Innovation Award 2025 winners announced at Laser World of Photonics

Menhir Photonics is proud to announce it has won the Quantum Technologies category at the
Innovation Award ceremony during Laser World of Photonics in Munich. The company’s
MENHIR-1030 femtosecond laser, operating at an industry-first 1GHz repetition rate, was
selected from more than 70 entries across seven technical categories by an expert international
judging panel.

Revolutionary industrial-grade performance for quantum

The award-winning MENHIR-1030 represents a significant advancement in industrial-grade
femtosecond laser technology. Engineered for the exacting demands of quantum technology,
this laser delivers unprecedented 1GHz repetition rate performance coupled with ultra-low
noise, extreme stability, and 24/7 maintenance-free operation. These attributes are absolutely
critical for reliable and precise quantum applications.

Jonas Heidrich – Product Line Manager at Menhir Photonics says: “This prestigious recognition
at Laser World of Photonics validates our commitment to pushing the boundaries of high-
frequency femtosecond laser technology for industrial deployment. The MENHIR-1030 was
specifically engineered to meet the exacting demands of quantum researchers and industrial
applications where precision and unwavering reliability are paramount, and this award affirms its
breakthrough capabilities.”

Applications Across Quantum and Beyond

The MENHIR-1030’s unique capabilities make it ideally suited for a diverse range of high-
precision applications in cutting-edge fields:

Quantum Technologies: Enabling the generation of high-flux single and entangled photons
crucial for quantum computing, quantum communication systems, and advanced quantum
sensing.

Coherent Combining: Achieving ultra-high peak power through advanced beam combination
techniques for demanding scientific and industrial processes.

Material Processing: Facilitating GHz burst processing for next-generation manufacturing
applications that require ultra-fine precision and high throughput.

The laser’s robust, industrial-grade design ensures consistent and reliable performance in
demanding production environments, while simultaneously maintaining the extreme precision
required for breakthrough research applications.

Expert Validation from the Photonics Industry

The Innovation Award judging panel, comprising 11 leading experts from across Europe and
North America representing both commercial and research sectors, recognized the MENHIR-
1030’s immense potential to advance multiple fields simultaneously.

Dr. Chris Yates from Vision Ventures, a member of the judging panel, commented on the high
quality of all 74 entries: “The level and breadth of innovation across the whole of the photonics
industry is a real indicator of the strategic importance of this industry and gives us tremendous
confidence as we look to the future.”

The Innovation Award at Laser World of Photonics is sponsored by Europa Science, publisher
of Electro Optics, and represents one of the photonics industry’s most prestigious recognitions
for technological advancement. The 2025 competition attracted entries across seven key
technical categories, from industrial laser systems to biophotonics and quantum technologies,
showcasing the forefront of photonics innovation.

Read the full Story at electrooptics.com