they hoped it would encourage others to study engineering.

Vector Photonics is a University of Glasgow spin-out based in Scotland, and a Royal Academy of Engineering interview describes it as Glasgow-based. Its projects include Innovate UK grants, one of which the agency described as its first collaboration with Japan, and work on laser designs for datacoms and for metal and plastic 3D printing. The early team worked in university laboratories, and Taylor has said that setting up the spin-out and agreeing intellectual property terms with the university took about two years, and that the pandemic made lab access and fundraising harder.

In 2021 Neil Martin was chief executive, and by November 2021 the company had grown to 16 staff. Taylor has called building a world-class team the most rewarding part of the job, and says the company grew from a few people sketching ideas on a whiteboard. Using the ICURe programme, he tested the idea with potential customers before launch. The company does not publish a values statement in the pages we could read, and the leadership details are from 2021, so check the current team.

A semiconductor laser company like this employs laser and device physicists, chip-fabrication and process engineers, test and characterisation engineers, electronics and software engineers, and business, sales and operations staff. Physics, electronic engineering and materials science graduates are a natural fit, and the story of a PhD invention growing into a company shows how research and enterprise can connect.

What they do

• {'desc': 'Photonic crystal surface emitting lasers, designed to combine power, speed and low cost.', 'title': 'PCSEL lasers'}
• {'desc': 'Lasers for faster, longer-reach data links.', 'title': 'Datacoms applications'}
• {'desc': 'Compact lasers for additive manufacturing and sensing.', 'title': '3D printing and lidar'}

Key facts

• Incorporated in 2020 as a University of Glasgow spin-out (Royal Academy of Engineering interview; University of Glasgow)
• Founders: Richard Hogg, Richard Taylor and David Childs (University of Glasgow)
• Won the Royal Academy of Engineering Colin Campbell Mitchell Award in November 2021 (University of Glasgow)
• 16 staff at November 2021 (University of Glasgow)

Website: www.vectorphotonics.co.uk