PhotonDelta

Overview

PhotonDelta is one of Europe’s leading digital innovation hubs, and the main one in the area of Integrated Photonics, amplifying existing initiatives and kick-starting new ones. We believe that a fragmented approach to building the multi-billion Photonics business in Europe is never going to scale. Disruptive innovation needed to keep Europe’s lead in integrated photonics starts when young companies get access to the knowledge already gained by high-tech enterprises and applied research institutes. Although private initiatives are starting to grow, public funding is still needed to bridge the gap between working prototypes leaving the research lab and the point at which the chips are ready to be manufactured in quantity. It’s at that point where the private sector takes over. Grant funding to support research and innovation in SME’s has grown tenfold in the last decade to reach €100 million a year. But we believe that in order to keep a lead ahead of the US and Asia, funding level should be 10-20 times that. PhotonDelta is taking the lead to coordinate activities amongst other European digital innovation hubs working in optics and other sectors where photonics is a key enabling technology. So, for example, PhotonDelta is focusing on integrated photonics around SiN and InP. We’re collaborating with Ireland’s IPIC who are championing the challenges of photonics packaging, and participate in the ACTPHAST initiative recognized by the EC as an example of a Digital Innovation Hub; it provides open access for SME’s to design and manufacturing facilities in Integrated Photonics. We are establishing three pillars under PhotonDelta: PhotonDelta Research• The Institute of Photonic Integration builds on 40 years of optics research at TU/e – in cooperation with other nanotechnology centres like Mesa+ at the University of Twente and Saxion University of Applied Sciences. • PhotonDelta Cooperative - a consortium of scale-ups, manufacturers and investors. The goal is to build win-win situations for members, including early access to Research IP. The Photonics Integration technology centre (PITC) is currently being established, branching out on Europe-wide work done in circuits and components by the JePPIX consortium and the systems work done by the 5GBluespace Projects. Domains on pilot production lines, packaging, prototyping, building block development, and testing are currently being developed. PhotonDelta is very pro-active in outreach to industry, government and research organisations. We are gathering deep technology and industry knowledge so as to be efficient and effective. Digital technologies.