Superlight Photonics continues without founder

Superlight Photonics has made a formal post-bankruptcy restart following a restructuring. The Enschede-based firm, which continued regular operations during the proceedings, has taken over all assets, including the team and patents, and has attracted new investors, CEO Cees Links confirmed to Bits&Chips. The initial founder and inventor of the underlying technology, Haider Zia, isn’t part of the restarted entity. He departed following irreconcilable differences over the company’s direction.

“I want to make it clear that the technology and vision now being presented by Superlight Photonics originate from my own work and intellectual groundwork developed before the company’s bankruptcy. After the restart, I’ll be pushed out, while my original ideas and research foundation continue to advance and heavily shape the direction of the new entity. I’m not associated with or represented by the restarted version of Superlight Photonics or the current bankrupt company, nor do I agree or follow the same values as its (the restart’s) leadership,” Zia writes in a statement posted on Linkedin. CEO Links declined to comment.

Superlight harnesses nonlinear optical effects inside a photonic chip to broaden the output spectrum of a monochromatic laser source. This results in a compact and lightweight supercontinuum laser that requires thousands of times less power than any other broad-spectrum laser product currently on the market. Target applications include industrial metrology and medical imaging.