EU's €15 Million Boost for Dutch Photonics Innovation

2025-04-25 semicon

Rotterdam, Friday, 25 April 2025.
The European Union invests €15 million in the Netherlands to advance photonics technologies, supporting businesses’ transition from feasibility to prototype, thereby fast-tracking innovation and interconnected partnerships.

PhotonHub PHACTORY: A New Era in European Photonics

The €15 million investment, announced on April 24, 2025, establishes the PhotonHub PHACTORY initiative under the leadership of Brussels Photonics (B-PHOT) at Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) [1]. This strategic investment builds upon the success of PhotonHub Europe, which has already assisted over 100 companies in advancing their photonics capabilities over the past four years [1].

Comprehensive Support Structure

The initiative offers unprecedented support for European businesses, covering up to 85% of project costs and providing fast-track access to leading laboratories [1]. Professor Hugo Thienpont, Director of Brussels Photonics and coordinator of the PhotonHub programme, emphasizes that the program will create collaborative innovation opportunities across various sectors through 2028 [1]. The initiative spans the entire development spectrum, from early-stage concepts to upscaling, facilitating cross-border collaboration where, for instance, Dutch firms can seamlessly partner with German or Italian research teams [1].

Broader European Photonics Landscape

This investment comes at a crucial time for European photonics innovation, coinciding with other significant developments in the sector. Just two weeks prior, on April 11, 2025, Copenhagen-based Sparrow Quantum secured €21.5 million in Series A funding for photonic quantum chip development [4][5], demonstrating the growing momentum in European photonics investment. The sector is further strengthened by parallel initiatives such as the SPRINTER project, which received €6 million to develop ultra-fast optical networks for future factories [2].

Strategic Importance for European Technology Leadership

These investments align with the European Union’s broader strategy to strengthen its technological sovereignty in key enabling technologies [7]. The photonics sector’s development is particularly crucial as it underpins advances in quantum computing, telecommunications, and industrial automation [GPT]. Nathalie Debaes, Consortium Management Support Officer for PhotonHub PHACTORY, articulates this vision: ‘Our goal is simple: to help European businesses shine in the global marketplace – with photonics lighting the way’ [1].

Bronnen

Innovation Photonics