Additional investments in innovation, knowledge and technology are crucial. A promising technology in which the Netherlands wants to continue to excel is photonics. These are chips that use light instead of electrons to transmit information. The PIXEurope consortium, which consists of parties from eleven countries including the Netherlands, has been selected for contract negotiations to develop a European pilot plant for photonic chips. Eindhoven and Enschede are important future locations for the intended production facilities. A total of 380 million euros in public investments has been reserved for this purpose from Europe and the countries involved themselves.
It is expected that 133 million euros of the total amount for this pilot production line will be invested within the Netherlands. The choice made comes from the so-called Chips Joint Undertaking (Chips JU). This is the European public-private partnership that supports research, development and innovation of semiconductor technologies and applications. It consists of companies, knowledge institutions and governments from various countries (EU and non-EU) and the European Commission.
Dutch companies such as Smart Photonics are involved in using the proposed new pilot plant. Knowledge Institute TNO, Eindhoven University of Technology and the University of Twente may realize the proposed facilities. Thanks to the National Growth Fund project PhotonDelta, in which dozens of SMEs collaborate with technology and innovation partners, the Netherlands is well positioned for the production of photonic chips. Dutch public financing will be further developed by the Ministry of Economic Affairs in the coming period. If negotiations, contracts and financing are finalized, this project is expected to start in mid-2025.
Minister Dirk Beljaarts (Economic Affairs): “This is good news. For the Dutch innovation climate as a whole and for the SME companies involved that are working hard on this. It is not without reason that photonics is one of the technologies that the government has designated as strategic. Our goal is to gain a strong European competitive position in this regard. From knowledge, innovation, supply to final production. This is necessary for Dutch jobs and income of the future, solving social challenges and our national security.”
European cooperation in the Chips Joint Undertaking
The Chips Joint Undertaking (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 various countries (EU and non-EU) and the European Commission. The Chips JU finances projects that contribute to strengthening the European competitive position in this field, such as this pilot production line for photonics technology.
Photonics technology
Photonics is a technology that focuses on detecting, generating, transporting and processing light. Integrated photonics are chips that work with optical signals instead of electrical signals. Communication via optical signals can transmit more information over a longer distance at the same time. This can ensure higher performance and is also more energy efficient.
Thanks to photonic chips, it will be possible in the future to build cheaper, faster and energy-efficient devices. These enable earlier diagnosis of diseases, safe self-driving vehicles, more efficient food production and data infrastructure. This could open the door to a new European industry and a huge range of new applications. The Netherlands is currently at the forefront of photonics developments worldwide and wants to further expand this position.