STMicroelectronics and Metalenz Sign a New License Agreement to Accelerate Metasurface Optics Adoption
STMicroelectronics (NYSE:STM) and Metalenz have signed a new license agreement to expand the production of metasurface optics. This builds on their successful collaboration since 2022, during which ST has shipped over 140 million metasurface optics and FlightSense™ modules using Metalenz IP.
The agreement leverages ST's unique 300mm semiconductor and optics production platform to address applications across consumer, automotive, and industrial markets. Key applications include smartphone biometrics, LIDAR, camera assist, robotics, gesture recognition, and object detection.
The metasurface optics market is projected to reach $2 billion by 2029, driven by emerging display and imaging applications. The technology has already improved ST's FlightSense modules by enhancing optical performance and temperature stability while reducing size and complexity.
STMicroelectronics (NYSE:STM) e Metalenz hanno firmato un nuovo accordo di licenza per ampliare la produzione di ottiche a metasuperfici. Questa collaborazione, avviata con successo nel 2022, ha permesso a ST di spedire oltre 140 milioni di ottiche a metasuperfici e moduli FlightSense™ utilizzando la proprietà intellettuale di Metalenz.
L'accordo sfrutta l'unica piattaforma di produzione di semiconduttori e ottiche da 300 mm di ST per coprire applicazioni nei settori consumer, automotive e industriale. Tra le applicazioni principali figurano biometria per smartphone, LIDAR, assistenza alla fotocamera, robotica, riconoscimento gestuale e rilevamento oggetti.
Il mercato delle ottiche a metasuperfici è previsto raggiungere un valore di 2 miliardi di dollari entro il 2029, trainato dalle nuove applicazioni in ambito display e imaging. Questa tecnologia ha già migliorato i moduli FlightSense di ST aumentando le prestazioni ottiche e la stabilità termica, riducendo al contempo dimensioni e complessità.
STMicroelectronics (NYSE:STM) y Metalenz han firmado un nuevo acuerdo de licencia para expandir la producción de ópticas de metasuperficie. Esto se basa en su exitosa colaboración desde 2022, durante la cual ST ha enviado más de 140 millones de ópticas de metasuperficie y módulos FlightSense™ utilizando la propiedad intelectual de Metalenz.
El acuerdo aprovecha la exclusiva plataforma de producción de semiconductores y ópticas de 300 mm de ST para atender aplicaciones en los mercados de consumo, automotriz e industrial. Las aplicaciones clave incluyen biometría para smartphones, LIDAR, asistencia para cámaras, robótica, reconocimiento de gestos y detección de objetos.
Se proyecta que el mercado de ópticas de metasuperficie alcance los 2 mil millones de dólares para 2029, impulsado por nuevas aplicaciones en pantallas e imagen. La tecnología ya ha mejorado los módulos FlightSense de ST al aumentar el rendimiento óptico y la estabilidad térmica, mientras reduce el tamaño y la complejidad.
STMicroelectronics (NYSE:STM)와 Metalenz는 메타서피스 광학 생산 확대를 위한 새로운 라이선스 계약을 체결했습니다. 이 협력은 2022년부터 성공적으로 이어져 왔으며, ST는 Metalenz의 지적 재산을 활용하여 1억 4천만 개 이상의 메타서피스 광학 및 FlightSense™ 모듈을 출하했습니다.
이번 계약은 ST의 독보적인 300mm 반도체 및 광학 생산 플랫폼을 활용해 소비자, 자동차, 산업 시장 전반의 다양한 응용 분야를 겨냥합니다. 주요 응용 분야로는 스마트폰 생체 인식, 라이다(LIDAR), 카메라 지원, 로봇공학, 제스처 인식 및 물체 탐지가 포함됩니다.
메타서피스 광학 시장은 신흥 디스플레이 및 영상 응용 분야의 성장에 힘입어 2029년까지 20억 달러에 이를 것으로 예상됩니다. 이 기술은 ST의 FlightSense 모듈의 광학 성능과 온도 안정성을 향상시키는 동시에 크기와 복잡성을 줄여왔습니다.
