Olee.space, an Indian advanced photonics and defence technology company, has been nominated as the Development-cum-Production Partner (DCPP) for a ₹70 crore advanced photonics development programme of the Government of India. The 24-month programme will cover the complete technology development cycle, including research, engineering, fabrication, system integration, testing, validation and production readiness. Development will be carried out against defined milestones and acceptance requirements.
For Olee.space, the nomination marks an important step in its transition from advanced photonics research and development towards the engineering, integration and production of strategic optical systems. Photonics is emerging as an important technology for applications across communications, aerospace, industrial systems, advanced manufacturing and strategic infrastructure. The programme is expected to support the development of capabilities in optical sources, precision optics, photonic architectures, system engineering and manufacturing within India.
James Solomon, CEO, Olee.space, said, “We believe the core of photonics is far more exciting and is still to be discovered. We have struck the first rock and aim to be the ones mining it economically. The applications are endless. We have presented 15 already and would build further on a shared photonics architecture.”
The programme comes at a time when India is expanding its capabilities in advanced technology and domestic manufacturing. Building expertise across the photonics value chain can support the development of products and systems for strategic and commercial applications.
The initiative will provide a structured pathway from technology development to production readiness. It will also help create engineering, manufacturing and supply-chain capabilities required for the development of advanced optical systems in India.
Olee.space said its nomination reflects the growing importance of photonics in next-generation technology platforms. The company is focused on developing optical systems and photonic technologies that can serve both domestic and global markets. The 24-month programme is expected to bring together multiple stages of technology development under a single framework. These include research, fabrication, system integration, testing and validation, followed by preparation for production.
For Olee.space, the programme represents a significant milestone in its long-term effort to develop globally competitive photonic technologies from India. The company aims to use the opportunity to strengthen its engineering capabilities and expand its work in advanced optical systems. It also sees the programme as a foundation for developing a wider ecosystem around photonics, including manufacturing and technology partnerships.
The initiative highlights the increasing role of photonics in areas where precision, speed and advanced optical technologies are critical. As applications expand across communications, aerospace, industrial technology and strategic systems, domestic capabilities in photonics are expected to become increasingly important.
olee.space is a defence and photonics technology company based in Pune, India. The company develops systems in free-space optical communication and directed energy, serving defence, aerospace, and telecommunications sectors. Its solutions support terrestrial, inter-satellite, and ground-to-space communication with a focus on security, reliability, and performance.
