PhotonDelta launches global photonics engineering contest
PhotonDelta has launched the second edition of its Global Photonics Engineering Contest at PIC Summit USA 2026, offering winning teams the chance to secure up to €2 million in investment and €100,000 worth of engineering and manufacturing services.
The contest targets innovative applications built on photonic integrated circuits (PICs), aiming to identify early-stage ideas that can address major global challenges across communication and computing, imaging, sensing, and wireless technologies.
The initiative is run in collaboration with engineering platform Wevolver and supported by industry partners including imec, SMART Photonics, Ligentec, LioniX International, PHIX, Bright Photonics, Aluvia Photonics, Epiphany, XIVER, and LioniX International.
Launched on 19 January at PIC Summit USA in California, the competition builds on last year’s success, where MIT spin-off Perceptra won for its photonic chip–based Raman sensor for real-time chemical monitoring, securing €1.2 million in funding and establishing an R&D presence in the Netherlands.
The winner of the 2026 contest will receive access to fabrication, design, and packaging services, consideration for PhotonDelta investment of up to €2 million, and the opportunity to present on the PIC Summit Europe 2026 main stage. Submissions are open until 19 June, with winners announced in August.
