{"success":true,"data":{"pressRelease":{"id":"103223","rtpr_id":"nPNAdjscja","ticker":"METO","exchange":"SGX","all_tickers":["METO"],"title":"MetaOptics and Elsoft partner to scale next-generation semiconductor optics manufacturing equipment","author":"PR Newswire","published_at":"2026-07-30T10:15:00.615Z","article_body":"MetaOptics and Elsoft partner to scale next-generation semiconductor optics\nmanufacturing equipment\nPR Newswire\n\nSINGAPORE and GEORGE TOWN, Malaysia, July 30, 2026\n\nSINGAPORE and GEORGE TOWN, Malaysia, July 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- MetaOptics\nLtd (Catalist: 9MT) (\"MetaOptics\" or the \"Company\", and together with its\nsubsidiaries, the \"Group\") and Elsoft Research Berhad (Bursa Malaysia: 0090)\n(\"Elsoft\") today jointly announced a strategic partnership to co-develop and\nmass produce the next generation of 12-inch large format precision, high speed\nmetalens laser writers and leading-edge automatic testers that could sort\nmetalens across widely applied wavelengths from visible light 425 ~ 630nm,\nin-frared 740 ~ 940nm and 1245 ~ 1310nm.\n\nAccording to various independent market sources, the metalens market is\nforecasted to grow into a multi-billion-dollar market over the next few years,\nwith demand for metalens fabrication and testing equipment expected to grow in\ntandem. This partnership is intended to put in place the equipment capacity\nneeded to meet these potential market growth and expansion. MetaOptics is\ncurrently in discussions with potential foundry customers in the United\nStates, Japan and Europe for the supply of these key metalens fabrication\nequipment and testers.\n\nUnder the partnership, the two companies will design, build and industrialise\nthe key fabrication equipment behind the metalens value chain, from research\nand development through to high-volume manufacturing. The partnership unites\nElsoft's proven strength in automated test equipment with MetaOptics' deep\nmetalens design and process expertise.\n\nThe collaboration is expected to span three equipment families:\n* Next-generation 12-inch Direct Laser Writer platform: MetaOptics' current\n4-inch Direct Laser Writer platform, a maskless lithography tool that pattern\nmetalens geometry at about 120nm precision range resolution, offers a\nquick-turn platform for prototyping and small-volume pilot builds.\n\nThe 12-inch Direct Laser Writer platform will enable simultaneous multi-lens\nwriting in excess of hundreds of metalenses, for high-volume mass production\nof Co-packaged Optics at 0.1mm lens diameter. The 12-inch Direct Laser Writer\nplatform will integrate easily into existing standard semiconductor processes,\nand provide a superior and cost-effective mass production solution in terms of\nmaintenance and production uptime, as well as ease of conversion;\n* Wafer-level automatic metalens testers: automated optical metrology systems\nthat characterise metalens performance, including point-spread function,\nmodulation transfer function (MTF), throughput and uniformity across the\nvisible, near-infrared and short-wave infrared bands, scaling from\nsingle-coupon benches for research and development to full-wafer testers for\nproduction quality control; and\n* Metalens module assembly and test system: an integrated platform that\nperforms sub-micron, active alignment, UV-cured bonding and embedded optical\ntest in a single automated flow, configurable for automated volume production\nof smartphone-camera and AR-glasses modules. This leading-edge automatic\nequipment assembles metalens onto sub modular packages of flexible circuit &\nimaging or monochrome sensors. Both components assembly stations and testing\nstations are designed to fit a single machine for high throughput and optimum\ncleanroom space utilisation.   \nBy combining MetaOptics' metalens design and process know-how with Elsoft's\nequipment manufacturing expertise, the partnership aims to shorten development\ncycles, improve production yields and shorten the path from prototyping to\ncommercial-scale mass production. Both companies expect to benefit, with\nMetaOptics accelerating its transition to mass production capabilities as\ncustomer engagement moves into active evaluation and volume orders, and Elsoft\nextending its precision-equipment expertise into the fast-growing metalens\nmarket.\n\n\"Elsoft's engineering quality speaks for itself, and we are proud to build\nalongside them,\" said Mr Thng Chong Kim, Executive Chairman of MetaOptics.\n\"Our 4-inch platforms let our customers prototype and iterate fast, and our\n12-inch platforms, born from customer demand, are built for mass production.