University of Dundee spin-out M-Squared Lasers, recently named as Scotland’s fastest growing technology business in a UK-wide survey, has received £1.2m ($1.9m) to develop its High Brightness Conical Refraction Lasers (HiCore) research project.
M-Squared, which utilises laser technology conceived at the Photonics and Nanoscience group at the University of Dundee, will lead a team of seven Europe-based partners in resolving key issues with conical refraction solid-state lasers. If successful, the HiCore research could potentially open the door to a plethora of new laser products to be used in a “broad spectrum” of applications, including industrial laser welding.
The funding is being provided by the European Commission’s FP7 Programme, which is seeking to invest in research that is to the benefit of Europe-based small-to-medium enterprises.
Dr Graeme Malcolm, chief executive officer at M-Squared Lasers, said: “The HiCORE project is envisaged to develop leading new high power laser technology which will enable M-Squared to offer products with performance beyond anything available in today’s market. M-Squared are delighted to be working with the leading research groups in Dundee, Sofia and Stuttgart which we have combined to form an extremely powerful research team for this project”.
Professor Edik Rafailov of the Photonics and Nanoscience Group at the University of Dundee, added: “Ongoing close relationships with highly innovative companies such as M-Squared enable the university to translate the research results obtained in the lab into real world products, and this project is a great example of the synergies that arise from industrial collaboration. The technology being developed could change the rules in the laser sector of the photonics industry.”