In celebration of the Day of Light, here are 5 ways light powers your life
And how we help make it happen!
Light is everywhere, not just in what we see, but in how we connect, heal, sense, and protect. At VLC Photonics, we’re proud to celebrate the International Day of Light by showing how circuit light-based technologies are improving life through real, tangible applications, many of which we’re driving as part of major European projects.
Ultra-Secure Communications & Quantum Sensing – QuPIC
Light doesn’t just transmit data — it can protect it, too. Quantum photonics enables ultra-secure encryption systems using individual photons, paving the way for next-generation quantum communications.
As part of the QuPIC project, VLC Photonics helps design and validate advanced photonic chips that support emerging quantum technologies in computing, communication, and sensing. Two cutting-edge application demonstrators will showcase these innovations:
- A source of GKP (Gottesman–Kitaev–Preskill) states, enabling robust quantum information encoding for fault-tolerant quantum processing.
- An atomic clock based on Yb⁺ (ytterbium ion) transitions, offering unprecedented precision in timekeeping and quantum sensing.
By contributing to these developments, VLC Photonics is helping to shape a more secure and precise future powered by light.
Learn more about this project here
Food safety – LASTSTEP
Mid-infrared applications Outdoor Air Quality and food industry adulteration of oils.
Learn more about this project here
Non-Invasive Medical Diagnostics – M3NIR
Light in the near-infrared (NIR) spectrum allows for the detection of biomarkers without invasive procedures.
In the M3NIR project, VLC Photonics supports the development of mid-IR and NIR photonic sensing platforms for advanced, compact diagnostic tools.
Environmental monitoring – M3NIR
In line with the Green Deal objectives and goals, environmental monitoring is a field of ever-increasing interest. Gases and liquid photothermal sensing is a key element to reach these goals nowadays. Mid-IR technology is a promising solution for users, companies, governments, and law agencies to achieve reliable, rapid and in a cost-effectively manner measure and monitor gas emissions. Regarding to liquids analysis mid-IR and NIR can be exploited by the phosphate sensor for direct, reagent-free and thus rapid analysis in on-line as well as in-line configurations.
A mini breath sensor can detect ulcer-causing bacteria
Learn more about this project here
High-Speed, RF-Enabled Communications –HDLN
Modern telecoms and data centers depend on ultra-fast, low-loss signal processing.
With HDLN, VLC Photonics contributes to developing and testing modulators operating up to 110 GHz, enabling faster, more efficient RF photonic systems that can be used for THz data transmission applications.
Learn more about this project here
Whether it’s in space, healthcare, or communications, integrated photonics provides a platform that is scalable, reliable, and energy-efficient.
At VLC Photonics, our goal across all projects is to accelerate photonic adoption, ensuring that light-based innovations don’t just stay in the lab, but reach the people who need them. Contact us!
