The Holst Centre Photonics Lab has been officially opened by imec and TNO. The facility is fully dedicated to research and development of integrated photonics in the Netherlands.
Photonics is the science and technology of generating, controlling and detecting photons. It has a wide range of applications. These include optical cables for high-quality data transmission, solar cells and photovoltaic systems, as well as laser surgery and imaging techniques including MRI and CT scans.
Integrated circuits
Integrated photonics is a segment of photonics that focuses specifically on developing integrated circuits, which use photons instead of electrons to process and transport information. Applications are broad. For example, they can be used in telecommunications for data transmission over optical cables, and for example in medical diagnostics for sensors that enable precision measurements. However, consider also LiDAR systems for autonomous vehicles, among others.
imec and TNO aim to accelerate innovation in photonics through the lab. The lab should also stimulate collaboration between industry and academia. This should accelerate the development of new integrated photonics applications in sectors such as automotive, healthcare and data communication.
Holst Centre
The new lab is located at the High Tech Campus in Eindhoven. Here, imec and TNO have had the Holst Centre since 2005. In this centre, the parties bring together expertise in wireless sensor technologies and flexible electronics. Together, the parties aim to have social impact in the fields of health & vitality, energy & climate and mobility & industry 5.0. Holst Centre currently has around 200 employees.
The Holst Centre Photonics Lab is part of Holst Centre. The lab is partly funded by PhotonDelta. The PhotonDelta National Growth Fund plan has long been committed to photonics R&D on Dutch soil. The lab should lay a foundation for pioneering research in this field. It should also stimulate strategic cooperation between industry and lawcnahp in the field of photonics.
Combining expertise
In the lab, the parties combine imec's expertise in tape-out validation, on-chip laser technology, system testing and application validation, among others, with TNO's expertise in laser characterisation, free-space optics and photonic chip integration. The lab thus covers the full innovation chain.
"The Holst Centre Photonics Lab shows how strategic funding and collaboration can accelerate photonics innovation and strengthen the Netherlands' position as a world leader in this field," said Ton van Mol, TNO director at Holst Centre.
Strengthening the Dutch photonics ecosystem
Jesse Robbers, imec's director at Holst Centre, added: "With this lab, we are taking an important step towards strengthening the Dutch photonics ecosystem. By combining imec's expertise with TNO's, further leveraging our complementarity, and working closely with PhotonDelta, we are creating an environment in which photonics innovations can be more effectively taken from lab to market."
"The Holst Centre Photonics Lab shows how strategic funding and collaboration can accelerate photonics innovation and strengthen the Netherlands' position as a world leader in this field," stated Ton van Mol, TNO director at Holst Centre.
Eelko Brinkhoff, CEO of PhotonDelta: "A dedicated R&D lab like the Holst Centre Photonics Lab is a powerful testament to the emerging importance of integrated photonics as a key technology. It provides the essential infrastructure to accelerate the development and deployment of photonic chip-based solutions - a crucial step from innovation to market-ready applications."
