New Origin, a to be realized photonic chip production facility, has received €6 million in funding from PhotonDelta – a cross-border ecosystem of photonic chip technology organizations, PhotonDelta said in a press release.
The investment will be used to establish the first independent photonic chip manufacturing facility in the Netherlands to produce silicon nitride chips. New Origin’s facility will enable companies to produce their own photonic chips. This removes an important hurdle for the photonics industry by significantly reducing costs while increasing the availability of photonic chips.
Photonics uses light rather than electronics to convey information that, when integrated into microchips, enables the development of smaller, faster and more energy-efficient devices. They are widely used, for example, in data communications, medical devices and aerospace.
What production platforms are offered for integrated photonics?
The photonics industry works with three leading platforms to build photonic integrated chips (PICs): Indium Phosphide (InP), Silicon Nitride (SiN), and Silicon Photonics (SiPh).
Indium Phosphide (InP) PICs have active laser generation, amplification, control, and detection. This makes them an ideal component for communication and sensing applications.
Silicon Nitride (SiN) PICs have a vast spectral range and ultra-low-loss waveguide. This makes them highly suited to detectors, spectrometers, biosensors, and quantum computers.
Silicon Photonics (SiPh) PICs provide low losses for passive components like waveguides and can be used in minuscule photonic circuits. They are compatible with existing CMOS (electronic) fabrication.
Leading photonics industry in the Netherlands
PhotonDelta’s investment in New Origin, which grew out of the University of Twente’s MESA+ NanoLab, is an important step towards a leading photonics industry in the Netherlands. “We already have a strong cluster, united in Chiptech Twente, which we can boost considerably in this way,” says Professor Guus Rijnders, scientific director of MESA+. Many companies want to experiment with photonics or integrate the technology into their products. This is complicated by the cost and complexity of chip production. This new facility significantly lowers the barrier to entry, enabling more innovation and allowing the European photonics industry to grow.”
Future demand
New Origin intends to use the insights gained from the realization and use of the new production facility in further exploration of opportunities for large-scale production facilities. This is necessary to meet future demand.
Selected for you!
Innovation Origins is the European platform for innovation news. In addition to the many reports from our own editors in 15 European countries, we select the most important press releases from reliable sources. This way you can stay up to date on what is happening in the world of innovation. Are you or do you know an organization that should not be missing from our list of selected sources? Then report to our editorial team.
Related Posts
