EU invests €133m in Dutch photonic chip facilities

The European Union (EU) will invest €133 million ($142 million) in the Netherlands to develop pilot production facilities for photonic semiconductors, according to the Dutch economy ministry.

This funding is part of a €380 million initiative under the Chips Joint Undertaking, aimed at establishing photonic semiconductor production plants across Europe to boost innovation and competitiveness in the sector.

Photonic semiconductors, which use light instead of electrons for computations, offer speed and power efficiency advantages, making them valuable for data centres, automotive applications, and more.

“Photonics is a technology of strategic importance,” stated Dutch Economy Minister Dirk Beljaarts, emphasising the EU’s goal of building a strong, competitive European sector through innovation and supply chain development.

Work on these facilities, to be led by Eindhoven and Twente universities in collaboration with TNO, is expected to begin in 2025. This initiative aligns with a broader push by the European Commission to enhance the EU’s global competitiveness in green and digital technologies amid economic challenges posed by the US and China.

Attribution: Reuters

Subediting: Y.Yasser