Breaking news

NATO Innovation Fund Co-Leads €25M Series A In Photonics Startup Camgraphic

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

March 24, 2025

The NATO Innovation Fund (NIF) has co-led a €25 million Series A funding round for UK-based photonics startup Camgraphic, alongside Italy’s CDP Venture Capital, Sony Innovation Fund, and Berlin’s Join Capital. Additional investors in the round include Bosch Ventures, Frontier IP Group, and Indaco Venture Partners.

Camgraphic is developing innovative graphene microchips that use both light and electrical signals to transmit data, offering a faster, more energy-efficient alternative to traditional silicon-based chips. The company’s technology is poised to enhance a variety of applications, including AI, high-performance computing, autonomous vehicles, satellite communications, and radar imaging.

Follow THE FUTURE on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and Telegram

The funds raised will support the expansion of Camgraphic’s R&D operations in Pisa and the establishment of a pilot manufacturing line in Milan. CEO Ben Jensen revealed that the funding process took eight months to close, with the round raised by Camgraphic’s parent company, 2D Photonics Spa. Jensen anticipates the first commercial applications of their graphene photonic technology to be available within a few years.

The Advantages Of Graphene In Photonics

Photonics refers to the technology that converts data into light signals to transmit over fiber-optic cables. While silicon photonics is currently used in systems like AI, high-performance computers, and 5G/6G communications, it has limitations. Silicon photonics faces challenges like a band gap and low extinction ratio, which result in distorted signals and high latency.

Jensen explains, “Silicon photonics has a finite future. With the rapid rise in data consumption for AI and 5G/6G, the existing material is being stretched to its limits.” Graphene, on the other hand, offers a gapless structure that eliminates these issues, providing higher scalability and significantly reducing latency and bandwidth problems. This makes graphene a more cost-effective and efficient material for photonic circuits.

Plans For Growth

With the new funding, Camgraphic plans to scale its technology, establish manufacturing partnerships and expand its workforce. The company is currently looking to hire a chief financial officer and aims to grow its team from 17 to 34 people within the next year, with further expansion to 68 employees over the next two years.

Notable figures who joined the company’s board as part of this funding round include Ben Balmforth from NATO Innovation Fund, Antonio Avitabile from Sony Innovation Fund, and Sebastian von Ribbentrop from Join Capital, among others.

As Camgraphic moves towards commercialization, its innovative graphene-based photonics technology has the potential to reshape industries reliant on data transmission, from AI to communications and beyond.

The Future Forbes Realty Global Properties

Cyprus Hotels See Gradual Booking Recovery Amid Summer Uncertainty

The Cyprus hotel industry is experiencing a cautious rebound in booking activity, though current figures remain below seasonal expectations. Thanos Michaelides, Chairman of the Cyprus Hoteliers Association (Pasyxe), highlighted the ongoing challenges during recent remarks, noting that May’s performance fell short of potential while forecasting a similar trend for June.

Booking Trends And Seasonal Impact

Reservation activity has picked up in recent months, yet the gap created by the slowdown in March has not been fully recovered. According to Michaelides, May underperformed relative to expectations, while June is expected to follow a similar pattern. The sector is now looking to stronger demand in the coming weeks to support occupancy during the peak summer months. A continued increase in last-minute bookings could help improve performance in July and August, which traditionally represent the busiest period of the tourism season.

Follow THE FUTURE on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and Telegram

Monitoring Developments For Summer Forecasting

Pasyxe continues to closely monitor booking trends and market developments as hoteliers assess prospects for the remainder of the summer. “We need to monitor the situation constantly to have a more correct forecast of how the summer season will develop,” Michaelides said. The association expects booking patterns over the next few weeks to provide a clearer picture of demand for the peak holiday period.

Market Dynamics And Strategic Responses

Demand from Israel is beginning to recover, offering a potential boost to Cyprus’ tourism sector. Michaelides noted that the Israeli market has historically responded quickly to changing conditions and could contribute to stronger occupancy levels if current trends continue. To support demand, many hotels have introduced additional discounts for tour operators and domestic travelers, aiming to remain competitive while encouraging new reservations.

The Role Of Human Capital In Tourism

Alongside demand concerns, the sector continues to face workforce challenges. Michaelides welcomed government support measures introduced in April to help businesses address staffing shortages and operational pressures. He emphasized that service quality remains one of Cyprus’ key competitive advantages, arguing that skilled personnel continue to play a central role in shaping the visitor experience and supporting the island’s tourism industry.