Beacon Photonics has become the first industry member of OASIS, UC Santa Barbara’s new innovation and translational research hub, marking an early milestone for the 105,000-square-foot facility designed to bring together established companies, startups, and academic researchers. Managed by The Robert Mehrabian College of Engineering at UCSB, OASIS is built to accelerate discovery and move ideas from lab to application, connecting companies directly with UCSB’s research expertise and shared-use facilities. 

“Beacon Photonics exemplifies what OASIS is designed to enable, taking breakthrough ideas in areas like integrated photonics and rapidly translating them into technologies with real-world impact,” said Umesh Mishra, dean of The Robert Mehrabian College of Engineering. “Their presence sets a powerful tone for the kind of innovation ecosystem we are building here.”

“While we continue to build out the facility’s capabilities and offerings, Beacon’s membership signals that OASIS is no longer just an idea, but a reality,” said Tal Margalith, the college’s executive director of strategic initiatives and innovation.

Headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, Beacon Photonics develops advanced integrated photonic technologies for applications ranging from communications and sensing to quantum systems and national security. By establishing “Beacon West” at OASIS, the company is expanding its footprint while embedding itself within one of the world’s leading photonics research communities.  

“OASIS offers a collaborative environment and shared-use capabilities that are essential for rapid innovation,” said Gordon Keeler, co-founder and CEO of Beacon Photonics. “Santa Barbara has an exceptional photonics ecosystem, and OASIS gives us a natural place to connect with that community.” 

For Beacon Photonics, proximity was a deciding factor. Located just minutes from UCSB’s state-of-the-art Nanofabrication Facility (Nanofab), OASIS enables a tight feedback loop between design, fabrication, and testing, each of which is critical for advancing next-generation technologies. 

“Santa Barbara has cultivated one of the world’s preeminent photonics research communities,” said Keeler, a former program manager with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) with longstanding ties to UCSB. “Being just minutes away improves our productivity, strengthens our connections, and accelerates collaboration with faculty.” 

More broadly, the move reflects a need for speed. 

“Advancing photonics technology successfully requires a rapid cycle of design, fabrication, and system integration,” Keeler explained. “OASIS gives us direct access to world-class fabrication capabilities and prototyping infrastructure, shortening the path from concept to deployment

OASIS provides not only a technical advantage, but a human one. The company is bringing in engineers with deep UCSB roots and extensive experience in the Nanofab, further strengthening the connection between campus research and industry application.  

“I’ve been able to immediately apply my familiarity with the tools and processes to Beacon Photonics,” said senior staff engineer Alexander Spott, who earned his PhD at UCSB in the lab of photonics pioneer and Beacon Photonics board member John Bowers. “OASIS positions us to grow and operate independently while remaining closely connected to the UCSB ecosystem.”

For others, the value lies in everyday connectivity. 

“The two locations being a few minutes apart creates a real sense of proximity,” said John Carter, a staff process engineer and a longtime Nanofab user and UCSB alumnus. “It makes it very easy to stay connected to the photonics community, whether through technical collaboration or informal exchanges, and to engage other groups and companies for shared gain.” 

Charlotte Flatebo, a senior test engineer at Beacon Photonics, pointed to both the environment and the impact of the work itself.  

“Contributing to technology with the potential to benefit society is a strong motivator,” said Flatebo, a former Otis Williams Postdoctoral Fellow at UCSB. “And being in such a beautiful and collaborative incubation space with expanded capabilities for transformational R&D is a massive plus.” 

Flatebo added that the partnership creates new opportunities to mentor and train emerging engineers through outreach programs run by the university, further strengthening the regional talent pipeline.

As the first company to establish a presence at OASIS, Keeler sees an opportunity not only to benefit from the ecosystem, but to help shape it.

“It’s exciting to be part of building something from the ground up,” he said. “OASIS will be a focal point for translating photonics innovations to commercial reality, and we’re looking forward to working with other companies, startups, and collaborators as they join us.” 

Looking ahead, Keeler envisions OASIS as a central hub for the company’s West Coast operations and a catalyst for new partnerships. 

By welcoming Beacon Photonics as its first member, OASIS is beginning to take shape as a community designed to shorten the path from discovery to impact. 

“Beacon Photonics chose UCSB as the place to advance its research and development,” said Margalith. “We hope this signals to companies that UCSB, with its research excellence, world-class shared facilities, and strong startup support infrastructure, is the right place for deep-technology, materials-driven innovation.”