Inventions “created in a garage” that then shake up an industry always pique curiosity. The Quebec company Jay Photonics, run by a passionate couple, is no exception. Jerome Lapointe and Helene-Sarah Becotte, both PhDs (in physics and mathematics respectively), share their ambitions.
The product
The company’s main attraction is a technology invented by Jerome Lapointe, who works as a researcher at the Centre for Optics, Photonics and Lasers at Université Laval. It allows people to see through silicon, an opaque material.
To understand how this is useful, you need to know that silicon chips are ubiquitous in electronic devices, such as smartphones, computers, and even cars.
“Basically, there are little drawings written on them, which are called circuits, and which are used to transmit information. When you have a single layer of chips, you can easily see the circuits with a microscope. But when you stack several layers, it’s more annoying,” summarizes Helene-Sarah Becotte, co-founder of the company, who also owns a business consulting firm.
PHOTO EDOUARD PLANTE-FRÉCHETTE, THE PRESS
Jay Photonics co-founders Helene-Sarah Becotte and Jerome Lapointe
There is a need to observe these different layers, whether in research and development, in quality assurance and even during production (better to notice a glitch in the chip layers at the beginning of the process rather than at the end).
It was actually a frustration with existing tools that led to the creation of the product.
In one of his research projects, Jerome needed to be able to see through multiple layers of silicon. But even with very expensive equipment, costing over $138,000, he couldn’t see what he needed. So he went into solution mode in our garage.
Helene-Sarah Becotte, co-founder of Jay Photonics
Jay Photonics began by selling its technology in a small, automatic benchtop microscope. Two products have recently been added to the offering: the manufacture of a custom microscope based on the customer’s needs, as well as the integration of its technology into an existing microscope for a customer.
The company
Jay Photonics, which was registered in 2022, currently has its two founders as its only employees.
The company is incubated at Quantino, in Quebec, which provides access to premises, but above all to coaching business and a network of contacts. “Many research and development grants are only accessible when the company is supported by an organization,” notes Helene-Sarah Becotte.
This was particularly the case with the aid they received to finance a good part of the patent application process. This was completed in June, and it usually takes 12 to 18 months for the final patent.
The future
Jay Photonics’ first customers were research centers and companies doing research and development.
PHOTO EDOUARD PLANTE-FRÉCHETTE, THE PRESS
The technology developed by Jay Photonics can also be integrated into existing microscopes.
The two entrepreneurs want to link their technology to an automated system, which would allow its use on production lines, which would allow them to expand their customer base.
The context is particularly interesting for Jay Photonics, as many investments have been made recently in Canada and the United States to improve autonomy in this sector.
We only have to think of the IBM plant in Bromont, which received a contribution of 100 million from the federal and provincial governments last spring for its expansion.
When making the announcement, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau explained this contribution in particular by the need to “strengthen the country’s semiconductor supply chains.” […] in an increasingly uncertain world.”
Helene-Sarah Becotte does not hide the fact that this situation could be particularly profitable for Jay Photonics.
“There are also many in the United States, factories that will be built soon, employees who will have to be trained… we see opportunities both for training, with our manual microscope, and for factories, with an automated version. We are really in a sick moment at the moment,” she summarizes.