Eighteen research projects in the field of photonic chips will collectively receive more than EUR 16 million in funding. The money comes from NWO and the National Growth Fund programme PhotonDelta. This investment should enable new photonic technologies, with applications in medical technology, sustainable AI and wireless communication.
Photonic chips, which work with light particles, are more energy-efficient, faster and have more capacity than traditional electronic chips. Integrated photonics has therefore been included in the central government's National Technology Strategy as one of the 10 priority technologies. With this programme, NWO and PhotonDelta aim to stimulate research into innovative materials, components and systems within integrated photonics.
Tjerk Opmeer, director of innovation at the Ministry of Economic Affairs, says: "The National Growth Fund stands for sustainable and structural economic development. Integrated photonics and its application plays an indispensable role in this. We are therefore very pleased that, thanks to the funds from the PhotonDelta programme and NWO's contribution, 18 research projects can start. Projects that will ensure that the Netherlands takes another step forward in areas such as faster communication, more reliable health research and cleaner energy."
Research projects
The following projects will receive funding:
- Mid-infrared hex-SIGe photodetectors for silicon photonics (Eindhoven University of Technology)
Research into a new type of light detector using hexagonal SiGe, suitable for applications in medical technology and communications. - Bright, photostable, and solution-processable nanoemitters for photonic surfaces (Utrecht University)
Development of high-quality nanocrystals for improved white-light LEDs and microLEDs, with applications in lighting and displays. - Electro-optically Tunable Photonic Integrated Meta Circuits for Ultrafast and Precise Wavefront Shaping (METAPIC) (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam)
A hybrid platform for real-time control of light, with applications in autonomous vehicles and medical imaging. - Cryogenic CMOS-based electronic-photonic interconnects for NXP’s quantum computer (Eindhoven University of Technology)
Development of optical interconnects for quantum computers, which operate at extremely low temperatures. - Spiking Photonics ICs with Quantum-enhanced Efficiency for Neuromorphic Edge Processing (SPIKE-Q) (Eindhoven University of Technology)
Energy-efficient photonic chips for AI applications at the network edge, inspired by processes in the brain. - One ink to rule them all: Integrated Short-Wave Infrared Photodetectors and Light-Emitting Devices Based on III-V Quantum Dots (TU Delft)
A printable ink for health sensors that can emit and detect invisible light, without the need for a blood sample. - Biomolecule Detection with INverse-Designed Plasmonic Metasurfaces (BND) (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam)
Gold-particle sensors for detecting molecules, with applications in medical diagnostics. - On-chip Photonic Neural Networks with In-site Training (TU Delft)
AI chips that use light instead of electricity, with self-learning capabilities. This research is expected to lead to smart chips that are extremely fast and energy-efficient. - Integrated photonics sensors for fusion (Photofusion) (Eindhoven University of Technology)
Sensors for measuring plasma temperatures in fusion reactors and supporting the energy transition. - INTERPRETER: Integrated photonic crystal spectropolarimeter (TU Delft)
Compact image sensors for materials inspection and air pollution measurements, with applications in satellite technology. - G(a)LAQTIC: Integrated Glass Photonics for Tailored Light Fields (Eindhoven University of Technology)
Light chips for controlling individual atoms, aimed at applications in quantum computing. - Multiphysics inverse design for next-generation programmable photonics (TU Delft)
New design methods for faster and more energy-efficient optical chips. - Integrated Optical Circuits for Quantum Technology (University of Amsterdam)
Compact quantum devices for precision clocks and a more reliable internet. - Photoadressable Quantum Photonics (Leiden University)
Optical circuits that can be reprogrammed using light and can support the development of energy-efficient quantum computers. - Photonics integrated circuits for high-resolution imaging and sensing (TU Delft)
Compact optical devices for investigating nanostructures, with applications in biology and materials science. - Remote Nano-Sensing through Nano-Optics (ReNaNo) (Utrecht University)
Nano-lenses for the remote detection of individual molecules, with applications in medical diagnostics. - Photonics and Electronic Integration of Detectors for Wireless Optical Communication (Eindhoven University of Technology)
Energy-efficient sensors for wireless optical communication with applications in the IoT and high-speed internet. - Quantitative volumetric spectroscopy for complex material characterisation (Amsterdam UMC)
A method for measuring the optical properties of tissues and materials. The method is intended for use in areas including healthcare and materials science.
More information on the projects is available here.
