Photonics, the science and technology of light, plays an important role in driving innovation across an increasing number of fields. While electronics uses electrons to carry information or energy, photonics uses particles of light, called photons, enabling new solutions where today's conventional technologies are approaching their limits in terms of speed, capacity and accuracy.
In everyday life, photonics is already all around us. Lasers, optical fibres, the cameras and screens in our phones, and lighting in our cars, homes, computer monitors and TVs are just a few examples of photonics.
Given its strategic importance for Europe's competitiveness and technological sovereignty, photonics has been recognised as one of the EU's key digital technologies of the 21st century, with substantial investments through Horizon Europe Cluster 4. Nevertheless, the Photonics Partnership Annual Meeting 2026 highlighted that Europe must also invest decisively in photonics in the next multiannual financial framework, in order to keep up with the accelerating global technology race.
Discover a selection of projects, managed by the European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA), that employ photonics to advance sustainable manufacturing, environmental monitoring and space exploration.
Reducing the environmental footprint of industrial parts
Functionalisation plays a key role in manufacturing, where treatments are applied to change the surface characteristics of materials, providing them with a range of desired properties, capabilities and functions. However, the process is challenging when it involves complex 3D shapes and large-scale industrial parts, for example turbine blades. Conventional surface treatment methods using chemical reactions and complete surface coating also generate a considerable environmental footprint. To address these issues, the Horizon Europe Cluster 4: Industry project BILASURF focused on developing a sustainable and automated laser-based manufacturing process to functionalise complex 3D industrial components.
The project successfully advanced the concept of bio-inspired surface textures (riblet structures) designed to reduce friction, improve aerodynamic and hydrodynamic performance, lower energy consumption and extend component lifespan. BILASURF combined high-rate ultrafast laser texturing, automated handling of complex parts, inline monitoring, quality control and digital manufacturing technologies to enable industrial-scale application of advanced surface functionalities. By replacing conventional chemical coating processes with laser-based structuring, BILASURF demonstrated a cleaner production route that reduces waste, eliminates harmful by-products and lowers the environmental footprint of industrial surface treatments.
The project also developed a modular laser functionalisation platform with intelligent motion control, enabling precise and repeatable structuring of complex non-flat surfaces. Studies of laser-material interactions helped optimise processing parameters. Finally, the project also assessed the technology's scalability and commercial potential, highlighting applications in sectors such as aerospace, transport and advanced manufacturing.
A new multisensing system for water pollution
Environmental water pollution is a growing global issue. The presence of harmful contaminants or pollutants in rivers, lakes, seas and groundwater can pose a threat to the environment and public health. To improve environmental water quality monitoring, IBAIA, funded under Horizon Europe Cluster 4: Digital, is developing a novel multisensing system that can monitor a wider range of parameters than existing solutions while being more cost-effective, reliable and environmentally friendly. The system is based on four innovative sensor modules that use complementary photonics and electrochemical technologies to detect organic chemicals, microplastics, salinity, physicochemical parameters, nutrient salts and heavy metals.
Each sensor is being developed as an individual interchangeable module, but they are being integrated into a single, portable and cost-effective device. The IBAIA system is designed to be deployable in situ at remote locations with minimal human inputs for long periods of time, running on significantly reduced energy consumption from solar panels and batteries.
As the project approaches its conclusion in late 2026, the system will be validated at final test sites under real-world conditions. The project's outcomes have significant potential for environmental monitoring agencies, water treatment facilities, industrial applications and research institutions. IBAIA will provide a powerful and efficient multi-sensing solution, strengthening European leadership in photonic technologies and contributing to the European Green Deal objectives.
Miniaturised Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) systems to explore the Martian atmosphere
The planet Mars has a complex, highly variable climate. The study of its atmosphere is essential to improve understanding of the planet’s climate evolution and its influence on potential past and present life, as well as for identifying potential risks for future Martian missions. Yet, studying these atmospheric features has proven challenging. The Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) systems researchers use on Earth, for instance to analyse aerosols and clouds, are too heavy and consume too much power for Martian missions.
To tackle this challenge, MiLi, funded under Horizon Europe Cluster 4: Space, created a compact, low-power LiDAR system based on advanced photonics technologies, capable of detailed observations specifically designed for Martian missions. LiDAR works by sending laser pulses and measuring the light that is reflected from objects or particles.
MiLi revisited the technology, focusing on advancements that would make the system smaller, lighter and more energy-efficient. A key breakthrough was replacing traditional light sources with laser diode stacks, which consume less power and produce less heat. Specialised optics capable of precise beam alignment were developed to ensure the laser beams remained properly focused. Another innovation was introducing silicon photomultipliers as detectors. These sensors require far less power and offer a broader detection range. Ultimately, MiLi developed ceramic materials which can handle extreme temperature changes, allowing for system continuity on Mars.
MiLi’s prototype was validated during a two-week field campaign at the Yebes Observatory in Spain, outperforming previous power consumption, weight and operation range benchmarks and demonstrating that the prototype can operate both during the day and at night.
Discover more HaDEA-managed projects building synergies to achieve the EU’s strategic objectives:
- Spotlight on EU Preparedness: projects reinforcing Europe’s resilience in a changing world - European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA)
- Spotlight on EU cybersecurity: projects shielding the EU from cyber threats - European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA)
- Spotlight on digital skills: projects strengthening Europe’s workforce for the digital decade - European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA)
- Spotlight on Artificial Intelligence: projects enhancing EU tech sovereignty through excellence in AI - European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA)
- Spotlight on cancer: projects advancing the fight against one of Europe’s biggest public health challenges - European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA)
- Spotlight on digital twins: projects using virtual replicas to advance Europe's green and digital transition - European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA)
Learn more about HaDEA-managed EU funding programmes: