SIH Invests in Slovak Deep-Tech Company AT Crystals

Bratislava, September 15, 2026 – Slovak Investment Holding (SIH) is investing €280,000 in Slovak technology company AT Crystals, which develops and manufactures large-scale YAG crystals for high-power laser systems. The investment is part of a €400,000 funding round carried out in cooperation with an independent private co-investor.

The SIH investment is structured as a convertible loan agreement (CLA) with a maturity date in May 2028 and is financed from the resources of the Slovak Recovery and Resilience Plan, Component 9, which focuses on supporting innovation, research, development and technological advancement of Slovak businesses.

AT Crystals develops and manufactures large-scale YAG crystals, one of the key components of high-power lasers. A larger active element can simplify the design of a laser system and help achieve higher power and greater stability. The technology is primarily intended for applications in fusion energy, defence, industry and advanced photonics.

The company has already validated its technology in the laboratory and is now preparing it for pilot projects and testing with its first customers.

The investment will help AT Crystals accelerate the transition from development to market. The funding will be used primarily for the technical validation of its crystals in two to three pilot projects with partners and potential customers.

Planned activities also include further increasing the technology readiness level, engaging potential customers, particularly in the United States, and gradually entering the defence market.

“AT Crystals aims to push the boundaries of what high-power laser systems can achieve today. We believe that the combination of unique technology and SIH capital will help the company turn laboratory results into real-world applications and pave the way to global markets,” said Juraj Jusko, Director of Direct Investments at Slovak Investment Holding.

“The SIH investment will enable us to take the decisive step from the laboratory to real-world laser systems. Through pilot projects, we want to validate our technology with customers and accelerate its entry into the global market,” said Peter Mačuš, CEO of AT Crystals.

About AT Crystals

AT Crystals is a Slovak deep-tech company that develops and manufactures large-scale YAG crystals for high-power laser systems. Through its proprietary crystal growth technology, the company helps create simpler and more powerful laser solutions for fusion energy, defence, industry and advanced photonics.

More information is available at www.atcrystals.com.

About Slovak Investment Holding 

Slovak Investment Holding (SIH) is a joint-stock company wholly owned by the Slovak Republic. Its primary mission is to support strategic public and private investments in Slovakia, focusing on the competitiveness and growth of small and medium-sized enterprises, infrastructure, energy efficiency, waste management, the social economy, and the cultural and creative industries. SIH finances its investments primarily through European Union funds and provides support mainly in the form of repayable financial instruments rather than grants.

For more information and examples of supported projects, visit www.sih.sk.