\nBy pairing our metalens expertise with Elsoft's precision manufacturing, we\nbelieve this partnership will deliver far more than either of us could achieve\nalone.\"\n\n\"We are proud to put the quality and reliability of our systems behind this\ncollaboration,\" said Mr Tan Cheik Eaik, Executive Director and Chief Executive\nOfficer of Elsoft Research Berhad. \"This partnership brings our precision\nmanufacturing and automated-test expertise into the metalens market. Working\nalongside MetaOptics from prototyping through to mass production, we believe\nboth companies are well positioned to serve the growing metalens industry.\"\n\nThe parties will define the technical specifications, commercial terms and\nroadmap for the equipment programme, and intend to negotiate and enter into\ndefinitive agreements in due course. The partnership is not expected to have a\nmaterial impact on the net tangible assets or earnings per share of the Group\nfor the current financial year.\n\nAbout MetaOptics Ltd\n\nMetaOptics Ltd (Catalist: 9MT) is a leading-edge semiconductor optics company\npioneering glass-based metalens solutions enhanced by AI-driven image\nprocessing. Using advanced optical design and a scalable 12-inch DUV\nlithography process, it powers next-generation applications in CPO, mobile,\nAR/VR, automotive and other emerging markets. Headquartered in Singapore,\nMetaOptics aims to deliver high-performance optics with the reliability and\nscalability demanded by today's most innovative technology brands. Find out\nmore at www.metaoptics.sg. For sales enquiries, please contact\nsales@metaoptics.sg.\n\nAbout Elsoft Research Berhad\n\nElsoft Research Berhad is a Malaysian-based technology group listed on the\nMain Market of Bursa Malaysia. Elsoft designs and develops automated test\nequipment, burn-in systems and application-specific embedded systems,\nprimarily for the semiconductor, optoelectronics and automotive industries.\nIts expertise in test and automation equipment positions it as a manufacturing\npartner for MetaOptics' metalens production and test systems.\n\nView original\ncontent:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/metaoptics-and-elsoft-partner-to-scale-next-generation-semiconductor-optics-manufacturing-equipment-302838876.html\n\nSOURCE METAOPTICS LTD\n\n\n\nCopyright (c) 2026 PR Newswire Association,LLC. All Rights Reserved.","article_body_html":"","raw_payload":{"data":{"id":"nPNAdjscja","title":"MetaOptics and Elsoft partner to scale next-generation semiconductor optics manufacturing equipment","author":"PR Newswire","ticker":"METO","created":"2026-07-30T10:15:00.615Z","tickers":["METO"],"exchange":"SGX","article_body":"MetaOptics and Elsoft partner to scale next-generation semiconductor optics\nmanufacturing equipment\nPR Newswire\n\nSINGAPORE and GEORGE TOWN, Malaysia, July 30, 2026\n\nSINGAPORE and GEORGE TOWN, Malaysia, July 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- MetaOptics\nLtd (Catalist: 9MT) (\"MetaOptics\" or the \"Company\", and together with its\nsubsidiaries, the \"Group\") and Elsoft Research Berhad (Bursa Malaysia: 0090)\n(\"Elsoft\") today jointly announced a strategic partnership to co-develop and\nmass produce the next generation of 12-inch large format precision, high speed\nmetalens laser writers and leading-edge automatic testers that could sort\nmetalens across widely applied wavelengths from visible light 425 ~ 630nm,\nin-frared 740 ~ 940nm and 1245 ~ 1310nm.\n\nAccording to various independent market sources, the metalens market is\nforecasted to grow into a multi-billion-dollar market over the next few years,\nwith demand for metalens fabrication and testing equipment expected to grow in\ntandem. This partnership is intended to put in place the equipment capacity\nneeded to meet these potential market growth and expansion. MetaOptics is\ncurrently in discussions with potential foundry customers in the United\nStates, Japan and Europe for the supply of these key metalens fabrication\nequipment and testers.\n\nUnder the partnership, the two companies will design, build and industrialise\nthe key fabrication equipment behind the metalens value chain, from research\nand development through to high-volume manufacturing. The partnership unites\nElsoft's proven strength in automated test equipment with MetaOptics' deep\nmetalens design and process expertise.\n\nThe collaboration is expected to span three equipment families:\n* Next-generation 12-inch Direct Laser Writer platform: MetaOptics' current\n4-inch Direct Laser Writer platform, a maskless lithography tool that pattern\nmetalens geometry at about 120nm precision range resolution, offers a\nquick-turn platform for prototyping and small-volume pilot builds.