High Tech Campus Eindhoven (HTCE) will begin construction on a new facility and cleanroom to house TNO’s 6-inch photonic chip pilot line, a major step in scaling integrated photonics manufacturing in the Netherlands.
“We were asked to invest in and provide the building and cleanroom for this pilot line,” said Otto van den Boogaard, CEO of High Tech Campus Eindhoven. “Together, we strengthen our position as the home base for breakthrough technology and innovation.”
HTCE, a European innovation hub, is home to more than 300 tech companies and research organisations working in semiconductors, photonics, and life sciences.
Construction on the facility and cleanroom is scheduled to start in February 2026, with the pilot line expected to be operational around 2027.
Once completed, the cleanroom will be capable of processing up to 10,000 wafers per year, representing a significant scale-up from laboratory research to production.
“This photonic chip pilot line is a game-changer for Dutch companies and the future earning power and prosperity for the Netherlands,” said Ton van Mol, Managing Director at TNO.
The project advances photonics manufacturing in several ways, including larger 6-inch wafers for higher throughput, an open-access fab model to support startups, and enabling SMEs and established firms to scale prototypes into production.
The facility is also part of the PIXEurope initiative, a €400m European programme (2025–2030) supporting open-access pilot lines for photonic integrated circuits.
Backed by research institutions and industry partners, PIXEurope aims to scale production, train skilled personnel, and strengthen Europe’s photonics ecosystem.