Menhir Photonics’ Florian Emaury Named To Photonics100 For Advancing Ultrafast Laser Technology

Menhir Photonics is proud to announce that CEO and co-founder Dr. Florian Emaury has been selected as one of the 100 most innovative minds in photonics worldwide for 2026. This recognition comes from Electro Optics’ prestigious annual ranking, The Photonics100.

The Photonics100 celebrates innovators who are shaping the global photonics landscape across academia, industry, and entrepreneurship. The honor specifically recognises Dr. Emaury’s leadership in developing ultrafast laser solutions that deliver unprecedented reliability and noise performance, critical for next-generation quantum and communications applications.

“It’s an honor to be recognised by The Photonics100, but this truly belongs to the exceptional team at Menhir Photonics,” said Dr. Emaury. “Our mission is to take the complexity out of ultrafast lasers, delivering the speed and precision that AI, quantum computing, and advanced sensing applications demand. This acknowledgement validates our dedication to making femtosecond technology reliable and accessible on a global scale.”

Driving Innovation in Ultrafast Lasers

Since co-founding Menhir Photonics in October 2018, Dr. Emaury has led the development of cutting-edge femtosecond laser solutions for diverse applications. The company has achieved breakthrough performance with femtosecond laser systems reaching repetition rates of an industry-leading 10 GHz at 1550 nm, while delivering unprecedented reliability and noise performance. This unique combination of speed and stability is transforming fields such as optical atomic clocks, precision timing, and advanced materials processing.

Dr. Emaury’s journey to this recognition began with his MSc in Photonics/Physics at the Institute d’Optique Graduate School in Paris, followed by valuable industry experience at specialist laser companies Fianium (UK) and Coherent (USA). His doctoral research at ETH Zürich under the renowned Prof. Ursula Keller focused on femtosecond lasers.

Industry Recognition Amid Global Growth

The 2026 Photonics100 announcement comes as the photonics industry experiences unprecedented demand driven by AI computing, quantum communications, and advanced manufacturing applications. Europe leads this year’s rankings with 73 honorees, reflecting the continent’s strength in photonics innovation.

This is not the only accolade for Menhir Photonics in 2025. The company also won the Quantum Technologies category at the Innovation Award ceremony during Laser World of Photonics in Munich, in June. The 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.

For more information about Menhir Photonics and our award-winning ultrafast laser solutions, get in touch with the team.

Read the full list of Photonics100 honourees for 2026.