Project description
Cost-efficient quality 3D-printed micro-optics for mixed reality
The widespread adoption of digitalisation across industries has ushered in diverse applications for augmented, virtual and mixed reality, promising significant advantages and innovations. However, the high cost of the essential tools for operating mixed reality technologies poses an implementation challenge. In this context, the EU-funded 3DPRINTOPTIXMARKET project seeks to address this issue by developing intricate 3D-printed micro-lenses and micro-optics tailored for mixed reality applications. Collaborating with specialised companies, the project aims to create its first industrially viable 3D-printed micro-optics, leveraging their expertise to optimise and deliver a more cost-effective, high-quality product.
Objective
In the project 3DPrintoptixMarket, we are going to take 3D printed micro-optics to the market. The technology had been developed in the framework of PoC grant 3DPRINTEDOPTICS by the group of Harald Giessen, who had published key papers of this technology and who founded the company Printoptix GmbH as an outcome. We are going to build complex 3D printed multiplet micro-lenses for augmented, virtual and mixed reality (AR/VR/MR) applications and will address a market that is growing at more than 40% annual rate to reach a market size of over 300 billion USD in the year 2028.
For this purpose, we are going to team up the Printoptix company with one of the leading eye tracking companies, Viewpointsystem GmbH from Vienna, to develop a first industrially viable demonstrator that integrates 3D printed micro-optics into their AR/VR goggles to read out the eye pupil position upon infrared illumination. We are going to take this technology demonstrators to early customers, which use such systems for remote repair, remote advice, and for customer training and monitoring. Upon success, our technology will be taken to larger customers that address the giant AR/VR/MR market, which includes teleconferencing, remote medicine, servicing and training, and gaming.
Simultaneously, we are going to explore viable business models for 3D printed micro-optics and address key business numbers such as
manufacturing cost per part, overhead, investments etc. One key part of our proposal is to lower the cost per part to reach numbers below existing technologies. Furthermore, we are going to prepare a business plan to get 3D printed micro-optics investor-ready. This will assure that our worldleading, disruptive 3D printed micro-optics technology ansatz provides unique high-tech solutions for global markets, which are right now not addressed by Asian or American companies. This will therefore be a hallmark example for “Made in Europe” high technology.
Fields of science
Programme(s)
- HORIZON.3.1 - The European Innovation Council (EIC) Main Programme
Funding Scheme
HORIZON-EIC - HORIZON EIC GrantsCoordinator
70569 STUTTGART
Germany
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.