Eindhoven University wins €16 million for six cutting-edge photonic chip projects
Eindhoven University of Technology has secured funding for six groundbreaking photonic chip research projects as part of an €16 million investment from the Dutch Research Council (NWO) and the National Growth Fund programme PhotonDelta. This investment strengthens the Netherlands’ position as a global leader in integrated photonics, one of the ten priority technologies in the National Technology Strategy, and accelerates the development of energy-efficient, high-performance photonic chips poised to transform quantum computing, neuromorphic AI, wireless communication, and sustainable energy systems.
The selected projects span a wide technological spectrum. G(a)LAQTIC aims to deliver the world’s first fully photonic atom trap using advanced glass photonics, enabling compact and scalable quantum devices. SPIKE-Q will merge photonics with neuromorphic computing by developing ultra-sensitive detector neurons for real-time, low-power edge AI. Another project will advance silicon photonics through mid-infrared hex-SiGe photodetectors compatible with standard CMOS processes, targeting ultra-sensitive detection at long wavelengths.
Photofusion focuses on integrated photonic sensors for nuclear fusion reactors, offering compact diagnostic tools to support stable plasma control. Further expanding high-speed communication, TU/e researchers will develop photonic–electronic detectors for optical wireless links, enabling energy-efficient, high-bandwidth connectivity for IoT, AR/VR, and future multimedia demands. The sixth project will advance cryogenic photonic interconnects for quantum computers, building optical transceivers capable of operating inside extreme low-temperature environments to support NXP’s quantum technologies.
Together, these projects reinforce the momentum of the Dutch integrated photonics ecosystem and reflect a strategic push to accelerate innovation in materials, devices, and system-level photonic integration. The impact of this research will extend across multiple sectors, including healthcare, sustainable AI, next-generation communications, and quantum technologies, cementing Europe’s leadership in the photonics landscape.
