Anax Story
Started as a spin-off from Kyoto University in 2022, now supported by Keio University, Anax Optics Inc. is a groundbreaking startup at the cutting-edge of freeform optical design and fabrication, especially with respect to light-field technology.
Co-founded by Dr. Okiharu Kirino (CEO) and Prof. Anthony Beaucamp (CTO), Anax Optics Inc. (capital: 12 million japan yen) is a beacon of innovation. The duo’s unique blend of leadership and expertise is propelling the company to the forefront of the optical industry.
The journey of Anax Optics is marked by its specialization in automated optical design through inverse ray tracing, topological optimization and artificial intelligence. The company stands out in its field for focusing on freeform micro lens array (MLA), a critical aspect of light-field-shaping technology. The tools developped by Anax in collaboration with its industrial partners has resulted in a comprehensive software offering of freeform optical design and fabrication (Anax Hyperion, AnaxCAM, Pandao), as well as the willingness to develop ground-breaking new applications in photonics by collaborating with academia and industry.
From its academic origins to its current position at the forefront of light-field-shaping technology, Anax Optics continues to blaze a trail of innovation. With a team driven by passion and a mission to revolutionize optical design, Anax Optics is not just creating products: it is shaping the future of optics.
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Team members
Okiharu Kirino (D.Eng)
CEO
Our CEO, Dr. Okiharu Kirino, holds a Ph.D. in ultra-precision manufacturing and is active in the international community in this field. He has applied for 40 patents, and as a researcher has received invited speech from international conferences in Europe and paper awards. He has more than 20 years of experience in management (in charge of R&D) of small and medium-sized companies supplying ultra-precision components, including management of large national projects and a fellowship in “Japan Biodesign”, an international project for medical device development. As our CEO, he will provide leadership within the optical industry.
Anthony Beaucamp (D.Eng)
CTO
Prof. Anthony Beaucamp is an active contributor to the international community for optical design and fabrication. After working 10 years in the optical fabrication industry (Zeeko LTD, a key partner of Anax), he initiated an academic career in 2010 and currently holds a tenured position at Keio University (Japan). His current research topics covering optical design and manufacture (generative design, digital twins) and development of hybrid machining systems. With more than 10 international patents (granted and pending), more than 100 publications (>50 in peer-reviewed journals), Prof. Beaucamp has an established track-record in ultra-precision manufacture that was recognized through the award of the F. W. Taylor medal of CIRP in 2015, for contributions to super-fine finishing technology. As co-fouding member of Anax, he provides technical guidance and expertize to Anax Optics.
Jyrki Saarinen (D.Sc, MBA, CBM Chair)
Board Member (Strategic Planning)
Prof. Jyrki Saarinen is a serial entrepreneur with extensive experience in Europe and the USA (Silicon Valley), who has co-founded several Photonics companies that reached a successful exit. Amongst them are the Unicorn (exit value > 1 billion USD) Heptagon Corp. (founded in 1998, acquired by ams AG in 2013) and the Finland based Nanocomp Oy Ltd. (founded in 1997, acquired by Radiant Opto-Electronics in 2023). As well as bringing extensive experience in strategic planning and investor relations to the board, Prof. Saarinen’s deep connections with the Photonics industry and academia in the USA and Europe are opening unique opportunities for Anax Optics Inc. to grow its business internationally.
Hideki Ina (D.Eng)
Senior Advisor (Optical Metrology and Advanced Manufacturing)
Hideki Ina is a leading expert in optical measurement, inverse problems, and ultra‑precision imaging systems, with a career spanning advanced research, industrial implementation, and cross‑disciplinary technology development. He has authored a highly cited master’s thesis on Fourier‑based fringe analysis and has filed more than 200 patents during his tenure at Canon, contributing to a wide range of innovations in optical metrology, alignment technologies, and high‑precision instrumentation. His professional activities extend across multiple advanced fields, including deep‑learning–based inspection, explainable AI (XAI) through the SLSystem framework, and femtosecond‑laser fabrication of functional nanomaterials at illminus. He has also contributed as a chapter author to major technical handbooks in optics, nanoimprint technology, and metasurface engineering, reflecting his role as a recognized specialist within the optical and semiconductor manufacturing communities. With extensive experience collaborating with universities and industry partners, he has supported the development of next‑generation optical systems, including metalens applications, structured‑illumination measurement, and high‑accuracy pupil‑plane imaging. His work bridges research and practical engineering, enabling the transition of advanced optical concepts into manufacturable, real‑world solutions. Through his combined expertise in optics, AI, and precision manufacturing, Hideki Ina continues to provide technical leadership and cross‑domain insight to organizations seeking to advance the state of optical measurement and high‑precision production technologies.
