Halvor Fergestad and Alessandro Prencipe. Photo: Jonas Löfvendahl
The Swedish company LiNPhA is a forerunner in photonic technology. Winning the QSIP Innovation Competition improved their efforts in enabling tomorrow’s quantum networks.
– It’s a humbling and fantastic recognition of our efforts to ensure a bright quantum future, says Halvor Fergestad, co-founder and CTO.
As one of five winners in the QSIP 2025 Innovation Competition, LiNPhA has enjoyed a year with plenty of action.
– We have expanded the team and are ramping up efforts to deploy our lithium niobate devices at scale for both quantum and datacentre interconnect applications, says Alessandro Prencipe, co-founder and CSO.
Spin-off from KTH
LiNPhA provides electro-optic solutions to enable faster and greener telecommunications, data centers, quantum optic, and advanced photonics. Founded in 2024, a spin-off from KTH, they specialize in design, fabrication and characterization of miniaturized lithium niobate optical devices.
– We believe that our miniaturized lithium niobate modules will enable the next generation of photonics at scale, says Halvor Fergestad.
Validating performance
They won 300 000 SEK in the innovation competition; money spent directly on fabrication and characterization of developed prototypes.
How was the competition experience?
– Presenting our solutions in front of a very competent jury is a fantastic opportunity to develop new relations and get feedback on what we are doing at LiNPhA.
How did winning the competition help you out?
– It has allowed us to prototype photonic integrated circuits (PICs) in thin film lithium niobate (TFLN) for high-speed modulation for quantum applications. It has also allowed us to test the prototypes with industry stakeholders, validating their performance, says Alessandro Prencipe.
Text and photo: Jonas Löfvendahl
Four facts!
• The company
Founded in 2024 by Halvor Fergestad, Alessandro Prencipe and Fredrik Härenstam. Specialize in design, fabrication and characterization of miniaturized lithium niobate optical devices.
• The name
LiNPhA is an acronym for Lithium Niobate Photonic Applications and recalls the Italian word linfa, meaning sap, which, rising up from the roots feeds and nurtures buds and leaves.
• The innovation competition
Organised by the Swedish quantum network QSIP, with Chalmers Industriteknik as host organisation, and funded by Vinnova. Total prize sum of 1,5 MSEK.
• The competition winners
LiNPhA, pitched by Alessandro Prencipe
RISE, pitched by Qin Wang
Anyo Labs, pitched by Jalil Mahdizadehjalil
Svenska Laserfabriken, pitched by Staffan Tjörnhammar
RISE, pitched by Michael Salter