EPIC (European Photonics Industry Consortium) is delighted to announce Theodor Nielsen, Founder and CEO of NIL Technology as the recipient of the EPIC CEO Award 2025. This award is presented annually to a company that exemplifies the challenges and merits of entrepreneurship and building a successful business. In this case, the award recognizes Nielsen’s outstanding leadership and contributions to the photonics industry particularly in the manufacture of nanoscale, high-precision optical elements and components.
Theodor Nielsen holds an MSc in Applied Physics/Nanotechnology) from the Technical University of Denmark (DTU). After three years as a PhD student working with nanoimprint lithography, he founded NIL Technology (NILT) as CEO in 2006. Since then, he has led NILT from a two-man operation to a globally recognized leader in advanced optics, focusing on nano-structures defining a new standard for optics in metalenses, DOEs and advanced waveguide displays.
As a testament to NILT’s success, in 2025, the company was acquired by Radiant Opto-Electronics Corporation (ROE) for €300 million. By leveraging NILT’s innovative meta-optics solutions and ROE’s manufacturing prowess, the company is poised to deliver ultra-compact, high-performance meta-optics essential for next-generation consumer electronics, automotive, robotics, and AR/VR applications.
“I am very honored to receive the EPIC CEO Award,” said Theodor Nielsen. “This award recognizes our 2018 vision to transition from a tech-focused company to a product company concentrating on advanced optical solutions. We took a risk, and now I’m proud to say that NIL Technology is developing groundbreaking solutions for manufacturing optical elements and components using high-precision nanoscale features that have an impact on our daily lives.”
Carlos Lee, Director General of EPIC, commented, “”Theodor Nielsen exemplifies the values of this award not only by his passion for excellence and continuous improvement and innovation, but also by his business ambitions for NILT to become a world leader in the mass production of meta-optics”.
