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PhotonDelta - Gateway to Integrated Photonics
PhotonDelta is a non-profit organization that supports an end-to-end value chain in the Netherlands for photonic chips that designs, develops, and manufactures innovative solutions that contribute to a better world. The organization creates global awareness and promotes the benefits and potential of the Dutch and European photonic chip industry and its technologies.
PhotonDelta is committed to facilitating the growth of startups, the creation of new photonic chip applications, as well as the development of infrastructure and talent. Leveraging funding from the Dutch National Growth Fund, alongside strategic investments, they catalyze the acceleration of the photonic chip industry by stimulating industrialization of photonic integrated circuit (PIC) technology, and PIC-based application building, and forging connections with viable markets and stakeholders.
Mission
PhotonDelta’s mission is to support and accelerate the growth and the maturity of the Integrated Photonics industry in the Netherlands and Europe. The organization supports the companies in the value chain from design to production, to packaging and application in solving the main bottlenecks and create awareness and involve relevant stakeholders in this process.
(Courtesy PhotonDelta)
Research & Development
Key partners include knowledge institutes and universities whose pioneering research fuels the entire ecosystem and keeps it at the forefront of integrated photonics. This pipeline of innovation is essential for the competitive strength of our ecosystem by continuously developing new products, applications, and production processes. Partner organizations such as the Photonic Integration Technology Centre (PITC) and imec help to bridge the gap between research and application.
Design & Testing
The development of a PIC design considers the customer’s application specifications and the production protocols of the foundry. Firstly, the specification is translated into a circuit design, and then a mask layout is created for manufacturing. World-class design library provides highly functional, predefined and tested building blocks to reduce design costs. Eco-system partners with expertise in designing PICs include Bright Photonics and Epiphany.
Manufacturing & Prototyping
When the design is finished, it’s ready for production. The ecosystem has two options for fabrication: one suitable for cost-effective prototyping, and another suited to mass production. Multi-Project Wafer (MPW) runs are best suited for research, development, and prototyping. Several customer designs are fabricated on the same wafer (or substrate). This allows for cost sharing to keep costs low. PhotonDelta collaborates closely with the local manufacturing parties and the broader European pilot-line initiatives. Focus is on manufacturing photonic chips with Indium Phosphide (InP) at SMART Photonics and Silicon Nitride (SiN) technology by LioniX International. Work is underway to develop New Origin as pure-play foundry focused on nitride based photonic technologies.
InP PIC manufactured by SMART Photonics (Courtesy SMART Photonics)
Wafer with SiN photonic chips, manufactured by LioniX International (Courtesy LioniX International)
Packaging & Assembly
Like electrical chips, photonic chips must be packaged for protection and mounting on a printed circuit board. Photonic chips and electronic chips can be combined in a hybrid module, leveraging the benefits of both: cost reduction and best-in-class processes. It is also possible to configure different combinations of photonic chip types to address the demand for increasingly sophisticated solutions. Packaging partner PHIX offers assembly services, providing housing with electrical connections, optical interfaces, and thermal management.
Products & Applications
With over 20 specialist suppliers, the PhotonDelta ecosystem develops chips, modules, and systems which are serving multiple industries from medical and healthcare, to HPC/AI and datacom.
PhotonDelta USA
In July 2024, PhotonDelta opened a new office in North America with the aim to further grow the photonic chip industry by promoting collaboration between European and North American organizations, both leaders in this emerging key enabling technology. Jorn Smeets, Managing Director North America at PhotonDelta: “We want to tap into the North American market and partner with industry leaders to help accelerate this key enabling technology. As we stimulate the internationalization of our value chain, we need to connect our know-how, expertise, networks and funding in North America and the Netherlands.”
How PhotonDelta and Synopsys together help the industry
Synopsys and PhotonDelta are collaborating to help accelerate the development and commercialization of integrated photonics. PhotonDelta provides the strategic framework and support for companies in the ecosystem, while Synopsys provides the knowledge, experience and solutions to design advanced photonic integrated circuits and systems using integrated photonics.
All PhotonDelta partners have access to design tools of Synopsys to accelerate innovation and commercial success. Synopsys, global leader in electronic design automation and semiconductor IP, partners with PhotonDelta to educate, train, and support photonic chip start-ups and provide access to Synopsys’ industry leading Photonic IC, Digital, and Analog design solutions driving the shared goal and vision of accelerating the adoption of photonic IC technology.
Want to learn more about the Synopsys toolbox, availability in the Cloud and PhotonDelta partner conditions? Please contact photonics@synopsys.com. For more information about PhotonDelta check out: www.photondelta.com.