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A new European initiative is set to transform the laser industry, and Czechia is at the heart of it. The LASER-PRO project, led by the HiLASE Centre in Dolní Břežany, is bringing together 18 research institutions from Czechia, Lithuania, and Ukraine to push the boundaries of laser technology. The project, with a budget of six million euros, aims to strengthen Europe's competitiveness in this high-tech field and foster the growth of Czech start-ups in laser applications.

In a feature published on e15, journalist Martin Filip traces the evolution of Czech laser technology from its roots in 1964 to the present. Czechia has long been a hub for laser research, and the LASER-PRO project seeks to build on this legacy by integrating cutting-edge research with industrial applications.

“The six million euros for the LASER-PRO project led by the Czech laser centre HiLASE should, among other things, initiate new Czech start-ups in the field of laser technology. A project has started in Dolní Břežany, which, thanks to inspiration from Vilnius, wants to bring lasers to industry and create a European laser centre of excellence with facilities in Central Bohemia and Lithuania. It will also contribute to the development of laser technology in Ukraine,” Filip writes.

“In Czechia, we have excellent laser technologies, but we are not as strong when it comes to their commercialization and industrial application. That’s why we decided we need to seek inspiration. We identified Lithuania as an excellent model where collaboration between industry and scientists working in lasers and laser technologies is highly effective,” explains Tomáš Mocek, head of the HiLASE Centre.

“The Lithuanian laser industry generates revenues of 254 million euros, 89 percent of which comes from exports, and involves more than sixty companies,” summarizes Gediminas Raciukaitis from FTMC, Lithuania’s Centre for Physical Sciences and Technology.

“In Czechia, there is virtually no laser industry, and we would like to change that mindset through the LASER-PRO project,” said Tomáš Mocek...This is a common approach in Silicon Valley, particularly in the IT sector. Silicon Valley has excellent universities, but only a small fraction of graduates end up in pure academia. They either start their own business, join existing companies, or do both,” he adds.

Bridging Academia and Industry
One of the key objectives of LASER-PRO is to connect research with business. The project goes beyond pure scientific exploration by equipping researchers with the necessary business acumen to commercialise their innovations. By fostering collaboration between academia and industry, the initiative seeks to drive technological advancements with tangible industrial applications.

Beyond LASER-PRO: ESTER and 3D Printing Developments
The article also highlights other groundbreaking advancements in the Czech laser industry. It covers the ESTER laser system, developed by the HiLASE Centre in partnership with Crytur, as well as the expanding potential of Czech 3D printing in industrial applications.

“In recent times, our company decided to start producing more complex devices—not just laser rods, but complete laser sources. One of our projects is a laser for laser spectroscopy LIBS, which is a highly effective method for material element detection. It is used, for example, in manufacturing to verify steel quality. With this laser, you can determine the exact composition of individual elements,” explains Kryštof Polák from Crytur.

With LASER-PRO officially launched, Czechia is set to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of laser technology in Europe.

Read the full article on e15 (available in Czech)