Imec and TNO have jointly inaugurated the Holst Centre Photonics Lab, a cutting-edge facility focused on integrated photonics research and development in the Netherlands. The lab is designed to propel photonics innovation by strengthening collaboration between academic institutions and industrial partners, thereby narrowing the gap between technological breakthroughs and large-scale industrial deployment. Targeting a broad range of sectors-including automotive, healthcare, and data communications-the lab is situated at the High Tech Campus Eindhoven and receives partial funding from PhotonDelta.
www.embedded.com, May. 18, 2025 –
This launch represents a significant step forward in the Netherlands’ national ambition to lead in integrated photonics. It builds upon the PhotonDelta National Growth Fund initiative, which has been instrumental in advancing photonics R&D across the country over the past two and a half years. The establishment of the Holst Centre Photonics Lab reinforces this momentum by creating a robust platform for advanced research and strategic cooperation between academia and industry.
By merging imec’s strengths in tape-out validation, on-chip laser development, system-level testing, and application validation with TNO’s expertise in laser characterization, free-space optics, and photonic chip integration, the lab unites a comprehensive set of capabilities spanning the entire innovation pipeline. This integrated approach enables seamless collaboration from early-stage research to real-world implementation, setting the stage for a new era of photonics research in the Netherlands.
Integrated photonics plays a pivotal role in a growing number of emerging technologies—from LiDAR systems in autonomous vehicles and non-invasive health diagnostics to high-speed data transmission and environmental monitoring. The Holst Centre Photonics Lab provides the essential infrastructure to catalyze breakthroughs in critical areas such as connectivity and quantum technologies, with applications extending into healthcare, agri-food, data communications, and the automotive industry.