Technology Scotland recently caught up with our member, Skylark Lasers, for our Member Spotlight series. We find out about who Skylark Lasers are, what they do, and much more! Take a look below and get to know them.
What does your organisation do?
We develop and manufacture lasers with the purest spectral properties to help our customers and partners reveal the unseen, detect the imperceptible, and measure the unknown.
Skylark NX lasers deliver ultra-stable single frequency continuous wave performance from a compact diode-pumped solid-state (C-DPSS) platform.
Our integrated monolithic design enables the production of the highest output power on a small footprint — combining the superior optical properties of solid-state lasers with the small form-factor, high-efficiency operation of diode lasers.
Outstanding beam characteristics, high output stability, and extremely low noise make Skylark NX lasers perfect for demanding and emerging applications in Raman spectroscopy, holography, photoluminescence, lithography, flow cytometry, and quantum technology development.
What is your organisation’s biggest achievement?
Beyond the continued improvement of our unique laser technology, we’ve made achievements this year that have transformed our organisation.
In the second half of 2023, we appointed Dr. Ben Szutor as our CEO and have raised a combined $5 million from private and public investment.
Our mission is to miniaturise laser technology that enables the world’s most demanding and cutting-edge applications — reducing cost, weight, and size while maximising power and performance. The recent investment opens opportunities to attract and develop photonics talent to the team, expand our manufacturing capabilities, and further develop the technology needed to address a $5bn global market.
Tell us something exciting about your organisation
Our team is the largest it’s ever been and our skills across the organisation are more diverse than ever. As we continue to grow, we’ve been working to establish our shared core values and our brand identity — incorporating these into the way we work and how we deliver on our promises to our customers.
It’s the first time we have felt empowered to shape who we are and what we want to achieve as a team.
Why did you join Technology Scotland?
Collaboration and innovation are at the core of our organisation. Partnering with Technology Scotland and being embedded in the Scottish photonics cluster enables us to work with the key players in photonics technology development — from research hubs, universities, and our industry peers — to define and develop laser systems that drive advancements across various sectors.
Being a member has also kept us informed and engaged with Scotland’s technology development strategies, policies, and opportunities to get involved in the photonics community.
What are you most looking forward to in 2024/25?
The world is on the cusp of commercialising quantum-enabled systems and the next two years will reveal the transformative potential of these technologies and completely revolutionise how we innovate, work, and live.
We are particularly passionate about quantum sensing, especially due to the short-term applicability of these systems. Sensors for PNT (positioning, navigation, and timing) cover everything from underwater evaluation, or underground structures for holes and pressure points, to those used for advanced maritime and space navigation as well as timekeeping.
Our involvement in Innovate UK’s Quantum-Enabled PNT Small Business Research Initiative in combination with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology’s renewed focus for building the UK’s PNT resilience means we’re closer than ever to the commercialisation of such sensors that will lead to real-life applications of this disruptive technology.