THALES group (THA) is one of the major world players in aerospace, space, defense and security, and ground transportation and develops sensors for its customers. The group of physics within the research center has a strong background in metrology and quantum and develop an expertise through several European and national projects (FP7 Plat4M, EDA PICTURE, H2020 INSPIRE, H2020 BLUESPACE). THA will coordinate the project and thus lead WP1. Given THA’s expertise in classical and quantum sensing, they will lead and contribute to the development of a software defined FMCW LiDAR and distributed acoustic sensor and investigate the use of the AgiLight laser for distributed acoustic sensing, underwater LiDAR and quantum applications with a Rydberg sensor in WP5.

Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) has pioneered hybrid photonic multi-chip integration concepts based on 3D-printed coupling elements as well as silicon-organic hybrid (SOH) integration schemes. Within AgiLight, KIT will be responsible for photonic assembly, where it will collaborate closely with VA and DLT, and for highly frequency-agile PIC based on SOH integration. In addition, KIT contributes long-standing experience in the field of optical metrology and sensing. This expertise places KIT in an excellent position to lead WP2.

INRIM is the Italian metrological Institute, in the frame of the Convention of the Meter. INRiM’s laboratories for time and frequency metrology are world leading class and offers three laser cooled atomic clocks at state of the art, based on Cesium, Ytterbium and Strontium. Given INRIM’s expertise in metrology, they will lead and contribute as end-user to the development of Sr laser cooling in WP5.

Vanguard Automation GmbH (VA) is a leading high-tech startup that develops, implements and sells machines and processes for additive nanofabrication in the field of integrated optics. While the initial focus of VA was on datacom and telecom applications at near-IR wavelengths around 1300 nm and 1550 nm, the company is currently expanding its scope to also target other applications and wavelength ranges, and AgiLight is an important element of this strategy. Within AgiLight, VA will develop ultra-wide-band photonic assembly techniques, that will be transferred to a lithography system at KIT for further use within and beyond the project. Given VA’s expertise, they will lead of WP4 and will also contribute to WP2.

TopGaN Lasers (TGN) is a privately owned spin-off company from the Institute of High Pressure Physics Polish Academy of Sciences. TGN fabricates GaN-based laser diodes of the wavelengths 380-490 nm, however, devices of other wavelengths are under development. The TGN technology is proprietary and patented. Most of the TGN devices are delivered to Quantum Tech laboratories for research on atomic clocks and sensors. TGN employs 25 scientists and engineers and has participated in about 20 EU and ESA projects. In the Project, TGN will participate in WP2 with two tasks: (i) optimization of GaN gain chips and DFB diodes; (ii) fabrication of GaN devices.

Institute of High Pressure Physics (IHPP) is a governmental institute whose most important activity is research on nitride semiconductors (about 100 scientists working in that field having published about 1500 papers since 1990). IHPP is vertically integrated comprising: i) bulk GaN substrate growth, ii) MBE and MOVPE epitaxy, iii) device processing. In WP2 of the Project, IHPP will characterize (optical, electrical, microstructural properties) epi wafers and devices fabricated by TGN.

Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL). The laboratory of Tobias J. Kippenberg has pioneered chip-scale frequency combs and cavity optomechanics. EPFL has also developed and patented the photonic Damascene process that will be used within AgiLight. Prof. Tobias J. Kippenberg is co-founder of the startup LIGENTEC SA, that has democratized access to low loss Si 3N4 photonic circuits – a company established 5 years ago with 40 employees. He has coordinated 4 EU projects, including Marie Curie ITN (cQOM, OMT), FET-Proactive (HOT), and TeraSlice (FET-Open). EPFL will provide management support to Thales in WP1 and will lead WP3 given its expertise in Si 3N4 wafer fabrication. EPFL will also contribute to the theoretical modelling and development of FMCW LiDAR demo in WP2, WP5.

DeepLight S.A. (DLT) is a Swiss based high-tech startup company (with a German subsidiary) that develops advanced integrated laser sources based on photonic chips monolithically integrated with piezo-electric actuators for scientific and industrial high-volume applications. Within AgiLight, DLT will work on device concepts, design and implementation of frequency-agile PIC with piezo-electric actuators, and hybrid multi-chip integration techniques in WP2 and WP3. Moreover, DLT will lead WP6 which it is responsible for the market research strategy.