Woooptix operates as a semiconductor metrology specialist where its technology targets the highest precision for microchip manufacturing. The company serves customers across the United States, Japan, and the Netherlands. While the core method suits fields like endoscopy, automotive sensing, and holography, it has also drawn attention in ophthalmology for its potential to reveal detailed views of the pupil during complex procedures.
Nestled in Nanotec, a technology hub within INtech, the site hosts research teams and firms focused on nanoscience, sustainability, biodiversity, and astrophysics. The facility employs a team of 45, with most staff trained in Tenerife.
During a visit by the Canary Islands government, Fernando Clavijo, the regional president, learned about Woooptix SL. The spin-off originated at the University of La Laguna and is led by Chief Executive Officer José Manuel Rodríguez. The rector Francisco García and Juan José Martínez, a member of the Island Council for Innovation and Development, were part of the delegation.
what does this do
Woooptix applies adaptive optics from astrophysics to surface measurements of silicon wafers. Disks with a 30-centimeter diameter are used in chip production for devices of all kinds. The team explains they achieve sub-nanometer precision within milliseconds, a capability that helps multinational customers shorten development cycles, increase production throughput, and shrink chip sizes. ThisImproves efficiency and reduces costs as noted by José Manuel Rodríguez Ramos.
The company currently designs, manufactures, and installs three semiconductor metrology systems in Japan, the United States, and the Netherlands. In Tenerife, engineers oversee quality control at the Tenerife Science and Technology Park, where prototypes are tested and deployed.
A notable advancement lies in optical phase measurement. The technology now resolves light with the same detail as the detector itself, jumping from a conventional 40 by 40 pixel grid to an extraordinary 4,000 by 4,000 pixel resolution. This leap broadens the scope of light analysis and enhances processing capabilities.
An example of success
Fernando Clavijo highlighted the international value and achievements of Woooptix, describing it as a product of university-led innovation. He framed the development as a success story for the University of La Laguna and credited public funding coupled with private investment for the company’s growth. Juan José Martínez, the R&D and HR advisor for the Tenerife Island Council, emphasized Woooptix’s strong potential to accelerate innovation and knowledge transfer within the Canaries and the wider national research ecosystem.
For the Rector, the company’s progress since its 2016 founding demonstrates how science can address real-world challenges and unlock opportunities through collaboration among institutions in the Canary Islands. The guiding idea is to make science useful and to treat knowledge as a primary resource amid uncertainty.
Woooptix is evolving
Woooptix SL maintains headquarters in Tenerife at the University of La Laguna and the Science and Technology Park, with a presence in Madrid and San Francisco. In the months ahead, the firm announced a Series B financing round of 10 million euros. The round is led by existing investors Bullnet Capital and CDTI, with participation from Danobatgroup, Fagor Automation, Mondragón Promotion Fund, and other partners. The European Innovation Council Fund also backs the effort, alongside continued involvement from Intel Capital.
The company has been associated with the EIC Accelerator Program and a 2.5 million euro prelude to a potential investment round. This infusion supports further development and expansion across markets in North America and Europe, reinforcing Woooptix’s role as a bridge between university research and industrial-scale production.