Objective
Virtual world technologies, such as augmented reality (AR), will only achieve wide adoption if they deliver user comfort, immersive experiences, and affordability. Current AR glass demonstrators, based on micro-LEDs or conventional liquid-crystal-on-Si (LCoS), suffer from bulky form factors, high energy consumption, limited display performance, and high manufacturing cost. These barriers significantly hinder acceptance and everyday use.
The SLDAR project will overcome these challenges by developing the next generation of compact, speckle-free, and energy-efficient light engines for AR glasses. Its core ambition is to combine superb display performance with a volume below 1 cm³, enabling lightweight designs suitable for all-day wear and seamless user experience.
SLDAR will deliver three major breakthroughs:
1. Advanced visible light sources with speckle-free, high-brightness emission, based on superluminescent diodes (SLDs).
2. An ultralow-loss aluminium oxide photonic integrated circuit platform, integrated with SLDs through micro-transfer printing, targeting a six-fold efficiency improvement over state-of-the-art LCoS engines.
3. System integration of PIC-based illuminators with custom optics and ferroelectric-LCoS displays into multi-generation AR glass prototypes, achieving unprecedented resolution and wide field-of-view, validated through user perception and societal adoption studies.
The consortium brings together leading European expertise across the full value chain—from photonic devices and PIC platforms to AR optics, microdisplays, end-user validation, and social sciences. By directly addressing Area B of the Core Technologies for Virtual Worlds call, SLDAR will deliver scalable AR technologies that combine performance, comfort, and affordability. In doing so, the project will reinforce Europe’s technological sovereignty and industrial leadership in the competitive AR domain, supporting a sustainable and user-centred digital future.
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.
- natural sciences chemical sciences inorganic chemistry post-transition metals
- engineering and technology materials engineering amorphous solids
- natural sciences computer and information sciences software software applications simulation software
- social sciences
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
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.2.4 - Digital, Industry and Space
MAIN PROGRAMME
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HORIZON.2.4.2 - Key Digital Technologies
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HORIZON.2.4.3 - Emerging enabling technologies
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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-RIA - HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions
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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) HORIZON-CL4-2025-03
See all projects funded under this callCoordinator
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.
T12 YN60 Cork
Ireland
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.