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IQE plc has joined a new consortium, MIRPhab (Mid Infrared Photonics devices fabrication for chemical sensing and spectroscopic applications), which will establish a pilot line to serve the growing needs of European industry in the field of analytical micro-sensors. IQE’s role will be to provide partners and commercial customers with a volume source of mid infrared laser epitaxial wafers.
The aim of the MIRPhab is to establish a European-based production capability for mid infrared photonics devices. By bringing together high volume epitaxial wafer production facilities at IQE, along with key end users, the consortium will deliver an end-to-end production supply chain for a range of mid-IR devices for a wide range of infrared sensing applications.
Mid-infrared lasers and detectors are a key enabling technology in a wide range of applications where the precise and fast detection of chemicals in gases and liquids is required. This rapid growth in demand for mid-infrared devices will be exploited by the Pilot Line in product areas which include:-
- Measurement and control of environmental pollutants from industrial manufacturing processes and automotive engines.
- Stand-off detection of explosives and biological threats.
- Non-invasive medical diagnosis.
- Specialized free space communication systems.
This initiative will also provide open access to the European photonics industry, focusing on innovative SMEs, catering for their requirements to prototype a wide range of Mid-IR devices for multiple end use applications.
This €15m Pilot Line for mid-IR devices will receive funding from the both the European Commission’s Photonics Public Private Partnership under the Horizon 2020 program (€13m) and the Swiss Government (€2m).
