Alien Photonics® is a Lithuanian company offering advanced optical products and solutions. The company is known for delivering complex, high-precision optical components. Their products are tailored to the needs of institutes, universities, laser manufacturers, quantum photonics developers, as well as other cutting-edge photonics and optical engineering companies.
Interview with Ernius Karolis Kapačinskas, CEO of Alien Photonics.
What are the main areas of activity of the company?
Ernius Karolis Kapačinskas: Our business is to provide optical components to research institutions and optical engineering companies. We do that in two ways.
The first one is the Alien Photonics catalogue of optical components. Our company has developed a custom online quotation system which allows customers to modify catalogue components in real time.
The second is the development of custom optical products. This is done case by case, examining the customer’s requirements, drawings and sometimes analyzing the device or experimental setup more thoroughly.
What’s the news about new products/services?
E.K.K: Currently, our core product groups remain stable, and we are focusing on updating our existing portfolio, expanding customization options, and adding more pre-designed products. However, we are not standing still — in 2025 we will launch two new products in the polarizers category, underscoring our commitment to gradual but meaningful innovation.
What are the ranges of products/services?
E.K.K: Alien Photonics products can be categorized into three key product groups:
- Laser optics, including single-band, dual-band, broadband mirrors, wavelength separators and other optics.
- Polarizers, like high energy waveplates, thin-film polarizer (TFP) plates and high energy polarizing beamsplitter (PBS) cubes.
- And finally – lenses. From standard converging and diverging lenses to complex aspherical lenses and axicons.
What is the state of the market where you are currently active?
E.K.K: Overall, the current market situation is very favourable, especially in Lithuania.
Growth of Photonics Industry
The Global Photonics industry grew with a CAGR of about 6–7% per year over the last decade. Narrowing down geographically to Lithuania, the situation is even stronger: according to the Lithuanian Laser Association the photonics CAGR in Lithuania (across more than 60 companies) was more than 16% between 2009 and 2021.
Growth of Components Segment
Depending on how broadly photonics components are defined, the market size can be estimated to be in the range of $122-$345 billion, with a CAGR of about 6–8%. If we analyze Alien Photonics’ sub-segment – passive components (including optical components and coatings) – it reached approximately $38 billion in 2022 (worldwide).
Our internal analysis of more than a dozen Lithuanian optical components and coatings companies shows a CAGR of about 12% between 2016 and 2024.
To summarize, the Lithuanian photonics sector is growing steadily at about twice the pace of the global photonics industry.
What can you tell us about market trends?
E.K.K: Looking ahead, a recent announcement during Laser World of Photonics exhibition projects that the global photonics market will continue to grow at a CAGR of around 6–7%, reaching more than $1.2 trillion by 2027.
In other words, the photonics market remains favorable both for startups entering the field and for mature companies looking to strengthen their position.
What are the most innovative products/services marketed?
E.K.K: Around half of our sales are custom-developed products for the most advanced optical devices and scientific research. We develop high precision laser optics for quantum technology developers, laser manufacturers and universities. However, we still support our customers who may only need a few lenses. This flexibility is what makes Alien Photonics both innovative and accessible.
What estimations do you have for the second half of 2025?
E.K.K: We expect growth, outperforming the market, especially in the R&D sector where we offer very favorable conditions for customers — Net 30-day payments and full technical support. In parallel, our investment in digital tools such as the custom quotation system will make collaboration faster and more efficient, helping us capture new opportunities.