\n\nThe 12-inch Direct Laser Writer platform will enable simultaneous multi-lens\nwriting in excess of hundreds of metalenses, for high-volume mass production\nof Co-packaged Optics at 0.1mm lens diameter. The 12-inch Direct Laser Writer\nplatform will integrate easily into existing standard semiconductor processes,\nand provide a superior and cost-effective mass production solution in terms of\nmaintenance and production uptime, as well as ease of conversion;\n* Wafer-level automatic metalens testers: automated optical metrology systems\nthat characterise metalens performance, including point-spread function,\nmodulation transfer function (MTF), throughput and uniformity across the\nvisible, near-infrared and short-wave infrared bands, scaling from\nsingle-coupon benches for research and development to full-wafer testers for\nproduction quality control; and\n* Metalens module assembly and test system: an integrated platform that\nperforms sub-micron, active alignment, UV-cured bonding and embedded optical\ntest in a single automated flow, configurable for automated volume production\nof smartphone-camera and AR-glasses modules. This leading-edge automatic\nequipment assembles metalens onto sub modular packages of flexible circuit &\nimaging or monochrome sensors. Both components assembly stations and testing\nstations are designed to fit a single machine for high throughput and optimum\ncleanroom space utilisation.   \nBy combining MetaOptics' metalens design and process know-how with Elsoft's\nequipment manufacturing expertise, the partnership aims to shorten development\ncycles, improve production yields and shorten the path from prototyping to\ncommercial-scale mass production. Both companies expect to benefit, with\nMetaOptics accelerating its transition to mass production capabilities as\ncustomer engagement moves into active evaluation and volume orders, and Elsoft\nextending its precision-equipment expertise into the fast-growing metalens\nmarket.\n\n\"Elsoft's engineering quality speaks for itself, and we are proud to build\nalongside them,\" said Mr Thng Chong Kim, Executive Chairman of MetaOptics.\n\"Our 4-inch platforms let our customers prototype and iterate fast, and our\n12-inch platforms, born from customer demand, are built for mass production.\nBy pairing our metalens expertise with Elsoft's precision manufacturing, we\nbelieve this partnership will deliver far more than either of us could achieve\nalone.\"\n\n\"We are proud to put the quality and reliability of our systems behind this\ncollaboration,\" said Mr Tan Cheik Eaik, Executive Director and Chief Executive\nOfficer of Elsoft Research Berhad. \"This partnership brings our precision\nmanufacturing and automated-test expertise into the metalens market. Working\nalongside MetaOptics from prototyping through to mass production, we believe\nboth companies are well positioned to serve the growing metalens industry.\"\n\nThe parties will define the technical specifications, commercial terms and\nroadmap for the equipment programme, and intend to negotiate and enter into\ndefinitive agreements in due course. The partnership is not expected to have a\nmaterial impact on the net tangible assets or earnings per share of the Group\nfor the current financial year.\n\nAbout MetaOptics Ltd\n\nMetaOptics Ltd (Catalist: 9MT) is a leading-edge semiconductor optics company\npioneering glass-based metalens solutions enhanced by AI-driven image\nprocessing. Using advanced optical design and a scalable 12-inch DUV\nlithography process, it powers next-generation applications in CPO, mobile,\nAR/VR, automotive and other emerging markets. Headquartered in Singapore,\nMetaOptics aims to deliver high-performance optics with the reliability and\nscalability demanded by today's most innovative technology brands. Find out\nmore at www.metaoptics.sg. For sales enquiries, please contact\nsales@metaoptics.sg.\n\nAbout Elsoft Research Berhad\n\nElsoft Research Berhad is a Malaysian-based technology group listed on the\nMain Market of Bursa Malaysia. Elsoft designs and develops automated test\nequipment, burn-in systems and application-specific embedded systems,\nprimarily for the semiconductor, optoelectronics and automotive industries.\nIts expertise in test and automation equipment positions it as a manufacturing\npartner for MetaOptics' metalens production and test systems.\n\nView original\ncontent:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/metaoptics-and-elsoft-partner-to-scale-next-generation-semiconductor-optics-manufacturing-equipment-302838876.html\n\nSOURCE METAOPTICS LTD\n\n\n\nCopyright (c) 2026 PR Newswire Association,LLC. All Rights Reserved."