SOLNIL Secures €2.47M Horizon Europe Grant for AR Smart-Glasses Technology
Revolutionary new material for nano-imprint lithography promises to redefine augmented reality with enhanced performance and lower costs.
Marseille, France, January 27, 2025 – SOLNIL SAS, a pioneering innovator in nano-fabrication technologies, proudly announces its selection as a recipient of the Horizon Europe EIC Transition Grant for the revolutionary METAPRINT project. METAPRINT was one of 40 projects chosen from over 400 submissions across 21 country participants. This initiative, titled "Nano-Imprint Lithography of Titania-Based Metaoptics," aims to redefine augmented reality (AR) by delivering next-generation smart-glass displays through unprecedented advances in nano-imprinting of nano-ceramics.
METAPRINT leverages SOLNIL’s patented technologies, including sol-gel chemistry-based printable inks and innovative nano-fabrication methods, to create new photonic metasurfaces. These advancements will significantly enhance virtual image resolution, color brightness, and light management efficiency, while drastically reducing production costs and environmental impact.
“We are thrilled to receive this prestigious grant, which acknowledges our dedication to pushing the boundaries of nano-fabrication and AR technologies. Lux Research predicts that optical metamaterials will be ready for a $50 billion optics market by 2030,” said Badre Kerzabi, Co-Founder and CEO of SOLNIL. “METAPRINT aims to revolutionize the AR market, delivering displays with best-in-class field-of-view, efficiency, and sustainability, paving the way for truly immersive augmented reality experiences.” |
Key advantages of SOLNIL’s groundbreaking approach include:
- A widely customizable refractive index from as low as 1.12 to as high as 2.7, enabling a 40% increase in the field-of-view compared to current solutions such as Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD).
- Unlike ALD’s expensive and extremely sensitive operation under vacuum, SOLNIL’s unique approach works in room temperature and atmospheric pressure conditions.
- SOLNIL offers low-pressure deposition benefits, reducing production CAPEX by over five times (>5x) and Cost-of-Ownership by over four times (>4x).
- Direct printing of 3D patterns without toxic resists or complex etching steps using industry-standard nano-imprint-lithography tools, scalable to 200mm wafers.
Join Us at Photonics West 2025
In addition to showcasing its technology at the French Pavilion Booth #5129, SOLNIL invites attendees to its two technical presentations delivered by its Co-Founder and Chief Science Officer, Dr Marco Abbarchi:
- Nano-imprint lithography of metal oxides: materials and nano-fabrication methods for AR/VR
27 January 2025 • 8:20 AM – 8:40 AM PST | Moscone West, Room 3006 (Level 3)
Learn more - Scaling the nanoimprint lithography process of inorganic-based materials for photonic metasurfaces (Invited Paper)
28 January 2025 • 9:45 AM – 10:15 AM PST | Moscone West, Room 2014 (Level 2)
Learn more
“We look forward to sharing our insights and connecting with industry leaders during these sessions. Photonics West presents the perfect platform for SOLNIL to connect with industry and demonstrate the potential of our transformative technology,” said Dr Marco Abbarchi. “We look forward to fostering collaborations and forging partnerships that will bring our vision to life.”
For inquiries or to schedule a meeting at Photonics West, contact CONTACT@SOLNIL.COM
ABOUT SOLNIL
SOLNIL specializes in direct-patterning of functional advanced nano-ceramic materials, through a unique combination of sol-gel resins and patented nanoimprint lithography. Our expertise spans sol-gel materials, nano-microfabrication technologies, and photonics, enabling us to offer solutions for various applications, including meta-optics, photonics, and nano-fluidics. Headquartered in Marseille, France, SOLNIL collaborates with industry pioneers to redefine the future of patterned coatings and surfaces.
For more information, visit www.solnil.com or contact us at contact@solnil.com.