ZEISS Acquires Ceres Holographics to Advance Holography

Jena, Germany | 8 October 2026 | ZEISS Group

ZEISS has announced the acquisition of Ceres Holographics, a pioneering holographic technology company headquartered in Livingston, Scotland. Ceres Holographics will become part of ZEISS Microoptics, an agile and ambitious business unit within ZEISS with a strong focus on industrializing holography for high volume automotive, aerospace and consumer markets. The acquisition complements ZEISS’ proven ProSight^® platform, the core holography technology foundation, from which a broad range of industrial applications derive, by adding Ceres Holographics' latest innovations in hologram manufacturing technology. The parties have agreed not to disclose the purchase price or further details.

The combination of complementary capabilities and expanded team resources will accelerate the industrialization of holographic windshield display applications, turning holography from a future promise into near-term market reality for the automotive industry. The added capability and resources will enable ZEISS to expedite market entry into broader holographic markets, like retail, near-to-eye displays and public transportation. Together, the expanded team will offer customers and partners a broader proposition that now combines advanced technological depth and application focus with the global scale, manufacturing capabilities and customer access of ZEISS.

Representatives of ZEISS Microoptics and Ceres Holographics signing the acquisition agreement

“Ceres Holographics and ZEISS share a clear vision and deep commitment to advancing holography. We admire the innovations and market recognition the Ceres team has achieved,” said Dr. Roman Kleindienst, Head of ZEISS Microoptics. “Together, we will write a new chapter in holography commercialization, driving faster industrialization and unlocking broader market entry.”

“This acquisition marks an exciting new chapter for Ceres Holographics and the industrialization of holography,” said Andy Travers, who leads Ceres Holographics. “Over the past years, we have developed significantly differentiated hologram manufacturing technology and established strong commercial momentum, particularly in the field of automotive windshield display applications. Joining forces with ZEISS gives us the opportunity to build on that success and achieve greater scale, with more resource and global reach. We are excited about what our combined teams can achieve for our customers with existing and new partners.”

Founded in 2009, Ceres Holographics is a leading innovator in hologram manufacturing technology, and have specialized in automotive windshield display applications as the primary opportunity. The company has used its proprietary technology its to advance the holographic windshield display (HWD) application and has built strong commercial relationships with OEM customers – establishing itself as a key player at the forefront of this emerging market that is rapidly moving from concept to commercial reality.

Press Contact Joachim Kuss

ZEISS Photonics & Optics

Press contact Cathy Song

Carl Zeiss (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.

About ZEISS

ZEISS is an internationally leading technology enterprise operating in the fields of optics and optoelectronics. In the previous fiscal year, the ZEISS Group generated annual revenue totaling almost 12 billion euros in its four segments Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology, Industrial Quality & Research, Medical Technology, and Consumer Markets (September 30, 2025).

For its customers, ZEISS develops, produces, and distributes highly innovative solutions for industrial metrology and quality assurance, microscopy solutions for the life sciences and materials research, and medical technology solutions for diagnostics and treatment in ophthalmology and microsurgery. The name ZEISS is also synonymous with the world's leading lithography optics, which are used by the chip industry to manufacture semiconductor components. There is global demand for trendsetting ZEISS brand products such as eyeglass lenses, camera lenses, and binoculars.

With a portfolio aligned with future growth areas like digitalization, healthcare, and Smart Production and a strong brand, ZEISS is shaping the future of technology and constantly advancing the world of optics and related fields with its solutions. The company's significant, sustainable investments in research and development lay the foundation for the success and continued expansion of ZEISS' technology and market leadership. ZEISS invests 14 percent of its revenue in research and development – this high level of expenditure has a long tradition at ZEISS and is also an investment in the future.

With over 47,400 employees, ZEISS is active globally in around 50 countries with more than 60 sales and service locations, around 40 research and development facilities, and 30 production facilities worldwide (March 31, 2026). Founded in 1846 in Jena, the company is headquartered in Oberkochen, Germany. The Carl Zeiss Foundation, one of the largest foundations in Germany committed to the promotion of science, is the sole owner of the holding company, Carl Zeiss AG.

Further information at www.zeiss.com

About ZEISS Microoptics

ZEISS Microoptics, the world's only technology Tier1 supplier for holographic solutions for a wide range of applications in the aerospace, mobility, hometech and consumer sectors. The proprietary ProSight^TM technology platform enables, among other things, large-area holographic projection systems, highly integrated cameras in transparent media and holographic lighting applications. ZEISS Microoptics offers the complete value chain from optical design and mastering to holographic replication systems for series production. ZEISS Microoptics is based in Jena, Germany, and is part of the strategic business unit Photonics & Optics.

Further information at www.zeiss.com/microoptics

About Ceres Holographics

Headquartered in Livingston, Scotland, Ceres Holographics specializes in the design, mastering and replication of next-generation, thin-film Holographic Optical Elements (HOEs) for new transparent display (TD) and augmented reality applications. Ceres capabilities overcome the traditional barriers to the design and manufacture of very large-format HOEs and production in high volumes. With extensive expertise in photonic, optical systems and holographic photopolymer films, Ceres Holographics enables end-customers to design and realise new mass-market display and lighting applications in automotive, transportation, aerospace and consumer markets.

Further information at www.ceresholographics.com

Further information

Press Photos

ZEISS Microoptics and Ceres Holographics representatives

Representatives of ZEISS Microoptics and Ceres Holographics signing the acquisition agreement

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