STMicroelectronics (NYSE:STM) et Metalenz ont signé un nouvel accord de licence pour étendre la production d’optique à métasurface. Cette collaboration, fructueuse depuis 2022, a permis à ST d’expédier plus de 140 millions d’optique à métasurface et de modules FlightSense™ utilisant la propriété intellectuelle de Metalenz.
L’accord exploite la plateforme de production de semi-conducteurs et d’optique de 300 mm unique de ST pour répondre aux applications des marchés grand public, automobile et industriel. Les principales applications incluent la biométrie pour smartphones, le LIDAR, l’assistance caméra, la robotique, la reconnaissance gestuelle et la détection d’objets.
Le marché de l’optique à métasurface devrait atteindre 2 milliards de dollars d’ici 2029, porté par les nouvelles applications en affichage et imagerie. Cette technologie a déjà amélioré les modules FlightSense de ST en renforçant les performances optiques et la stabilité thermique tout en réduisant la taille et la complexité.
STMicroelectronics (NYSE:STM) und Metalenz haben eine neue Lizenzvereinbarung zur Erweiterung der Produktion von Metaflächenoptiken unterzeichnet. Diese baut auf ihrer erfolgreichen Zusammenarbeit seit 2022 auf, in deren Rahmen ST über 140 Millionen Metaflächenoptiken und FlightSense™-Module mit Metalenz-IP ausgeliefert hat.
Die Vereinbarung nutzt STs einzigartige 300-mm-Halbleiter- und Optikproduktionsplattform, um Anwendungen in den Bereichen Konsumgüter, Automobil und Industrie abzudecken. Wichtige Anwendungen sind Smartphone-Biometrie, LIDAR, Kameraunterstützung, Robotik, Gestenerkennung und Objekterkennung.
Der Markt für Metaflächenoptiken wird bis 2029 voraussichtlich 2 Milliarden US-Dollar erreichen, angetrieben durch aufkommende Display- und Bildgebungsanwendungen. Die Technologie hat bereits STs FlightSense-Module verbessert, indem sie die optische Leistung und Temperaturstabilität erhöht und gleichzeitig Größe und Komplexität reduziert hat.
- Successfully shipped over 140 million metasurface optics and FlightSense modules since 2022
- Expanded capabilities in high-growth markets including consumer, automotive, and industrial segments
- Market opportunity projected to reach $2B by 2029
- Unique manufacturing advantage combining 300mm semiconductor and optics production
- None.
Insights
STMicroelectronics' expanded Metalenz partnership strengthens its position in the $2B metasurface optics market, advancing its semiconductor-optical manufacturing advantage.
STMicroelectronics has significantly expanded its licensing agreement with Metalenz, strengthening its already formidable position in the metasurface optics market. This partnership leverages ST's unique manufacturing capabilities that combine semiconductor and optical production on 300mm wafers—a key competitive advantage in the industry.
The expanded license broadens ST's ability to incorporate Metalenz's IP across high-growth markets including smartphone biometrics, LIDAR, camera assist, robotics, and object detection systems. ST has already shipped over 140 million metasurface optics and FlightSense modules using Metalenz technology since their partnership began in 2022.
What makes this development particularly significant is how it positions ST in the metasurface optics market, which is projected to reach $2 billion by 2029. The technology replaces traditional lens stacks with metasurface optics, improving performance and temperature stability while reducing size and complexity—critical advantages for next-generation sensing applications.
ST's approach of processing optical technology directly in their 300mm semiconductor fabrication facilities creates substantial manufacturing advantages, including higher precision, improved scalability, and cost efficiencies that are essential for high-volume production. This integration of semiconductor and optical manufacturing represents a strategic direction that few competitors can match, giving ST a potential long-term edge in the rapidly evolving sensing ecosystem.
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STMicroelectronics and Metalenz Sign a New License Agreement to Accelerate Metasurface Optics Adoption
- New license agreement enabling the proliferation of metasurface optics across high-volume consumer, automotive and industrial markets: from smartphone applications like biometrics, LIDAR and camera assist, to robotics, gesture recognition, or object detection.
- The agreement broadens ST’s capability to use Metalenz IP to produce advanced metasurface optics while leveraging ST’s unique technology and manufacturing platform combining 300mm semiconductor and optics production, test and qualification.
