Milestone for laser-based surface functionalization
Fusion Bionic successfully closes seed financing round and drives forward the industrialization of DLIP system solutions.
The Dresden-based high-tech company Fusion Bionic is preparing its laser technology for deployment in global mass markets. The startup is considered a pioneer for sustainable surface functionalization modeled on nature and is securing a total volume of 8.2 million euros for its next growth step.
The core is a recently completed seed financing round totaling 5.8 million euros, led by Stream Capital, the TGFS Technology Startup Fund Saxony (TGFS), the Saxony SME Investment Company (MBG), and the (SBG) the Saxon Investment Company, which also made a significant contribution through the Innovation Capital Saxony Fund (RIG).
With this capital, Fusion Bionic is accelerating its expansion from a technology provider to a provider of industrial machine solutions. An additional 2.4 million euros will be allocated to two major industrial projects in which the bio-inspired laser technology will be translated into large-scale applications and practical machine solutions.
Evolutionary surfaces in industrial fast-forward
Today, product surfaces must do far more than just look good: they are expected to be self-cleaning, better couple light, conduct heat in a targeted manner, or reduce friction. Until now, such functions have often been achieved through additional coatings or chemical etching processes.
Fusion Bionic takes a different approach. The Dresden-based company applies functional principles from nature directly to technical surfaces–drawing inspiration from the lotus leaf, shark skin, or the moth’s eye, for example. The foundation is the company´s proprietary Direct Laser Interference Patterning technology, or DLIP for short.
The technology embeds bio-inspired micro- and nanostructures directly into the material surface, making them scalable for industrial applications – from PV glasses to microchips and consumer products. In this way, Fusion Bionic lays the foundation for functional surfaces that do not require additional coating or wet chemical processes and are simultaneously suitable for mass production.
From module to system solution: DLIP technology scales for the global mass market
While laser-based cutting, drilling, and welding have long been integral parts of industrial production lines, optical surface functionalization in the sub micrometer range – especially on large surfaces – has remained largely in the R&D stage. The reason for this lay in the trade-off between throughput and precision: Until now, High-precision laser-based functional structures could not be produced at the speed required for large-area industrial applications.
Fusion Bionic addresses precisely this key bottleneck. With the shift from component development to industrial machine solutions, the company will in the future offer turnkey system solutions. These combine a precisely coordinated process infrastructure with integrated inline quality assurance.
As part of ongoing customer projects in Asia, Fusion Bionic is continuing to advance the transfer of its DLIP technology into industrial system solutions – including for applications in the consumer electronics industry. To support further market expansion in Asia, the company is also collaborating with its Japanese partner MOL Solutions Inc.
“For us, this is an important step towards industrial mass markets,” says Dr. Tim Kunze, CEO of Fusion Bionic. “With this investment, we are laying the groundwork to consistently transfer our technology into applications such as semiconductor applications and large-scale photovoltaics. Functional laser surfaces are gaining importance worldwide – and we want to play a decisive role in shaping this development with our technology.”
This growth trajectory is supported by investors.
“Fusion Bionic is a prime example of the next generation of laser technology. The team combines technological excellence with a clear view of industrial applications. Especially in mass markets such as the semiconductor industry, Fusion Bionics’ technology opens solutions to challenges where conventional processes reach their limits,” explains Raymond Chen, Chairman of the Board of Stream Capital.
Paul Eppinger, Investment Manager at TGFS, adds: “As an early-stage investor, we are very pleased with this milestone in Fusion Bionic´s growth. The team has already convinced numerous global players with its technology and is now also an international investor who, in addition to his investment, brings significant strategic value. This was the basis for TGFS´s follow-on investment in conjunction with the “Innovation Capital Saxony” program, which is intended to pave the way toward becoming a mechanical engineering champion “Made in Saxony”.
“Through our investment via “Innovation Capital Saxony”, we aim to specifically strengthen forward-looking business models such as Fusion Bionic’s, support them as they transition into the scaling phase, and further advance Saxony as a hub for innovation,” adds Frank Däderich, Investment Manager at SBG.
Scaling for the future market for solar energy
A particular focus of the next development phase will be on photovoltaics. Fusion Bionic will establish a pilot line for the laser-based anti-soiling functionalization of solar glass. At the same time, development of highly efficient anti-glare surfaces for photovoltaic applications is set to begin.
The resulting glass surfaces are intended to combine significantly reduced glare with increased light transmittance. For partners in the solar and glass industries, both initiatives will open up new avenues for reducing operating costs and increasing the energy yield of solar applications.
