EDA veteran Korthorst sinks teeth in integrated-photonics manufacturing

The mood in the Dutch and the European integrated-photonics scene has been changing. After years of confidently touting a technological lead, these days figureheads issue words of warning: if we don’t act soon, the US and China may run off with the loot. “The glass is still half full, but we need to move forward,” said Eelko Brinkhoff, CEO of integrated-photonics accelerator Photondelta at the PIC Summit, on 15 October in Eindhoven (PIC is the acronym for Photonic Integrated Circuit).

The root of Europe’s problem traces back to two overlapping issues. One is a lack of product companies addressing market needs. Although over the past decade, a significant number of startups have popped up, covering a wide range of applications, most have yet to make waves. “Europe is a bit stuck pushing the technology,” opined CEO Rudi De Winter of specialty foundry X-Fab, which along with traditional ICs is starting to offer integrated-photonics manufacturing services. In other words, the European photonics scene is craving market pull.