Pixel Photonics receives 1 million euros from SPRIND

With the support of the German Federal Agency for Jump Innovations (SPRIND), Pixel Photonics is driving the development of a multi-mode-capable detector technology.

Münster, February 6, 2025 - The deep-tech startup Pixel Photonics receives a grant of 1 million euros from the German Federal Agency for Leap Innovations (SPRIND). The funds will go towards the further development of waveguide-integrated superconducting nanowire photon detectors (WI-SNSPDs) for multi-mode detection. This innovation significantly improves the precision of photon detection and opens up new applications in areas such as microscopy, diagnostics and optical communication.

New possibilities for photon detection

Light is a central information carrier in numerous high-tech applications - from telecommunications to quantum computing. Highly sensitive detectors are essential for reliably detecting even the smallest signals. SNSPDs are considered the leading technology in this field. Pixel Photonics has already made significant progress by combining these detectors with photonic waveguides to improve scalability and sensitivity.

However, many existing high-efficiency detectors - especially in the near-infrared range - are limited to light in a single optical mode. This makes integration into applications that work with multimodal light, such as microscopy, diagnostics and LiDAR technology, difficult. Pixel Photonics is now addressing this challenge with a multi-mode capable advancement of its detector technology.

Our new multi-mode capable single photon detectors can be seamlessly integrated into existing optical systems...

Nicolai Walter, CEO Pixel Photonics

"The SPRIND funding ideally complements our collaboration with visionary investors such as Quantonation and HTGF. It gives us the necessary boost to further develop our technology beyond quantum applications. Our new multi-mode capable single photon detectors can be seamlessly integrated into existing optical systems, simplifying the use of SNSPD technology for industry. This innovation not only opens up new application possibilities, but also holds great market potential in areas such as medical technology and diagnostics," says Nicolai Walter, CEO of Pixel Photonics.

Technological sovereignty through leap innovations

The Federal Agency for Leap Innovations (SPRIND) promotes disruptive technologies with the potential to create new markets and strengthen Germany's technological independence. For deep-tech start-ups such as Pixel Photonics, the funding offers long-term development prospects and enables them to master technological risks and assert themselves internationally. The development of multi-mode-capable single-photon detectors opens up new technological possibilities and extends the previous limits of photon detection.

Who is Pixel Photonics?

Pixel Photonics was founded in 2021 as a spin-off of the University of Münster. The company develops scalable single-photon detectors for applications in quantum computing, quantum key distribution, microscopy, metrology and sensor technology. The international team of 39 employees combines high detection rates and scalability with high speed.

In addition to EXIST funding, Pixel Photonics has already received venture capital from Quantonation and HTGF as well as research grants from the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)the European Innovation Council (EIC) and the European Space Agency (ESA).