Tyndall National Institute, based at University College Cork, and a host institution of IPIC, the Research Ireland Centre for Photonics, has announced the launch of SLDAR, a €1.3m EU-funded project set to transform the future of augmented reality (AR) technologies.
The project will develop the next generation of compact, speckle-free and energy-efficient light engines for AR glasses, addressing key technological challenges that currently limit widespread adoption.
According to a report by the global research and advisory company Gartner, the AR and VR market is forecasted to grow into a $370 billion opportunity by 2034, highlighting the growing demand for high-performance, user-friendly AR solutions.
For AR to achieve mass adoption, devices must offer comfort, immersive visual experiences and affordability. Today’s AR glasses, often based on micro-LED or liquid-crystal-on-silicon (LCoS) technologies, remain constrained by bulky form factors, high energy consumption, limited display performance and costly manufacturing processes. These limitations continue to hinder their acceptance for everyday use.
The SLDAR project directly addresses these barriers by targeting the core technological bottlenecks in AR systems. The initiative will focus on developing:
- Compact and energy-efficient light engines to improve comfort and battery life;
- Speckle-free, high-brightness light sources to enhance visual quality;
- Integrated photonics solutions to enable scalable manufacturing and reduce costs;
- European-developed technologies to strengthen industrial leadership.
The project is coordinated by Dr Zhi Li, Researcher at Tyndall, who will lead a consortium of seven partners from across Europe, including Creal SA (Switzerland), Aluvia Photonics (Netherlands), the Institute of High Pressure Physics of the Polish Academy of Sciences (Poland), Dispelix Oy (Finland), Fundación Ibercivis (Spain) and Carl Zeiss Vision International GmbH (Germany).
Together, the team aims to deliver breakthrough advances in AR display performance while achieving an ultra-compact form factor of less than 1 cm³, enabling lightweight glasses suitable for all-day wear and seamless user experiences.
The consortium brings together leading expertise across the full AR value chain, spanning photonic device development, photonic integrated circuit (PIC) platforms, AR optics, microdisplay technologies, end-user validation and social sciences. By combining these capabilities, the project aims to deliver scalable AR technologies that balance performance, comfort and affordability.
Commenting on the project Dr Zhi Li said,
“Ultimately, SLDAR will contribute to strengthening Europe’s technological sovereignty in a highly competitive global market. By advancing cutting-edge photonics and semiconductor-enabled solutions, the project is set to reinforce Europe’s position in next-generation AR hardware, supporting a more sustainable, user-centred digital future”.
