In a world increasingly shaped by sustainability, precision, and performance, Biomimetic PCC is pioneering a new frontier in material innovation. With nature as its guide and femtosecond laser technology as its tool, the company brings biomimicry into industrial reality, transforming the way we think about surfaces, durability, and design. In this feature, Biomimetic PCC explores how their work is reshaping expectations in optics, manufacturing, and high-performance optical applications.
Interview with Alexandros Mimidis, CEO of Biomimetic PCC.
A brief description of the company and its activities
Alexandros Mimidis: Biomimetic PCC is a deep-tech company advancing bio-inspired surface functionalities through cutting-edge femtosecond (fs) laser technology. Founded in 2020 as a spin-off of the Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas (FORTH), is a Greek SME specializing in biomimetic surface engineering. The company leverages advanced laser technologies to create functional surfaces inspired by biological structures, hence its name. Biomimetic’s expertise spans materials engineering, surface science, nano structuring, optical engineering, photonics, and nanotechnology. Utilizing ultrashort laser pulses Biomimetic can induce functional nano-paterns on transparent materials such as glasses and crystals which in turn greatly modifies their properties. Its innovations aim to replace traditional chemical-intensive processes with single-step, environmentally friendly laser treatments applicable across industries such as consumer electronics, photonics, automotive glazing, solar energy, and telecommunications.
What are the main areas of activity of the company?
A.M: Our core activities include Research and developing activities like developing and upscaling our ultrashort pulsed laser nano-texturing of glasses to the several hundred cm2 scale. Additionally, we tailor the process’s applicability to several other families of transparent materials beyond silicate glasses, such as sapphire and specialized crystals. We maintain close collaboration with manufacturing companies which help us explore the industrial applications of our technology. Some of them are related to anti-reflection (AR), hydrophilicity induced anti-fogging and demanding high damage-threshold optics.
Recently we were granted and coordinate an EIC Transition Project named GLASS (https://glass-euproject.eu/) within which we partner with Corning, a world leading innovator in materials science with unparalleled expertise in glass science, to adapt our laser technology onto display glasses. Furthermore, with the cooperation of project partner LASEA, we seek to industrialize the technology and ultimately develop a laser machine that will be able to automatically process industry relevant glass substrates.
What’s the news about new products/services?
A.M: We are introducing a new generation of glare-reducing, anti-reflective glass nano-texturing process using our proprietary fs-laser surface functionalization that is applicable to a great variety of glass compositions such as silicates, borosilicates, alkaline-earth aluminosilicates, phosphates, float glass and crystals. More recently, as part of the Horizon Europe GLASS project, this dry, coating-free technology is undergoing validation through pilot programs in the automotive, specialized optics and luxury sectors. In collaboration with industrial partners, we are performing extensive durability and optical testing to ensure long-term performance under real-world conditions. Additionally, the process is being automated with a state-of-the-art custom built software specifically tailored for this process.
What are the ranges of products/services?
A.M: Our offerings include:
- Single- and double-sided glare-reducing, anti-reflective glass treatment.
- Single- and double-sided anti-fogging glass treatment.
- Custom fs-laser texturing on specialized glass or other transparent material compositions
- Licensing of proprietary laser-based surface engineering technologies
- Research & development activities related to laser applications on glass substrates
- Joint R&D partnerships with industrial and academic partners
What is the state of the market where you are currently active?
A.M: We operate in advanced materials markets where demand is rising for durable, multifunctional, and sustainable surface solutions. Our target sectors include automotive and specialized optics, luxury consumer products (e.g. high-end watches), scientific instruments, medical imaging, electronic devices and displays and sensor covers. These markets increasingly seek alternatives to multilayer coatings which currently dominate the market, but are often fragile, environmentally taxing, and expensive to manufacture.
What can you tell us about market trends?
A.M: Several key trends are shaping our landscape:
- A shift toward coating-free surface treatments that are both robust and eco-friendly.
- Rising demand for high optical clarity and reduced glare in transparent components.
- Integration of biomimetic principles into industrial design and sustainability agendas.
- Ease of manufacturing with single-step, fully automated processes that require no additional labor.
- Acceleration of R&D through public-private EU partnerships.
- Interest in merging functional surfaces with compact or multilayered system architecture.
- Greater adoption of lasers in the industry.
What are the most innovative products/services marketed?
A.M: Our most innovative technology is a coating-free, single-step, ultrashort pulse laser nanostructuring method to induce novel properties on transparent dielectrics such as glass. These novels attained properties include enhanced light transmissivity and suppressed surface reflection while maintaining clarity and environmental resilience, eliminating the need for AR coatings. Engineered to withstand UV and high intensity radiation exposure and environmental stressors, it’s ideal for high-demand applications across optical and industrial domains. Contrary to most common coatings, the attained super-transmissivity is sustained over the whole visible spectrum and over a range of angles of incidence. While mechanical durability varies by application, we are optimizing post-processing strategies and selective market deployment to mitigate abrasion resistance concerns.
What estimations do you have for the beginning of 2025?
A.M: By early 2025, we anticipate:
- Completion of industrial testing campaigns with leading glass manufacturers and additional partners
- First commercial deployments in niche and mid-sized sectors
- Expansion of our partner network to support scaled production
- Progress in mechanical durability through targeted material/process refinements
- Implementation of strategic go-to-market models, including licensing and OEM integration
Looking Ahead
Biomimetic PCC stands at the intersection of nature and technology, transforming inspiration from the natural world into industrial-grade performance. As the company prepares for broader commercialization and deeper collaborations, it remains committed to reshaping how we engineer surfaces, toward a future that is both technically superior and environmentally aligned. Whether in luxury goods, precision optics, or sustainable architecture, Biomimetic PCC’s work signals a leap forward in laser-enabled innovation.