News item | 11-06-2025 | 09:54
The Consortium Pixeurope Start construction of a European innovative test production line for photonic chips this year. These come to Eindhoven and Enschede. Photonics is a promising, strategic technology using light instead of electrons for transferring information. The public investments for the Dutch share in this ‘trial factory’ come to a total of € 193 million.
Dutch companies and researchers are the worldwide leader in the field of photonics. This high -techThe sector wants to keep running first when applying photonic chips on a larger scale, for example in telecommunications (6G), digital technology (AI, quantum), space and defense technology and medical diagnostics. A test production line is of great importance to be able to take this step and bears technological independence, innovation and economic opportunities for the Netherlands.
The final € 193 million in public financing for the Dutch share consists of support from the Chips Joint Undertaking (Chips Ju) and the Ministry of Economic Affairs. The Ministry of Defense also contributes from the strategy for industry and innovation (D-SII 2025-2029). This encourages innovation and public-private partnership (inter) national in the defense industry mainly in technology areas in which the Netherlands is at the forefront. The trial factory is in line with this.
Knowledge Institute TNO, which also supports financially, realizes the facilities together with TU Eindhoven and the University of Twente. Dutch companies such as Smart Photonics are involved to be able to use the ProEffabriek.
European cooperation in the Chips Joint Undertaking
In November 2024, European public-private partnerships Chips Ju All the preference for a possible test production line for photonic chips known. The chosen consortium Pixeurope consists of parties of 11 European member states who will jointly realize this facility.
The Chips Ju is the European public -private partnership that supports research, development and innovation in the field of semiconductor technologies and applications. It consists of companies, knowledge institutions and governments from different countries (EU and non-EU) and the European Commission. The Chips Ju Finishes projects that contribute to strengthening European competitive position in this area such as this test production line for photonica technology.
Photonial technology
Photonica is a technology that focuses on detecting, generating, transporting and editing light. Integrated photonics are chips that work with optical signals instead of with electrical signals. Communication via optical signals can send more information at the same time and over a longer distance. This ensures better performance and is also more energy efficient.
Photonic chips make it possible to build cheaper, faster and energy -efficient devices in the future. They make previous diagnostics of diseases, safe self -driving vehicles, more efficient food production and daainfrastructure possible. This can open the door for a new European industry and a huge range of new applications. The Netherlands is currently at the forefront worldwide in photonics developments and wants to further expand this position. Dozens of SMEs work within the National Groeifonds project Photondelta Together with technology and innovation partners on development.