Dutch Consortium Boosts European InP Wafer Production

A Dutch-led partnership has announced plans to launch Europe’s first 15.24 cm (6 inch) indium phosphide (InP) photonic chip pilot line at TNO’s High Tech Campus in Eindhoven. The €153 million facility is scheduled for construction by the end of 2025 and is supported by the European Union’s Chips Act, PhotonDelta, the Dutch ministries of economic affairs and defense, and TNO (the Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research).

Until now, European fabs have been limited to 10.16 cm (4 inch) InP wafers. Scaling up to 15.24-cm wafers promises higher throughput, improved cost-efficiency, and more chips per batch, which will be critical to meet the growing global demand for photonic devices.

This pilot line is part of PIXEurope, a €400 million EU initiative involving knowledge institutions in 11 European countries and coordinated by the ICFO--Spain’s Institute of Photonic Sciences located in Barcelona. The PIXEurope project aims to establish a European network of pilot manufacturing lines, focused on strengthening the entire value chain for integrated photonics across the continent.

InP-based photonic chips are essential for next generation applications—from high-speed data centers and 6G networks to quantum systems, LIDAR and healthcare diagnostics.

Local photonics firms, including SMART Photonics, and academic partners like Eindhoven University of Technology and the University of Twente, will gain direct access to advanced fabrication capabilities—helping bridge the gap from lab research and industrial production. 

TNO managing director Ton van Mol described the initiative as “a game changer”—one that will strengthen national prosperity, enhance technological sovereignty, and position the Netherlands as a leading hub for integrated photonics. 

The pilot line will join TNO’s recent launch of the Holst Centre Photonics Lab, further expanding the region’s innovation infrastructure. 

InP-based photonic chips are essential for next generation applications—from high-speed data centers and 6G networks to quantum systems, LIDAR and healthcare diagnostics. Their compact size, low energy consumption, and high bandwidth are crucial to Europe's push into advanced photonics.

With construction scheduled to begin by year-end, the facility is expected to be operational by 2027. Beyond helping Dutch companies scale, the line could serve as a cornerstone for European exports of advanced photonic wafers.