METAOPTICS TECHNOLOGIES: BUILDING A GLOBAL CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE FOR METALENSES

Singapore-based startup MetaOptics Technologies is working to advance the global optics industry. In a sector long dominated by bulky, curved glass lenses, the company is pioneering the use of metalenses — ultra-thin optical components with nanometre-scale structures. With the support of A*STAR’s research ecosystem, MetaOptics is developing an end-to-end platform for designing, prototyping, and mass-manufacturing metalenses. The goal: to become a global centre of excellence in this emerging field and position Singapore as a key player in advanced optics manufacturing.

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The shift toward ultra-compact, high-performance imaging systems has created a growing demand for miniature lenses that don’t compromise on optical quality.

• Limitations of traditional optics: Conventional lenses are thick, heavy, and difficult to miniaturise —creating design and performance trade-offs in devices like smartphones, wearables, and AR/VR systems.
• Industry bottleneck: While many companies globally can design metalenses, few can prototype and none had demonstrated scalable production until now.
• Emerging but underdeveloped: The metalens market is nascent, with a limited supply chain and lack of manufacturing infrastructure.

Our dream is to develop a critical supply chain and cutting-edge manufacturing equipment — so we can become the world’s first metalens centre of excellence.

- Mark Thng, Founder, MetaOptics Technologies

In less than three years, MetaOptics Technologies,supported by A*STAR’s T-Up and Joint Research Programme (JRP), has established full-stack capabilities for metalens production.

• Tapping scientific expertise: Through the T-Up programme, A*STAR seconded scientists from A*STAR Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (A*STAR IMRE),  Dr Tobias Mass and Dr Egor Khaidarov,  to co-develop concepts and engineering solutions for MetaOptics. In under a year, they progressed from designs to working prototypes, including pico projector lenses for compact devices and a metalenses multi-testing system.

  
  The Direct Laser Writer (DLW) with the MetaOptics Technologies team and A*STAR scientists

  Our work aligns research with real industrial needs — so we can create the next big technology.

  - Dr Egor Khaidarov, A*STAR IMRE Scientist seconded via T-Up

MetaOptics Technologies’ progress highlights how Singapore’s innovation ecosystem, with the support of A*STAR, can deliver advanced hardware solutions with global relevance.

Mark Thng, Founder of MetaOptics Technologies, shares that the company's progress would not have been possible without A*STAR’s support.

By leveraging A*STAR's T-Up programme, MetaOptics Technologies also enjoys IP licensing terms at reasonable rates, leaving them with more resources to attract investors to grow the business. He observes that this model of public-private partnership is strong in Singapore, and not many countries have managed to replicate it.

Metaoptics is a niche industry and it's hard to find expertise. But with the help from T-Up, we were equipped with the knowhow and this has helped us do something for Singapore.

- Mark Thng, Founder, MetaOptics Technologies

MetaOptics’ collaboration with A*STAR demonstrates how public-private partnership can accelerate deep-tech commercialisation in ways that are globally relevant, competitive and scalable for commercial success. With growing demand across sectors and first-mover advantage, the startup is well-positioned to lead the next wave of innovation in nanophotonics.

¹ Metamaterials market forecast