},"type":"article","timestamp":"2026-07-30T10:15:00.682724808Z","server_sent_at_ms":1785406500682},"received_at":"2026-07-30T10:15:00.734Z","source_url":null},"analysis":{"id":"92235","press_release_id":"103223","analysis_json":{"industry":{"label":"Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment","sector":"Information Technology"},"redFlags":["Agreements not yet definitive (parties intend to negotiate in due course)","No material financial impact expected in current financial year"],"eventType":"partnership","narrative":"MetaOptics and Elsoft Research Berhad formed a strategic partnership to co-develop and mass produce next-generation 12-inch metalens laser writers and automated testers.\n\nThe collaboration targets a multi-billion-dollar market, aiming to scale MetaOptics' existing 4-inch prototyping platform to 12-inch high-volume manufacturing systems.\n\nManagement stated the partnership is not expected to have a material impact on net tangible assets or earnings per share for the current financial year.","sentiment":"bullish","agentHooks":{"shouldPost":true,"suggestedAngle":"Partnership with Elsoft to scale 12-inch metalens manufacturing equipment for high-volume production."},"keyFigures":{"customDimensions":{"precision":"120nm","wavelengths":["425~630nm","740~940nm","1245~1310nm"],"lens_diameter":"0.1mm","market_forecast":"multi-billion-dollar"}},"quotedText":"Our 4-inch platforms let our customers prototype and iterate fast, and our 12-inch platforms, born from customer demand, are built for mass production.","namedEntities":{"people":[{"name":"Mr Thng Chong Kim","role":"Executive Chairman of MetaOptics"},{"name":"Mr Tan Cheik Eaik","role":"Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of Elsoft Research Berhad"}],"products":["12-inch Direct Laser Writer platform","Wafer-level automatic metalens testers","Metalens module assembly and test system","4-inch Direct Laser Writer platform"],"companies":[{"name":"MetaOptics Ltd","ticker":"9MT"},{"name":"Elsoft Research Berhad","ticker":"0090","relationship":"partner"}],"dollarAmounts":[{"amount":"multi-billion-dollar","context":"metalens market forecast"}]},"materialImpact":{"score":3,"reasoning":"Strategic partnership enables scaling from 4-inch prototyping to 12-inch mass production equipment for the metalens market. While no immediate financial impact is expected in the current fiscal year, the collaboration addresses a multi-billion-dollar market opportunity and accelerates commercial production capabilities."},"tickerRelevance":{"others":[{"ticker":"0090","relevance":"partner"}],"primary":"METO"},"globalImportance":25,"audienceRelevance":15,"eventTypeSecondary":["product_launch"],"importanceComponents":{"tickerTier":"small-cap","eventGravity":"partnership","sectorWeight":"semiconductors"}},"event_type":"partnership","event_type_secondary":["product_launch"],"sentiment":"bullish","material_impact_score":3,"narrative":"MetaOptics and Elsoft Research Berhad formed a strategic partnership to co-develop and mass produce next-generation 12-inch metalens laser writers and automated testers.\n\nThe collaboration targets a multi-billion-dollar market, aiming to scale MetaOptics' existing 4-inch prototyping platform to 12-inch high-volume manufacturing systems.\n\nManagement stated the partnership is not expected to have a material impact on net tangible assets or earnings per share for the current financial year.","key_figures":{"customDimensions":{"precision":"120nm","wavelengths":["425~630nm","740~940nm","1245~1310nm"],"lens_diameter":"0.1mm","market_forecast":"multi-billion-dollar"}},"named_entities":{"people":[{"name":"Mr Thng Chong Kim","role":"Executive Chairman of MetaOptics"},{"name":"Mr Tan Cheik Eaik","role":"Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of Elsoft Research Berhad"}],"products":["12-inch Direct Laser Writer platform","Wafer-level automatic metalens testers","Metalens module assembly and test system","4-inch Direct Laser Writer platform"],"companies":[{"name":"MetaOptics Ltd","ticker":"9MT"},{"name":"Elsoft Research Berhad","ticker":"0090","relationship":"partner"}],"dollarAmounts":[{"amount":"multi-billion-dollar","context":"metalens market forecast"}]},"model_name":"glm-4.7","prompt_hash":"sha256:727b4b9429a443af","schema_hash":"sha256:05005c02d9cffac9","created_at":"2026-07-30T11:13:18.032Z","global_importance":25,"audience_relevance":15,"importance_components":{"tickerTier":"small-cap","eventGravity":"partnership","sectorWeight":"semiconductors"}},"durationMs":416039,"modelName":"glm-4.7"}}