The parent company of a major business in Gloucestershire has today announced a multi-million pound investment in a technology specialist.

Safran, which owns Safran Landing Systems based in Gloucester, has made an equity investment in Cailabs, through Safran Corporate Ventures, its corporate venture subsidiary dedicated to investments in innovative technology companies.

Founded in 2013, Cailabs has developed a patented disruptive technology, called Multi Plane Light Conversion, based on the manipulation of light.

The company designs and sells photonic products, including components, modules and subassemblies for the telecommunications and industrial laser markets.

After seed investment of 3.5 million euros from early stage funds such as Innovacom and Starquest, along with business angels, Safran led a new round of financing of five million euros, subscribed by Safran Corporate Ventures and existing shareholders.

This round enables the company to bolster its industrial and commercial development, and support international expansion.

Data transmission requirements on aircraft are increasing steadily, because of connectivity demand from passengers, increased data exchange between onboard computers and upcoming requirements for flight safety and security.

Fiber-optic networks are starting to be deployed on the latest-generation aircrafts but face specific challenges compared to traditional terrestrial optical fibers because of the fragility of conventional optical fibers, and aviation certification requirements.

Safran Corporate Ventures chairman Eric Dalbiès said: "Cailabs forecasts a very strong growth from now to 2020 because of its very innovative solutions to critical industrial problems, validated by several proofs of concept in different sectors.

"In addition to the company's priority on telecommunications sector, Cailabs has sterling opportunities in several of Safran's core business activities, especially aircraft wiring and industrial lasers applications.

"The stake acquired by Safran Corporate Ventures will help accelerate developments in those areas."

Picture: copyright Adrien Daste/Safran