PhotonDelta has made a significant investment of €1.2 million in the MIT spin-off company, Perceptra, which aims to revolutionize chemical monitoring through innovative chip-scale technology. This funding, structured as a loan, will support the development of Perceptra’s first fully photonic Raman sensor and facilitate the company’s relocation of research and development from San Francisco to the Netherlands.
Advancing Chemical Analysis with Photonic Technology
Raman spectroscopy is a powerful analytical technique capable of identifying chemicals with atomic precision. However, its traditional setup is cumbersome, requiring laboratory environments that hinder continuous monitoring in biomanufacturing plants and limit portable applications. Perceptra seeks to address these limitations by integrating decades-old chemical analysis technology onto silicon, making it more accessible and practical for widespread use.
The company’s approach replaces large dispersive spectrometers with compact photonic chips featuring on-chip tunable lasers and detectors. This integration, combined with artificial intelligence to decode signals, results in a device that is not only portable but also significantly more affordable than existing technologies.
Amir Atabaki, CEO and co-founder of Perceptra, brings extensive experience from his years in MIT’s photonics labs. He recognized the potential of Raman sensing—a Nobel Prize-winning technology from the 1930s—that had not evolved in line with modern industrial needs. Atabaki posed a critical question: why not miniaturize this technology similar to how computers have been shrunk over the years?
From Concept to Commercialization
Perceptra’s technology aims to transform chemical analysis into a process as straightforward as using a digital thermometer. By substituting bulky optical setups with photonic integrated circuits (PICs), the company enhances efficiency and reduces costs. The key features include AI-powered signal extraction from small detectors that are ten times less expensive than traditional options, utilizing existing photonic fabrication facilities.
Unlike competitors such as Wasatch Photonics and Metrohm, Perceptra’s strategy focuses on full integration onto silicon. The funding from PhotonDelta not only supports the creation of the first commercial sensor but also positions Perceptra within a thriving ecosystem in the Netherlands, which offers advantages in terms of fabrication, talent availability, and supply chain logistics.
The company is poised to initiate early-stage pilots in biomanufacturing, bringing its innovative sensor technology to sectors that demand reliable and continuous chemical monitoring. This investment marks a significant step forward in making advanced chemical analysis more accessible, with the potential to impact various industrial applications.
In conclusion, the partnership between PhotonDelta and Perceptra heralds a new era for chemical monitoring, combining cutting-edge technology with practical applications to meet the needs of modern industries. As the company prepares for its transition to the Netherlands, the future looks promising for both Perceptra and the broader field of photonic technology.
