Objective
Aerospace platforms experiencing the largest growth—such as drones and satellites—offer immense potential across many applications. However, these opportunities are currently constrained by conventional power and communication technologies. Long-range, high-power laser link systems, now transitioning from lab demonstrations to field pilots, promise to overcome these limitations.
Instead of relying on bulky and limited onboard power sources and radio-frequency communication, laser-based systems offer high-bandwidth, low-latency communication coupled with wireless energy transfer. Yet, no existing material technology endures continuous-wave kilowatt-level laser irradiation while maintaining advanced optical performance, and structural integrity in real-world conditions. In fact, modern long-range laser links still rely on bulky beam directors whose coarse phase-shaping resolution limits efficiency and functionality in turbulence or low-visibility.
In HIGHLIGHT we present a transformative solution: centimeter-scale, all-silica metasurface beam shapers—flat optics built from ultratall fused-silica nanopillars that survive extreme fluences and impose arbitrary, subwavelength phase profiles in the visible to near-infrared window. HIGHLIGHT will design and fabricate high-power metasurfaces and validate performance in continuous and pulsed regimes, as well as carry out market analysis and spin-off roadmap for industrial uptake, to validate this breakthrough for next-generation aerospace applications.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- engineering and technology electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering information engineering telecommunications radio technology radio frequency
- engineering and technology electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering electronic engineering robotics autonomous robots drones
- natural sciences physical sciences optics laser physics
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Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-ERC-POC - HORIZON ERC Proof of Concept Grants
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2025-POC
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
1000 029 Lisboa
Portugal
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.