Photonics, Optics & Sensing companies in Finland

Photonics, optics and sensing is one of the largest sectors on the map, built on long-standing optics research in Tampere, Espoo, Oulu and Joensuu. The companies make lasers, infrared and hyperspectral sensors, augmented-reality displays and measurement instruments for industrial processes.

In market 19

Product is being sold.

• 
  Ampliconyx

  Tampere · founded 2016

  Fibre-laser amplifier modules (T-DCF) for laser applications. Tampere University roots.

• 
  Cajo Technologies

  Kempele · founded 2010

  Smart laser marking (permanent, incl. colour) — industrial marking and traceability.

• 
  Cavitar

  Tampere · founded 2004

  Diode-laser illumination lasers for industrial machine vision and process imaging (e.g. welding).

• 
  ColloidTek

  Tampere · founded 2017

  Collo Liquid Analyzer — real-time electromagnetic "fingerprint" analysis of liquids for process industry control. Tampere University of Technology spin-out (2017); product and site run under the Collo brand.

• 
  Dispelix

  Espoo · founded 2015 · Exit / acquired

  Waveguide displays for AR/MR glasses — thinnest on the market. Acquired (AAC Technologies).

• 
  ElFys

  Espoo · founded 2017

  Black-silicon photodetectors/diodes (near-100% quantum efficiency): laser tracking, wearables, analytics. Aalto spin-off; €6M (Samsung Venture), ESA, NATO DIANA. Customers incl. Thorlabs, ESA.

• 
  Emberion

  Espoo · founded 2016 · Exit / acquired

  Infrared/SWIR cameras and imaging (machine vision, hyperspectral, thermal, night vision) with patented nanotechnologies (operating up to 5000 nm). HQ Espoo + Cambridge UK; acquired by Exosens.

• 
  Evolase

  Ruokolahti · founded 2021

  Energy-efficient laser electronics and ultrafast pulsed-laser systems.

• 
  Gasera

  Turku · founded 2004

  Photoacoustic gas analysis — highly sensitive measurement of gases and emissions.

• 
  GrainSense

  Oulu · founded 2014

  Handheld NIR device for rapid grain-quality measurement (protein, moisture) in the field.

• 
  KxS Technologies

  Espoo · founded 2020

  Online refractive-index monitoring for the process industry.

• 
  Picophotonics

  Tampere · founded 2015

  Q-switched microchip lasers using SESAM technology, a spinout from Tampere University's Optoelectronics Research Centre (ORC).

• 
  Reflekron

  Tampere · founded 2004

  SESAM-based pulsed-laser systems, a spinout from Tampere University's Optoelectronics Research Centre (ORC).

• 
  Rocsole

  Kuopio · founded 2012

  Electrical and ultrasound tomography for real-time imaging inside process pipes and vessels — multiphase flow, water cut and deposition build-up in oil, gas and process industry (topside and subsea).…

• 
  Sapotech

  Oulu · founded 2012

  Machine vision and deep learning for online inspection in the metals industry (RoboVision).

• 
  SeeTrue Technologies

  Joensuu · founded 2018

  Ultra-miniature, ultra-low-power eye sensing — real-time high-FPS gaze tracking at minimal energy, for medical optical systems, vision care and smart wearables including XR and AI glasses. University of…

• 
  Sensmet

  Oulu · founded 2017

  Online metals analysis of water and process liquids (μDOES, discharge optical emission).

• 
  Timegate Instruments

  Oulu · founded 2014

  Time-gated Raman technology for real-time chemical-composition analysis (e.g. biopharma production).

• 
  Vexlum

  Tampere · founded 2017

  High-power, low-noise single-frequency VECSEL laser systems with broad wavelength coverage in the visible and near-infrared, customisable to specific wavelengths. Quantum technology is the lead market (cold…

Pre-revenue 6

No sales yet.

• 
  Agate Sensors

  Espoo · founded 2024

  Miniaturised hyperspectral sensors on a chip. Voima portfolio.

• 
  Distance Technologies

  Helsinki · founded 2023

  Glasses-free mixed-reality optics with on-device AI, founded by Urho Konttori and a team of former Varjo executives.

• 
  HyCom Core

  Joensuu · founded 2023

  Photonics-based connectivity for AI data centres (xPU Connectivity Platform, electro-optical waveguide): 10× faster, 30× less energy. Seed (True/Lifeline).

• 
  Hypermine

  Espoo · founded 2025

  Laser-based hyperspectral sensing for mining-industry optimisation. VTT spin-out (2025).

• 
  IXI

  Espoo · founded 2021

  World's first autofocus eyeglasses — dynamic lens + ultra-low-power eye tracking. $36.5M Series A; founders ex-Varjo. Registered as Pixieray Oy until 17.6.2025, when the company was renamed IXI Eyewear Oy…

• 
  See Through Solutions

  Espoo · founded 2022

  Terahertz camera for security scanning — sees concealed weapons/explosives. Founder Aarne Oja.

Research projects (pre-company) 3

University and VTT commercialisation projects — no legal entity or funding round yet. Not a complete national list.

• C
  Crispy

  Tampere Univ.

  Lightweight XR/AR display technology combining nanofabricated thin diffractive optics with neural-network processing to remove the vergence-accommodation conflict that causes eye strain in current headsets…

• H
  HylasVision

  VTT

  Material identification via hyperspectral imaging. VTT LaunchPad team.

• 
  SGS Gas Sensors

  Aalto · Espoo

  Highly selective, biodegradable printed gas sensors — an AI-programmable multi-gas sensor built on a novel biodegradable-nanomaterials platform, ultra-low power. Aalto R2B (originally 'Sustainable Smart Gas…

Other sectors

How this list was made

Every company is checked by hand against the trade register and its own material, and placed in the one sector that best describes its business or technology. Service firms and consultancies are left out. The full rules are on the landscape ↗