Polar Light Technologies: a strategic path to EU grants
Client
Polar Light Technologies ABClient Overview:
Polar Light Technologies is a deep-tech company based in Sweden that is pioneering a new way to build microLED displays. While microLEDs are the future of screens – offering unmatched brightness and efficiency – they are still difficult and expensive to manufacture at scale.
By combining advanced material engineering with a more scalable production process, Polar Light Technologies is bridging the gap between lab-level prototypes and commercial reality. Their technology is designed to meet the high-performance demands of both consumer electronics and specialized sectors like defense.
The Challenge:
After successfully using local Swedish grants, Polar Light Technologies wished to access larger EU-level funding to scale their R&D. The company needed a clear strategy to identify suitable funding opportunities, find partners, and prepare a competitive application
Our Approach:
Civitta partnered with Polar Light Technologies to turn their EU funding ambitions into reality. We began by developing a comprehensive funding strategy, mapping relevant R&D and commercialisation projects, and conducting a broad search for EU opportunities.
Once the strategy was in place, we targeted the most relevant programme – Eurostars – and helped Polar Light Technologies shape the project consortium and overall architecture to ensure a competitive concept for the call.
Civitta drove the Eurostars proposal process, translating complex technical research and development activities into a clear and compelling narrative that highlighted innovation, feasibility, and market potential.
By managing the process in close collaboration with Polar Light Technologies, we ensured a rigorous and compelling presentation of Polar Light Technologies’ ambition and funding needs. This approach secured Eurostars funding, enabling Polar Light Technologies to advance its cutting-edge microLED technology.
Results & Impact:
The collaboration was a success. Polar Light Technologies secured a €382,000 grant, while their German partner received €187,000.
This funding allows both companies to advance their microLED technology further. Civitta is now continuing to work with Polar Light Technologies on grant applications to accelerate their path to the global market.
Key Takeaways:
- Strategic mapping: auditing the full R&D pipeline helped us pinpoint the EU programs with the highest chance of success.
- Focused execution: Prioritizing Eurostars ensured efforts were concentrated on the most impactful short-term opportunity.
- Strong coordination: Civitta drove the complex proposal process, allowing Polar Light Technologies’ engineers to stay focused on their core technology.
- Building momentum: This success serves as a foundation for continuous collaboration.
Testimonials:
“Civitta has been a valuable partner in helping us identify relevant funding opportunities and drive a structured application process. Their support has helped us stay focused on developing our technology while strengthening our access to European innovation funding.”
Oskar Fajerson
“Polar Light Technologies has a world-class product, but navigating EU grants can be a full-time job in itself. Our goal was to act as their strategic partner, taking the complexity of the funding landscape off their plate so they could focus on what they do best: building better microLED display technology. We’re excited to continue supporting their growth through the next major funding rounds.”
Aron Wängborg
