Microalign has secured a 2.5-million-euro EIC accelerator grant, complemented by an equity component, to industrialize its ultra-high-precision fiber-array manufacturing. The funding will accelerate automation and throughput at the startup’s Eindhoven operations as quantum computing shifts from R&D to early commercial deployment. According to the company, the scale-up is critical with demand for low-loss optical connectivity sharply on the rise.
Photonic quantum computers depend on fiber arrays with nanometer-scale positioning accuracy, where minimal misalignment translates directly into photon loss and degraded qubit performance. Conventional datacom and telecom arrays fall short of these tolerances. Microalign’s patented micromanipulation platform actively aligns individual fibers using microactuators with nanometer precision, targeting both ultra-low loss and high-volume manufacturability.
Backed by investors including Photondelta, DeeptechXL and Innovation Industries, Microalign aims to serve a significant share of the global photonic quantum computing market by 2029. Beyond quantum, it sees growing demand for fiber coupling in MEMS switches, wavelength-selective switches and optical amplifiers.
