Smart Photonics has secured 100 million euros in additional funding. With this new round, the Dutch foundry will be able to strengthen its role as the leading manufacturer of photonic integrated circuits. The company will use the money to extend its production capabilities and accelerate the development of its photonic integrated chip technology platforms and its process design kits (PDKs).
Among the group of new lenders are ASML, NXP and VDL Groep. Other participants in this round are the financial institutions ING, BOP Impact Ventures and Deep Tech Fund, which is part of Invest-NL and partly funded by the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy. Previous investors, including Innovation Industries, the Brabant Development Agency (BOM), Photondelta and KPN Ventures, have joined again. The Dutch government will provide 60 million in public funding as part of the approved National Growth Fund project Photondelta.
ASML, NXP and VDL jointly stated, “Financial support from the three fellow-Brainport region companies gives Smart Photonics the best opportunity to take the essential next steps to further mature the organization, strengthen technical capabilities and extend their manufacturing base. Our additional funding will help strengthen the Brainport and wider Dutch and European photonics ecosystem. Smart Photonics becoming a strong and versatile foundry can greatly benefit the growing number of fabless photonic chip design companies in the region.”