Geneva, Switzerland, and Boston, MA, USA – July 10, 2025 — STMicroelectronics (NYSE: STM), a global semiconductor leader serving customers across the spectrum of electronics applications and Metalenz, the pioneer of metasurface optics, announced a new license agreement. The agreement broadens ST’s capability to use Metalenz IP to produce advanced metasurface optics while leveraging ST’s unique technology and manufacturing platform combining 300mm semiconductor and optics production, test and qualification.
"STMicroelectronics is the unique supplier on the market offering a groundbreaking combination of optics and semiconductor technology. Since 2022, we have shipped well over 140 million metasurface optics and FlightSense™ modules using Metalenz IP. The new license agreement with Metalenz bolsters our technology leadership in consumer, industrial and automotive segments, and will enable new opportunities from smartphone applications like biometrics, LIDAR and camera assist, to robotics, gesture recognition, or object detection,” underlined Alexandre Balmefrezol, Executive Vice President and General Manager of STMicroelectronics’s Imaging Sub-Group. “Our unique model, processing optical technology in our 300mm semiconductor fab, ensures high precision, cost-effectiveness, and scalability to meet the requests of our customers for high-volume, complex applications."
“Our agreement with STMicroelectronics has the potential to further fast-track the adoption of metasurfaces from their origins at Harvard to adoption by market leading consumer electronics companies,” said Rob Devlin, co-founder and CEO of Metalenz. “By enabling the shift of optics production into semiconductor manufacturing, this agreement has the possibility to further redefine the sensing ecosystem. As use cases for 3D sensing continue to expand, ST’s technology leadership in the market together with our IP leadership solidifies ST and Metalenz as the dominant forces in the emergent metasurface market we created.”
The new license agreement aims to address the growing market opportunity for metasurface optics projected to experience significant growth to reach
Note to editors
In 2022, metasurface technology from Metalenz, which spun out of Harvard and holds the exclusive license rights to the foundational Harvard metasurface patent portfolio, debuted with ST’s market leading direct Time-of-Flight (dToF) FlightSense modules.
Replacing the traditional lens stacks and shifting to metasurface optics instead has improved the optical performance and temperature stability of the FlightSense modules while reducing their size and complexity.
The use of 300mm wafers ensures high precision and performance in optical applications, as well as the inherent scalability and robustness advantage of semiconductor manufacturing process.
About STMicroelectronics
At ST, we are 50,000 creators and makers of semiconductor technologies mastering the semiconductor supply chain with state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities. An integrated device manufacturer, we work with more than 200,000 customers and thousands of partners to design and build products, solutions, and ecosystems that address their challenges and opportunities, and the need to support a more sustainable world. Our technologies enable smarter mobility, more efficient power and energy management, and the wide-scale deployment of cloud-connected autonomous things. We are on track to be carbon neutral in all direct and indirect emissions (scopes 1 and 2), product transportation, business travel, and employee commuting emissions (our scope 3 focus), and to achieve our
Further information can be found at www.st.com.
About Metalenz
Metalenz is at the forefront of driving innovation in optics with metasurface technology, providing solutions that redefine the possibilities of mobile imaging and sensing. Metalenz is the first company to bring metasurfaces to mass markets, with millions of its meta-optics already integrated in consumer devices, combining the functionality of three or four complex lenses and components into a single flat device, mass produced in existing semiconductor foundries. The company’s first full system solution, Polar ID, is a groundbreaking, ultra-secure, small, and affordable face unlock solution for mobile that harnesses the unique polarized light sorting capabilities of metasurfaces, enabling mobile devices to see beyond the limits of current visual systems. metalenz.com
CONTACTS
STMicroelectronics
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Jérôme Ramel
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Tel: +41.22.929.59.20
jerome.ramel@st.com
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Alexis Breton
Corporate External Communications
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Carly Glovinski
Sr. Marketing Manager
media@metalenz.com
Attachments
- 300mm metasurface optics manufactured by ST, integrating Metalenz IP
- July 10 2025 -- ST and Metalenz new agreement_PRESS RELEASE
FAQ
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