Europe’s photonics start-up scene is rapidly expanding, as new data from the European Technology Platform Photonics21 shows. According to the analysis published today, there are 240 new companies identified since 2024, bringing the total number of active firms in the continent to 556.
These start-ups are developing innovative technologies to address some of our most pressing societal challenges, such as life-saving medical diagnostics and surgical tools, quantum communication chips, ultra-precise climate and energy sensors, and advanced manufacturing lasers.
The figures are based on Photonics21’s updated database, which tracks the creation, growth, and evolution of photonics enterprises across Europe. Many of these start-ups are gaining global recognition, positioning Europe as a leading region for photonics innovation.
Healthcare companies dominate the market, with one in five photonics start-ups focusing on medical applications such as cancer diagnostics, surgical imaging, and personalized medicine. Other leading sectors include components and advanced materials, as well as Industry 4.0, where photonics is driving automation, robotics, and digital factories.
One of the most notable start-ups in this new wave is DiaMonTech, based in Berlin. Founded in 2015, the company has developed a non-invasive photonics technology that measures blood glucose without the need for finger-prick tests, making diabetes testing painless.
Using mid-infrared light to detect glucose molecules in the skin, DiaMonTech’s device offers a pain-free and potentially more accurate alternative to traditional monitoring methods. With diabetes affecting over 30 million Europeans, this innovation highlights the potential of photonics to deliver tangible, life-changing health solutions developed in Europe.
“Our technology uses light instead of needles to make glucose monitoring completely pain-free,” said Catalina Plesmann, Head of Marketing at DiaMonTech. “It’s a simple idea with a huge impact, and Europe is the perfect place to grow it. This is where our science was born, where the engineering talent is, and where trust in medical innovation runs deep. Europe is our home, and it’s where we want to scale.”
Dr. Lutz Aschke, President of Photonics21, said, “These numbers demonstrate a story of dynamism. Photonics start-ups, the hidden engine of Europe’s deep-tech economy, are booming. The challenge now is access to capital. That is why we are focused on connecting founders with investors at scale.”
With 35% of active firms founded since 2020 and 84% less than 10 years old, Europe is seeing a fresh wave of innovators. Dr. Aschke added, “These young, vibrant businesses are crucial for Europe’s competitiveness in AI, quantum, health, green energy, and secure communications. The next step is ensuring they can scale in Europe, not overseas.”
To support the growth of these promising EU-based companies, Photonics21 is calling on investors and policymakers to seize this momentum and invest in the next generation of European photonics firms that will play a defining role in the continent’s economic and technological future.
About Photonics21
Photonics21 is the European Technology Platform (ETP) for photonics, a technology encompassing all products and processes related to the emission, manipulation, and detection of light. Photonics is integral to a wide range of industries, including the medical, healthcare, transport, manufacturing, and telecommunications sectors.
The platform was established in December 2005 to bring together the photonics research community and industry. In September 2009, the European Commission defined photonics as one of the five European Key Enabling Technologies (KETs). Shortly after, the platform was invited to become a Public-Private Partnership in the European Research & Innovation Program “Horizon 2020.” The Photonics21 Association, a legal entity under Belgian law, became the private contract partner in November 2013 as part of the public-private partnership with the EU Commission.
Today, Photonics21 represents over 4,300 personal members from across Europe and beyond, including experts in the photonics industry, research organizations, and universities. The platform works collaboratively to develop a joint photonics strategy for future research and innovation in Europe.
Europe remains a global powerhouse in photonics research and business, with several Nobel Prizes awarded to European scientists for their achievements in the field over the past two decades. Approximately 5,000 European SMEs are considered hidden champions and world market leaders in their respective photonics markets. With more than 400 start-ups, Europe is one of the most thriving and innovative photonics regions globally. Leadership in the development of photonics components and systems provides a competitive advantage in numerous key markets and policy areas, including the quantum internet, quantum computing, next-generation microelectronics, autonomous vehicles, Industry 5.0, virtual worlds, fusion energy, and many more.
As of 2022, the global photonics market was worth $864.6 billion, with the European photonics
