News: Optoelectronics
7 April 2025
PhotonDelta and Silicon Catalyst collaborate to drive innovation for early-stage photonic startups
Photonic chips industry accelerator PhotonDelta of Eindhoven, the Netherlands (which connects and collaborates with an ecosystem of photonic chip technology organizations worldwide) has established a strategic collaboration with Silicon Catalyst, the world’s only incubator and accelerator focused on the global semiconductor industry. Over the last five years, PhotonDelta has raised nearly $1.5bn to accelerate the commercialization of the photonics industry.
The collaboration brings together ecosystems focused on semiconductors and photonics. Both companies will work to enable photonics startups to scale up by providing a range of services, from access to subject matter experts and advisors, go-to-market business development and access to investors. This aims to provide an avenue for early-stage photonics startups to gain access to expertise and funding opportunities. PhotonDelta will provide support from its photonics ecosystem to Silicon Catalyst portfolio companies.
PhotonDelta is a non-profit organization supporting an end-to-end value chain in the Netherlands for photonic chips that designs, develops and manufactures innovative solutions. Leveraging funding from the National Growth Fund of the Netherlands, alongside strategic investments, PhotonDelta is focused on accelerating the innovation cycle for early-stage companies targeting the photonic chip industry.
Silicon Catalyst has developed a support ecosystem with over 500 partners for its semiconductor start-ups, providing a network of strategic partners, technical and business advisors, investors and industry professionals who help companies to launch and scale in the market. In addition, the incubator’s In-Kind Partners provide privileged access to services, expertise and intellectual property that can help commercialize their companies’ technological innovation.
PhotonDelta’s ecosystem currently comprises over 70 different organizations that form a complete value chain, including design services, multiple foundries for photonic chip fabrication, packaging, assembly & testing, and an increasing number of fabless companies that use photonic integrated circuit (PIC) technology for innovative solutions. It runs R&D programs, leads international roadmapping activities and invests in pioneering startups that apply photonics technology.
“In many ways the photonics sector is in the same position as the semiconductor industry was 30 years ago. There is unprecedented potential for growth, innovation and disruption,” notes PhotonDelta’s CEO Brinkhoff. “However, we are at a delicate part of the journey. To grasp the opportunities in the market, photonics companies need the right intellectual, practical and financial support to achieve their potential. The collaboration is the latest step in PhotonDelta’s mission to accelerate the global integrated photonics industry and provides a unique and powerful combination of expertise, partners and funding opportunities which will help cultivate a new generation of global companies,” he adds.
“Silicon Catalyst has established an unparalleled incubator + accelerator ecosystem within the semiconductor industry. PhotonDelta has built a world-leading photonics ecosystem, historically serving the European market,” says Silicon Catalyst’s CEO Pete Rodriguez. “Our collaboration with PhotonDelta is akin to pairing a research and development lab with our full-service business development program for early-stage photonics enterprises,” he adds. “By combining the power of our complementary ecosystems, PhotonDelta and Silicon Catalyst hope to unleash a new wave of transformative innovation and growth within the photonics sector on both sides of the Atlantic.”
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