As a strategic milestone in its journey to strengthen the photonics ecosystem across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, QuantLase Research and Development Centre (QRDC) has officially chosen Luceda Photonics as a key technology partner to advance its photonic chip design capabilities. Founded in 2014, Luceda Photonics has established itself as one of the world’s leading producers of Photonic Integrated Circuit (PIC) design software and services (IPKISS), supporting thousands of customers globally. The company’s strength lies not only in its excellence in project delivery but also in its ability to empower photonic IC designers with the same level of precision and power as electronic IC designers — bridging a crucial gap between optical and electronic design innovation.
The partnership marks a major step forward for QRDC, as both organizations join forces to leverage the Luceda Photonics Design Platform — a powerful tool that will enable QRDC to strengthen its innovation pipeline and accelerate the development of next-generation photonic technologies for the global market. The collaboration was officially announced during the signing ceremony of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) held at Luceda Photonics’ headquarters in Belgium.
Speaking at the event, Mr. Sheraz Siddiqui, Executive Director at QRDC, highlighted the long-term vision behind the partnership: “This agreement reflects QRDC’s proactive approach to establishing strategic partnerships with lasting impact. Supported by a strong financial and organizational backing and industry-embedded expertise, QRDC is building high-value collaborations that enhance regional capability in deep-tech innovation and foster capacity in the long run.”
Dr. Pramod Kumar, Ph.D (Laser Tech.) (Quantum Seeker Ψ), Director of QRDC, emphasized how this collaboration aligns with the UAE’s broader innovation agenda: “This collaboration with Luceda Photonics reflects our commitment to advancing photonic intelligence through strong global partnerships. It is a strategic alignment between European design leadership and the UAE’s vision towards economic diversification, sustainability, and technological advancement.”
From a product development perspective, Dr. Salman Abdullah, Ph.D, Head of Product Development at QRDC, shed light on the technical and strategic depth of this partnership: “This partnership goes far beyond tool access; it is a structured framework for innovation acceleration. Through this deal, we are developing application-specific photonic chip tech, enabling IP creation, reducing development cycles, and ensuring readiness for scalable manufacturing. Luceda’s central position in the global photonic landscape makes them an invaluable partner as we push toward practical, export-compliant photonic systems. This milestone embodies the trust, precision, and perseverance of the QRDC team.”
From Luceda’s side, Pierre Wahl, Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) at Luceda Photonics, expressed his enthusiasm for the collaboration and the potential it holds for the broader photonics ecosystem in the region: “I am excited that Luceda is collaborating with QRDC to boost their design capabilities with our tools, services, and ecosystem. Also, and perhaps more importantly, I am thrilled that Luceda is part of the strong PIC community that QRDC is building in the EMEA region.”
The partnership between QRDC and Luceda Photonics represents a powerful convergence of European design excellence and Middle Eastern innovation drive. Together, both organizations aim to pave the way for a new era of photonic-enabled intelligence, fostering technological independence, sustainable growth, and global competitiveness in the rapidly evolving field of photonics.