Gradiant leads bLOSSom, a disruptive European project that will crate autonomous low-energy photonic systems

Its aim is to create independent photonic devices capable of operating without external intervention and reducing energy consumption by between 100 and 1.000 times, contributing to a more sustainable use of resources and a reduction in energy costs in strategic sectors

bLOSSom represents a decisive step towards a new era in self-sufficient and energy-smart photonics, capable of transforming the way technology consumes and manages energy.

Gradiant, Spain’s leading RTO, will be leading a pioneering European project that aims to revolutionise photonic technology through the development of autonomous, highly energy-efficient systems.

This is bLOSSom, a disruptive initiative with a budget of almost 3 million euros from the European Innovation Council (EIC), through the EIC Pathfinder Open 2025 call for proposals. The project aims to create self-sufficient photonic devices—which do not depend on external energy sources or external interaction to operate—capable of reducing energy consumption by between 100 and 1.000 times. To this end, it will integrate advanced energy capture and management technologies that allow energy to be stored and redistributed according to the needs of the system, contributing to a more sustainable use of resources and a reduction in energy costs in strategic sectors.

In the words of Marta Castro, head of Micro-Nanoelectronics and Photonics at Gradiant, ”bLOSSom marks a decisive step towards a new era of self-sufficient and energy-smart photonics, capable of transforming the way technology consumes and manages energy and paving the way for more sustainable technologies in data centres, portable devices, medical sensors, environmental systems and industrial robotics”.

The project will explore different methods of energy capture, from materials such as graphene to molecular systems inspired by photosynthesis. As part of a European consortium, the technology centre will contribute its expertise in advanced photonic systems integration and intelligent energy management, driving the development of devices capable of operating with almost zero consumption.

Photonic neural networks

These networks would operate using a fraction of the energy currently required: a network that today requires 1 watt could operate using just 1 to 10 milliwatts, maintaining its performance and significantly reducing energy costs and carbon footprint.

Along with Gradiant, the following organisations will participate as project partners: Łukasiewicz Research Network Institute of Microelectronics and Photonics (Poland); Energhius, a spin-off of the USC (Spain); CiTIUS of the USC (Spain), International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory (Portugal) and F6S Innovation (Ireland).

EIC Pathfinder

EIC Pathfinder Open is a European call for proposals designed to support research with the potential to develop new, high-potential technologies that can transform science and technology. In 2025, more than 2,000 proposals were received, of which only 44 were selected. With a success rate of approximately 2.1%, it is one of the most competitive and demanding calls for proposals in Horizon Europe. Of the 44 projects awarded, only five were granted to Spanish entities.