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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.

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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 Unveils €144 Million Archaeological Museum Project

In a historic milestone for Cyprus, the new Archaeological Museum, located opposite the House of Representatives on the grounds of the former General Hospital of Nicosia, has opened its doors to journalists for an exclusive preview. The guided tour showcased not only the museum’s cultural significance but also its sophisticated architectural design.

Ambitious Investment And Unparalleled Technical Expertise

With an estimated cost of €144 million, the project ranks among the largest cultural investments ever undertaken in Cyprus. Cyfield Project Manager and Director Andreas Konstantinides said the building’s complexity required highly specialized construction techniques. Among the most notable elements is the use of approximately one million individually designed wooden components, each produced with unique dimensions and geometry to create the molds required for the structure. The scale of the engineering work reflects the project’s ambition to deliver a museum capable of meeting modern international standards.

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Innovation, Sustainability, And European Excellence

Designed with sustainability and energy efficiency in mind, the museum is expected to operate with a near-zero environmental footprint. The facility covers approximately 30,000 square metres within a total development area of 39,988 square metres. Plans also include around 250 parking spaces to improve accessibility for visitors. Advanced technologies have been incorporated throughout the design, positioning the museum among the most modern cultural institutions in Europe.

Strategic Collaboration And Long-Term Commitment

Construction is being carried out by the Iacovou – Cyfield (M) Joint Venture, bringing together two of Cyprus’ largest construction companies. Beyond the building phase, the partnership includes provisions for the museum’s maintenance. The initial maintenance agreement covers two years, with options to extend the contract for up to a decade. Around 150 workers representing 22 different specialties are currently involved in the project, highlighting both its complexity and scale.

Setting A New Benchmark In Cultural Institutions

Construction is scheduled to be completed in 2027, while the museum is expected to officially open to the public in 2029. Cyfield spokesperson Efi Chrysohou said the project reflects the company’s commitment to delivering large-scale developments of national significance. Once completed, the new Archaeological Museum is expected to become a flagship cultural destination, showcasing Cyprus’ archaeological heritage within a purpose-built facility designed to meet contemporary international museum standards.