Amsterdam-based DeepTech scale-up Optics11 has secured a €25M venture debt agreement from the European Investment Bank to accelerate research, development, and deployment of its fibre-optic sensing technology. The funding will support applications across civilian infrastructure, energy systems, and defence.
The company plans to use the capital to advance product development and drive wider adoption of its monitoring solutions across Europe, with a particular focus on subsea infrastructure and high-voltage power grids.
Protecting critical infrastructure at scale
Optics11’s technology is designed to safeguard infrastructure where failures or disruptions can have immediate and wide-ranging societal impact. The company develops fibre-optic sensing systems capable of operating in extreme and high-risk environments, including underwater settings and energy transmission networks.
According to the company, its sensors are resistant to electromagnetic interference and deliver reliable performance in conditions where conventional sensing technologies often fall short. Sensor data is processed in real time, enabling rapid identification of anomalies and potential threats.
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Applications across energy and security
Founded in 2011 as a spin-off from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Optics11 builds fibre-optic sensing solutions for the energy and underwater security sectors. Its systems are used for applications such as submarine and border monitoring, structural health monitoring of naval assets, and protection of power infrastructure.
By combining fibre-optic hardware with advanced threat-detection software, Optics11 enables faster detection and localisation of risks, allowing operators more time to respond and reduce the likelihood of costly disruptions.
Product portfolio and recent funding
Optics11’s product suite includes OptiFender, a predictive monitoring system designed to detect early signs of failure in high- and medium-voltage electrical systems. Its OptiBarrier and OptiArray solutions provide continuous early-warning protection for subsea infrastructure against sabotage and unauthorised interference.
The EIB financing follows a €17M funding round raised in May last year, led by FORWARD.one and SET Ventures. The latest venture debt is provided under the European Commission’s InvestEU programme.
Optics11 says the additional capital will help accelerate productisation and strengthen Europe’s capabilities in energy security and critical infrastructure protection as demand for resilient monitoring solutions continues to grow.
