Vector names David Childs as Director of Product Development

27 Apr 2021

Spin-out from University of Glasgow developing devices for datacoms, LiDAR, and 3D printing, also announced £1.6M of new funding.

David Childs co-invented PCSELs.

Vector Photonics, a spin-out from the University of Glasgow, UK, has appointed Dr. David Childs as its Director of Product Development. Childs co-invented the all-semiconductor PCSELs (Photonic Crystal Surface Emitting Lasers), Vector Photonics’ proprietary laser technology.

In his new role, Childs will supervise operations, developing new PCSEL designs into production-ready devices, for datacoms, LiDAR, 3D metal printing and 3D plastic printing – the company’s initial, target markets.

Neil Martin, CEO of Vector Photonics, commented, “David brings exceptional, semiconductor laser design and optimisation experience to the company, from design and simulation through to testing and reliability analysis. His expertise extends across surface emitting, continuous wave, modulated, telecommunications, tuneable and swept source lasers.”

Childs has come from the University of Glasgow’s School of Engineering, where he was part of the Photonic Devices and Systems Group of the Electronics and Nanoscale Engineering Division. Before that, he was with the University of Sheffield’s Semiconductor Device Group.

PCSELs are said to deliver faster speeds than equivalent lasers.

His industrial experience began as a research scientist at Marconi Optical Components & Bookham Technology, now Lumentum Holdings Ltd. He has also worked extensively on university collaboration projects with industrial partners QD Laser, CST Global, BB Photonics, Denselight Semiconductors, POET Technologies, II-VI, Huawei, Compound Photonics, Filtronic, and M Squared Lasers.

Vector gains £1.6m equity investment
On April 14th, Vector announced that it had received £1.6m of equity investment to commercialise its PCSEL-based, semiconductor laser technology.

Martin then stated, “The £1.6m equity investment comes from a consortium of three specialist funding companies – Foresight, the UK Innovation & Science Seed Fund (UKI2S) and Equity Gap.

“This is in addition to three government grants worth £2.4m and takes our seed funding round to more than £4m – a fantastic achievement for a one-year-old, Covid era, University of Glasgow start-up.”

Foresight invests in high growth-potential companies with innovative and transformational technologies via the Foresight Scottish Growth Fund and Foresight Williams, a joint venture with Williams Advanced Engineering. UKI2S is a specialist deep-tech seed fund focused on spin outs from the UK’s research base. Equity Gap is an angel investment syndicate, investing early in new technology businesses throughout Scotland.