Kokyo Inc. Receives the 18th Laser Society Industry Award - Contribution Award: Recognized for Accelerating Academic Research and Industrial Contribution via Femtosecond Laser Source Kits

Kokyo Inc. has received the Contribution Award at the 18th Laser Society Industry Awards. The reason for the selection was "the acceleration of academic research and contribution to the industry through the femtosecond laser source kit." The award recognizes the company's efforts to expand the base of advanced photonics research by providing femtosecond laser source kits, as well as its initiatives to develop industrial applications utilizing this technological foundation.

The award ceremony is scheduled to be held on Thursday, April 23, 2026, at "OPIE '26 (OPTICS PHOTONICS International Exhibition 2026)" held at Pacifico Yokohama, where the company's Representative Director and CEO, Kazuhiko Sumimura, plans to attend.

[Background]
Since the time when femtosecond (fs) lasers were expensive and presented high hurdles for introduction and operation, Kokyo has been proposing cost reduction and accessible configurations through research light source kits. Concurrently, the company has worked on commercializing high-value-added industrial processing systems by developing its technological base. Through these efforts, it has promoted the popularization of femtosecond laser technology from both the expansion of R&D and industrial applications.

[Expansion in Research Applications]
Starting with the commercialization of the mode-locked Yb fiber laser kit in 2011, the company has expanded its lineup of femtosecond laser sources for research purposes to include Er fiber, Nd fiber, high-power regenerative amplifiers, and broadband optical comb kits. This has broadened the choices for introducing femtosecond lasers at universities and research institutions, contributing to the promotion of research and development.

[Expansion in Industrial Applications]
Based on these light source technologies, Kokyo has also advanced the development of industrial femtosecond laser processing systems. By combining technologies such as highly stable high-power light sources, Bi-burst mode, beam shaping using spatial light modulators, 3-wavelength support for IR/Green/UV, and variable pulse widths from 350 fs to 10 ps, the company has sophisticated its micro-processing technology to accommodate a wide range of materials and applications.

[Application Fields]
This technology is being deployed in areas where processing is highly difficult with conventional technologies, such as next-generation power semiconductor materials like GaN, SiC, and diamond, as well as perovskite solar cells and micro-drilling applications. Furthermore, practical deployment beyond the R&D stage is progressing through paid testing, contract processing, and the introduction of industrial processing equipment.

[Ripple Effects on Academic Research]
On the academic front, at least 21 papers utilizing the company's femtosecond laser kits have been confirmed, yielding research results including publications in Nature Photonics. On the current official website, a comprehensive page on femtosecond lasers introduces the related product lineup, ranging from light source kits to processing machines.

[Future Outlook]
Kokyo will continue to contribute to the development of the laser and optical fields by providing laser technologies, products, and services that bridge R&D applications to industrial implementation.

■ Award Ceremony Overview
Date and Time
Thursday, April 23, 2026, 11:00 - 11:45 (planned)

Venue
OPIE '26 (OPTICS PHOTONICS International Exhibition 2026)

Address: 1-1-1 Minatomirai, Nishi-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa
Pacifico Yokohama Exhibition Hall A, B, C

Access: https://www.opie.jp/access/

■ Product Photo
- Ultra-high precision femtosecond laser processing machine 'Femto-pro'