Professor Kippenberg’s Marcel Benoist Prize: Pioneering Quantum Optomechanics and Optical Frequency Combs

We extend our warmest congratulations to Professor Tobias J. Kippenberg, Full Professor of Physics at EPFL and co-founder of LIGENTEC, on receiving the prestigious Marcel Benoist Swiss Science Prize 2025. Often called the ‘Swiss Nobel Prize,’ this honor recognizes his groundbreaking work in quantum optomechanics and chip-based optical frequency combs.

Professor Kippenberg’s research created the foundation for low-loss Photonic Integrated Circuits (PICs) that power modern applications. As industry partners and co-founders, LIGENTEC proudly celebrates this achievement. Thomas Hessler reflected: “Congratulations to Tobias—this is a well-deserved result of your enthusiasm, determination, and commitment to science. Your research created the foundation on which we built LIGENTEC, enabling us to serve innovative startups exploring the application potential of microwave photonics, optical frequency combs, and quantum photonics in Computing, Connectivity, and Sensing.”

Breakthrough Achievements

Professor Kippenberg’s work centers on optical micro-resonators—structures a hundred times thinner than a human hair that store light in very small spaces. His breakthrough demonstrated that light circulating inside these resonators exerts radiation pressure, revealing quantum phenomena in mechanical systems. This enabled miniature sensors with unprecedented precision—measuring movement to within a billionth of a billionth of a metre.

The prize also recognizes his success in miniaturizing optical frequency combs onto a single chip. Previously requiring entire optical tables, these micro-combs now drive innovation in high-speed telecommunications, LIDAR, and neuromorphic and quantum computing.

LIGENTEC: From Research to Industry

World-class fabrication at EPFL paved the way for LIGENTEC. Professor Kippenberg and former colleagues co-founded LIGENTEC SA to make these high-performance components accessible to research and industry.

LIGENTEC manufactures low-loss Photonic Integrated Circuits based on Silicon Nitride (Si₃N₄), providing robust waveguide technology essential for industrializing micro-combs and quantum devices for data centers, AI, and advanced sensor systems. The next generation includes high-speed modulators made with thin film lithium niobate (TFLN) and photodetectors (III-V material).

The Marcel Benoist Prize validates Professor Kippenberg’s commitment to both fundamental science and its translation into transformative technology.

Watch Professor Kippenberg discuss his work and the prize ceremony: https://youtube.com/clip/UgkxFkILSO4nHMctV-VsrUWxeLDAxRjGApMx?si=VTQy2zP5Mxpwp0gF