High Tech Campus Eindhoven starts the construction of industrial photonic chip factory

IASP member, High Tech Campus Eindhoven in collaboration with independent research organisation TNO, have just started the construction of the world’s first industrial factory dedicated to producing indium-phosphide photonic chips on 6-inch wafers. The initiative represents a major collaborative step in strengthening Europe’s photonics ecosystem and accelerating the commercialisation of advanced semiconductor technologies.

The project was officially launched by Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission, Heleen Herbert Dutch Minister of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy and Dilan Yeşilgöz-Zegerius, Dutch Minister of Defence, highlighting the strategic importance of this project for Europe.

The factory forms part of the European Commission’s photonics pilot line initiative and aligns with the ambitions of the European Chips Act. The €150 million investment is expected to reinforce Europe’s capabilities in developing and producing next-generation photonic chips. Located within the park in Eindhoven, the new facility aims to bridge the gap between research and industrial manufacturing. By combining R&D expertise with scalable production capabilities, the pilot line will enable companies to test, validate and scale integrated photonics technologies more rapidly.

This type of technology which processes information using light instead of electricity, is increasingly seen as a key enabling technology for applications such as energy-efficient AI data centres, future 6G communication networks, advanced medical diagnostics and high-performance computing.

Beyond technological development, the facility is also expected to create highly specialised employment opportunities and further strengthen the area’s role as a leading European innovation hub.