New Origin begins construction of silicon nitride PIC facility
The foundry has secured seed funding and is being built in Enschede, the Netherlands, representing an important step for ChipTech Twente, which brings together educational, governmental, and industrial partners in the region
The University of Twente has announced that New Origin, an advanced production facility for photonic chips, is progressing from planning to construction. This follows a grant from the province of Overijssel and the involvement of regional development company Oost NL as a shareholder.
According to Twente, the arrival of New Origin strengthens its position as an international leader in integrated photonics, a technology that leverages light to process information more quickly and efficiently. New Origin has emerged from the region's historic accumulation of knowledge, partly stemming from the work of the University of Twente's MESA+ Institute. New Origin aims to produce its first photonic chips by the end of 2026, laying the groundwork for applications in ultra-fast communications for AI, consumer products, medical devices, and quantum technology.
The realisation of New Origin is an important step for ChipTech Twente, in which education, government and industry work closely together to further develop the region's strength in analogue chip design, chip design software, supply to the semiconductor industry and new technology such as quantum and photonics. New Origin focuses on the production of high-performance silicon nitride photonic chips. These chips use light instead of electricity, allowing information transfer at higher speeds and lower energy consumption. Their applications are wide-ranging, from smart car sensors to medical diagnostics and quantum computers to AR/VR.
“The Twente chip industry continues to evolve at lightning speed, which benefits economic growth and innovation not only in the region but also in the Netherlands and neighbouring countries,” explains Overijssel provincial executive Erwin Hoogland. “Europe requires a strong, independent microchip sector. Therefore, as the province of Overijssel, we are pleased to support the expansion of photonics as a new technology within the semiconductor industry. I hope that New Origin can significantly contribute with an independent development and manufacturing facility in Twente, benefiting both the photonics cluster in the Netherlands and the technological autonomy of Europe.”
The University of Twente Holding (UTH), which is actively involved in knowledge valorisation on behalf of the university and has been the driving force behind this initiative from the start, has been working intensively with regional partners such as Oost NL, as well as companies including Bronkhorst High-Tech, Demcon, LioniX International, and Micronit in recent months to develop the business plan. PhotonDelta, a booster for photonic chip technology from the National Growth Fund, is also closely involved.
“This is a unique opportunity to establish the world's first specialised silicon-nitride photonic chip factory,” said Twan Korthorst, CEO of New Origin. “With the continued support of UTH and this new backing from the province of Overijssel and Oost NL, we can expand our team and take the necessary steps to build a world-class manufacturing facility. With this, we are laying the groundwork for a new generation of technological applications, originating from Twente for the entire world.”
With the construction of the factory at Kennispark in Enschede, New Origin aims to foster sustainable economic growth and regional employment. This project also improves collaboration among knowledge institutions, businesses, and international partners, further establishing the region as a centre for high-tech innovations.
Wendy de Jong, general director of Oost NL, emphasises: “With New Origin, we have a unique opportunity to sustainably anchor knowledge, technology, and production in the Eastern Netherlands. This project enhances the competitive position of the Netherlands and reinforces our key technological standing. Through collaboration among businesses, government, the ROM, and educational institutions, we are positioning our region globally as a key player in photonic chip technology.”
Image credit: New Origin
