Morphotonics closes €40M+ Series B to solve AI-devices’ hidden manufacturing bottleneck
- Waveguides project digital images into glasses but are extremely hard to make at consumer-electronics scale.
- AR ‘waveguides’ and other advanced optical components such as Co-Packaged Optics (CPO) are crucial for the AI revolution.
- Morphotonics’ new funding will accelerate waveguide and CPO manufacturing technology.
Veldhoven, the Netherlands, 22 September 2026
Global deeptech player Morphotonics has closed a Series B financing round of more than €40 million to scale its manufacturing technology for AI glasses, Augmented Reality waveguides and advanced photonic components. Morphotonics develops large-area nanoimprint lithography platforms.
The expanded Series B reflects the continued support of existing investors 3M Ventures, Innovation Industries and BOM, alongside Invest-NL as a major new investor. Further participation comes from the European Innovation Council (EIC) Fund, Ernij Next and the European Investment Bank (EIB), bringing together a strong syndicate behind Morphotonics’ next phase of growth.
Waveguides are the transparent optical components that project digital images into a wearer’s field of vision. They are central to many AI glasses and spatial-computing devices but remain among the most difficult and expensive components to manufacture at consumer-electronics scale.
Existing production methods for waveguides can be slow, expensive and difficult to adapt to different optical designs. Morphotonics’ technology can replicate micro- and nano scale structures across large substrates while meeting the throughput, precision and reliability requirements of consumer-electronics manufacturers.
Morphotonics develops large-area nanoimprint lithography platforms – a manufacturing process that presses nano- and microscopic patterns into a liquid resin coating using a mould, then hardens it in place with UV light. These platforms allow manufacturers to reproduce those patterns with high precision across large surfaces, helping them produce components such as AR waveguides at higher volumes and lower costs than conventional production methods.
The upsized commitments from these returning investors reflect strong confidence in Morphotonics’ execution and the accelerating commercial momentum the company has built with leading AI device manufacturers across Asia, the United States, and Europe. Revenue tripled in 2025 compared with 2024, and the pipeline points to substantial further growth. Over the same period, the company installed several platforms for high-volume manufacturing worldwide.
Breakthroughs in photonics and optical systems will be critical enablers for applications ranging from consumer AI devices to next-generation computing architectures, including emerging paradigms such as Co-Packaged Optics.
The funding comes as technology companies in the United States, Asia and Europe increase investment in AI-enabled glasses and spatial-computing devices. Analysts at Counterpoint Research estimate consumers will spend more than $1 trillion on wearable devices between 2026 and 2032, with smart glasses alone expected to generate $44 billion in sales by 2032. While advances in AI software have accelerated rapidly, producing the optical hardware needed to bring those capabilities into lightweight, affordable devices remains a significant manufacturing challenge.
“Everyone is talking about AI glasses right now. AI is moving off the screen and into the real world, into glasses, spatial systems, and a new generation of intelligent devices,” said Hugo da Silva, CEO of Morphotonics. “But these and similar devices will not reach mass adoption unless the optical components inside them can be manufactured at consumer-electronics scale.”
“Our role is to make that possible. By bringing nanoimprint lithography from specialist production into high-volume manufacturing, we’ll ensure the AI glasses and Physical AI future can arrive.”
“We can help reduce one of the key manufacturing barriers facing AI glasses and other advanced optical devices,” he added.
Over the past year, Morphotonics has continued developing its Cypris platform, which is designed specifically for the high-volume manufacture of waveguides.
The new funding will be used to increase production capacity for the Cypris platform; advance product development; expand engineering, commercial and customer-support teams; strengthen supplier and manufacturing networks; and build after-sales infrastructure.
The company is working with device and component manufacturers in China, Taiwan, the United States and Europe as they develop production processes for AI glasses and other optical systems.
Morphotonics has also expanded its lab-to-fab partner network, allowing customers to test and develop large-area nanoimprint processes before investing in their own production equipment and moving into industrial production.
Morphotonics is based in Veldhoven, within the Brainport high-technology cluster, where it has easy access to semiconductor, photonics and advanced-manufacturing suppliers and talent.
“Morphotonics is addressing a clear industrial challenge: how to manufacture increasingly complex optical components at the scale and cost required by consumer markets. The company has made significant progress in a short time, and this investment will support its move from technology development into broader industrial deployment,” said Johan Stins, Sr. Investment Manager at Invest NL.
“We believe Morphotonics has developed an innovative manufacturing approach for advanced optical components and are pleased to continue to support the Company’s growth,” said Mark Copman, Senior VP, New Growth Ventures at 3M.
“If Europe wants to stay competitive, it needs to stay in front when it comes to cutting-edge technology.” said Chantal Schrijver, head of the EIB Group office in the Netherlands. “One of our main challenges is to make sure that local businesses can stay and grow in Europe, and the public and private sectors need to make sure that these companies can get the right type of financing to do so. We’re very happy to support Morphotonics with their innovation, which can have a great impact on the European tech landscape.”
Beyond AI glasses and Augmented Reality, Morphotonics’ technology may also be used to manufacture components for displays, sensors and photonic systems, including optical technologies being developed for future computing and data-center infrastructure.
About Morphotonics B.V.
Morphotonics develops large-area nanoimprint lithography platforms for manufacturing micro- and nanostructured optical components. Its products are designed to help manufacturers move from product development to high-volume production across applications such as Augmented Reality waveguides, advanced displays, AI glasses, and photonic components. Based in Veldhoven in the Netherlands, Morphotonics works with customers and technology partners across Europe, the United States and Asia. The company was previously named a CES Innovation Awards Honoree.
The Series B funding has also been covered by TechCrunch, highlighting Morphotonics’ expansion from advanced display manufacturing into Co-Packaged Optics for data centers.
