Ceres Hologrpahics is an innovative developer of thin-film Holographic Optical Elements (HOEs) for next-generation transparent display (TD) and augmented reality heads-up-display (AR-HUD).

The grant will allow the company to drive the development of replication and production technology to meet automotive OEM demand for advanced holographic AR-HUD and transparent display systems.

To date, Ceres has secured €6.1m in funding through both private investors and the European Commission Horizon 2020: Research & Innovation Program.

The Horizon 2020 grant of €1.4m will help Ceres scale up its tested and proven precision mastering and replication technology to meet the needs of supply chain partners and customers.

Ceres specialises in the design, mastering and replication of thin-film HOEs that enable new TD and AR-HUD systems. While the technology can be applied to a wide range of applications – the first beachhead, and target market is automotive.

Ceres technology is in demand from automotive OEMs as it delivers optical power into the windshield, enabling new display solutions and shrinking the HUD projector package size – a key challenge for automotive OEMs.

Andy Travers, chief executive officer of Ceres Holographics, said: “This prestigious grant award underscores the significance of the market opportunity for advanced display technology, as well the disruptive innovation we are developing to address the most pressing challenges to wider-scale adoption of holographic-based displays. All major automotive OEMs are seeking small, low-cost transparent display and high-performance AR-HUD systems, that meet the quality, price and volume production required by the market.

“With this funding, we are bringing to market replication technology for large-format films that put optical power into the windshield, enabling a new class of small package-size transparent display and wide field-of-view AR HUD systems.”