TU Eindhoven Secures Funding for Advanced Optical Broadband Research
Eindhoven, Monday, 14 July 2025.
TU Eindhoven’s initiative receives funding for six projects to innovate in optical broadband systems, enhancing technologies crucial for health diagnostics and agri-food industries in the Netherlands.
Driving Innovation in Optical Systems
TU Eindhoven is spearheading advancements in optical broadband systems through its ‘Future Optical Broadband Systems’ program, which has recently secured essential funding for six groundbreaking projects [1]. These initiatives focus on semiconductor chips, hyperspectral imaging, and tomography imaging, all of which are critical to enhancing technologies in sectors as diverse as healthcare diagnostics and agrifood production [1]. This research is conducted in collaboration with the Knowledge and Innovation Covenant, reflecting a strong partnership between industry leaders and academic institutions [1].
Focus on Semiconductor Advancements
Among the funded projects is MUSICA, led by Jeroen Jansen from Radboud University, which aims to develop an advanced benchmark infrastructure for the Multiplex Spectral Imaging of Chips to address challenges in analyzing failures of increasingly complex semiconductor devices [1]. This initiative is an essential step in ensuring the reliability and efficiency of semiconductor technology, which serves as the backbone of modern electronic devices [1].
F-GRIN Optics: A Leap in Technology
The ‘PEREGRINE’ proposal is another pivotal project funded under this initiative, focused on making ‘freeform gradient index’ (F-GRIN) optics a viable technology for broadband applications. Researchers from TU Eindhoven and the University of Twente, including Lisa Kusch and Willem Vos, are pushing the boundaries of material science and optics to create sustainable, compact, and adaptable optical solutions [1]. This project holds the potential to revolutionize the sector by taming light over a broad spectrum of frequencies to harness a full 3D variation in refractive index inside optical media [1].
Benefits Spanning Multiple Sectors
The funded projects target improvements in imaging techniques, which are set to benefit a range of fields including healthcare and agrifood. For instance, enhancements in optical coherence tomography imaging aim to improve diagnostic accuracy for diseases such as diabetes and cancer [1]. Furthermore, advancements in agricultural imaging could lead to more precise monitoring of crop and soil health, thus fostering smarter, more sustainable farming practices [1]. The projects are designed to lead to technological innovations that may have wide-ranging applications and implications across numerous industries, reinforcing the Netherlands’ position as a leader in photonics research [1].