CIO-Café: Exploring the Future of Integrated Photonics in The Hague
The Hague, Friday, 31 October 2025.
On November 11, 2025, experts will gather in The Hague to discuss integrated photonics, a vital chip technology. This event highlights its potential to revolutionize technological advancements in the Netherlands.
Understanding Integrated Photonics
Integrated photonics is an emerging chip technology that uses light to transfer data, offering significant advantages over traditional electronic chips. These photonic chips can transport larger quantities of data at faster speeds and with reduced energy consumption compared to their electronic counterparts. This makes them particularly crucial for advancing innovations in telecommunications, data centers, and sensor technology. The CIO-café event in The Hague will delve into these benefits, aiming to cement the Netherlands’ position as a leader in this field [1].
Key Figures and Organizations
The event is organized by CIO Rijk of the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations (BZK), with Khalid Boufadiss, Government Relations & Strategy Manager at PhotonDelta, scheduled to speak. PhotonDelta is a key player in the integrated photonics sector, advocating for its adoption and integration into various technological applications. The company is based in the Netherlands, where it plays a pivotal role in driving research and development in photonic technologies. Boufadiss will discuss how photonic chips can solve societal challenges by enabling more efficient data processing and energy usage [1].
Potential Applications and Future Prospects
Integrated photonics holds promise for a wide array of applications, from improving internet connectivity and satellite communication to advancing quantum computing and healthcare technologies. By providing faster data transmission and lower power consumption, photonic chips are poised to revolutionize sectors that rely heavily on data processing and storage. This technology is also seen as a key enabler of the Internet of Things (IoT), where devices are increasingly interconnected and data-driven [1].
A National Vision for Technological Leadership
The Netherlands is positioning itself as a frontrunner in the integrated photonics market, with the CIO-café event being part of broader efforts to boost the country’s technological innovation. The government’s support, alongside industry leaders like PhotonDelta, highlights a strategic vision to harness photonic technology for economic growth and sustainable development. This aligns with national goals to address critical challenges such as energy efficiency and digital transformation [1].