What Display Daily thinks: Roll-to-plate nanoimprinting is a manufacturing technique used to replicate micro- and nanoscale patterns on large surfaces using ultraviolet-curable resins. Morphotonics is a bit of a diamond in the rough, in the long tradition of innovative Dutch companies, and has some interesting IP that could be leveraged by a company with deeper pockets and pent-up demand for scalable manufacturing technology in the nanometer domain. In other words, this is a company worth keeping an eye on.
While this grant is based on the work Morphotonics is doing for augmented reality (AR) glasses, it doesn’t diminish the longer term value of the company’s approach for a range of display manufacturing possibilities.
Morphotonics Secures European Innovation Council Grant for AR Glasses Manufacturing
Morphotonics has been awarded the prestigious European innovation council (EIC) accelerator grant. The EIC accelerator program aims to support small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in developing and scaling up transformative innovations.
The selection process for the grant was highly competitive, with only 9% of the 551 total applicants receiving funding. In total, 51 selected companies will collectively receive 260 million euro ($289.2 million) in grants and equity investments. Morphotonics is one of the eight companies from the Netherlands to be chosen.
AR glasses’ mass production is hindered by the cost-intensive optical waveguide technology. To overcome this challenge, Morphotonics proposes using large area roll-to-plate (R2P) nanoimprinting, a process that combines UV imprint accuracy with large-area display manufacturing methods. This approach is envisioned as the solution to efficiently manufacture optical waveguides for AR glasses, making them accessible to the consumer market.
Morphotonics envisions a future where large-area R2P nanoimprinting can produce AR optical waveguide combiners at high quantities, facilitating widespread adoption of AR technology. The company will focus on upscaling the manufacturing process, ensuring optimal performance, materials, and manufacturability.
To validate the entire value chain, Morphotonics has collaborated with industry partners to conduct exemplary work in AR optics manufacturing. The efforts include design, mastering, and replication on panel-level nanoimprint equipment, using rectangular high refractive index glass substrates and high refractive index resins.
