BluGlass and North Carolina State University extend contract
Australian GaN laser company BluGlass and North Carolina State University (NCSU) have extended their existing contract to include a third year, valued at $680,000.
Under the extension, BluGlass' US subsidiary will continue developing advanced GaN lasers to support defence, quantum, and dual-use technology development as part of the US government-funded Commercial Leap Ahead for Wide Bandgap Semiconductors (CLAWS) Hub.
The CLAWS Hub is one of eight Microelectronic Commons innovation hubs established by the US Department of War (formerly the US Department of Defense) and funded by the CHIPS and Science Act. Hub members include Coherent, Macom, and General Electric.
Under the Year 2 CLAWS Hub development program BluGlass improved power conversion efficiency across its GaN laser platform from violet to blue wavelengths as well as enhanced Distributed Feedback (DFB) laser capabilities.
BluGlass CEO Jim Haden said: “Building on last year’s success with the CLAWS Hub, this renewed contract further strengthens our role in developing critical next-generation quantum, defence, and dual-use technologies supported by robust sovereign supply chains.
“Our continued collaboration with hub members and industry partners is fast-tracking the transition of advanced photonics and optoelectronic devices from early-stage research through to commercial manufacturing. BluGlass is establishing itself as a commercial off-ramp within the US lab‑to‑fab ecosystem – enabling new capabilities in sensing, communications, materials processing, aviation, and future quantum systems."
BluGlass has been awarded a combined $4.4M for the first three years of the 5-year Microelectronics Commons program.
