eyeo, a company specializing in nanophotonic color-splitting technology, announced today that it has raised €40 million in Series A funding, bringing its total funding to €55 million. The round was led by Innovation Industries, with participation from existing investors including imec.xpand, Invest-NL Deep Tech Fund, QBIC fund, High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF), and Brabant Development Agency (BOM). The funding will be used to bring eyeo’s seven years of proven nanophotonic science to market as production-ready sensors.
Traditional image sensors use color filters that block approximately 70% of incoming light, a fundamental flaw that has persisted for decades. eyeo’s technology replaces these filters with nanophotonic structures that guide photons directly to individual pixels, capturing all incoming light. This results in three times more light sensitivity and native color fidelity, even in low-light conditions. The company claims its technology is compatible with any CMOS sensor platform and enables sub-0.5-micron pixels, making it suitable for ultra-compact, high-performance imaging applications.
The implications of this announcement are significant for the $30 billion imaging market. Smartphones, extended reality (XR) devices, smart city cameras, and other imaging systems could benefit from dramatically improved low-light performance and color accuracy without increasing sensor size. For example, smartphone cameras could capture clearer night-time photos, and XR headsets could achieve better environmental sensing. The technology also addresses the growing demand for smaller pixels in compact devices, where traditional filters limit light capture.
“eyeo is redefining imaging with the world’s most advanced nanophotonic color-splitting technology,” the company stated in a press release. “For the first time, image sensors can capture all incoming light, overcoming the 70% light loss imposed by decades-old color filter technology.” The company is headquartered at High Tech Campus Eindhoven in the Netherlands and operates a sensor design center in Antwerp, Belgium.
Investors expressed confidence in eyeo’s potential. “We believe eyeo’s technology is a game-changer for the imaging industry,” said a representative from Innovation Industries. The funding round also included support from existing backers, indicating sustained belief in the company’s trajectory. With total funding now at €55 million, eyeo is poised to scale production and partner with sensor manufacturers.
The broader impact extends beyond consumer electronics. Smart city infrastructure relies on cameras for traffic monitoring, security, and environmental sensing. Improved light sensitivity can enhance image quality in challenging conditions, such as night-time or fog. Similarly, industrial and medical imaging could benefit from higher fidelity and lower noise. As eyeo moves toward production, the imaging industry may see a shift away from traditional color filter arrays toward nanophotonic solutions.
For more details, the full announcement, including downloadable images and bios, is available at eyeo.tech. The press release was distributed by Reportable, Inc.
