Photonic chip accelerator PhotonDelta and Silicon Catalyst, the world’s only incubator focused on the semiconductor industry, have announced a new strategic collaboration to support early-stage photonic startups.
This partnership will combine PhotonDelta’s world-class European photonics ecosystem with Silicon Catalyst’s global semiconductor acceleration platform. Both companies will work together to help photonics startups scale successfully, while affording them access to a comprehensive array of incubation services—from subject matter experts and advisors to go-to-market development resources and investor networks. Silicon Catalyst portfolio companies will also benefit from PhotonDelta’s photonic chip ecosystem, which supports startups across design, fabrication, packaging, and testing.
About Photonic Integrated Circuits (PICs)
Photonic chips—also known as photonic integrated circuits (PICs)—leverage light instead of electrons to process, transmit, and sense data with greater speed and energy efficiency. Like traditional semiconductor chips, PICs are produced using wafer-scale manufacturing techniques for scalability and cost efficiency.
PICs are already deployed in data centers and telecom infrastructure to reduce energy consumption per bit and improve bandwidth. The technology is also enabling next-generation innovation in healthcare, autonomous vehicles, quantum computing, and precision agriculture.
With internet traffic projected to account for up to 10% of global electricity use by 2027, photonic chips provide a critical pathway toward more sustainable data processing and sensing.
Of this new partnership, PhotonDelta CEO Eelko Brinkhoff noted, “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. 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. It provides a unique and powerful combination of expertise, partners, and funding opportunities which will help cultivate a new generation of global companies.”
Pete Rodriguez, CEO at Silicon Catalyst, added: “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. 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. 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.”
About PhotonDelta
PhotonDelta is a non-profit growth accelerator for the photonic chip industry, supporting a complete end-to-end value chain for photonic integrated circuits (PICs) that design, develop, and manufacture innovative solutions. Leveraging funding from the National Growth Fund of the Netherlands, alongside strategic investments, PhotonDelta focuses on accelerating the innovation cycle for early-stage companies targeting the photonic chip industry.
The organization comprises more than 70 ecosystem partners, providing R&D programs, design services, international road mapping, multiple foundries for photonic chip fabrication, packaging, assembly, and testing, and an increasing number of fabless companies using PIC technology for next-generation solutions. It also invests directly in pioneering startups. Over the last five years, PhotonDelta has raised close to $1.5 billion to accelerate commercialization of the photonics industry. To learn more, please click here.
About Silicon Catalyst
Silicon Catalyst is the only incubator and accelerator focused exclusively on the global semiconductor industry, including photonics, MEMS, sensors, materials, and life sciences. Through its 24-month incubation model and unmatched support ecosystem—comprised of more than 500 partners—Silicon Catalyst provides its startups with access to over $150 million in in-kind tools and services from more than 60 in-kind partners. These are paired with strategic relationships with leading chipmakers, investors, and advisors who help companies launch and scale successfully.
In-kind partners also provide startups with privileged access to services, expertise, and intellectual property that enable commercial-scale innovation. Since launch, Silicon Catalyst portfolio companies have raised more than $600 million in venture funding and more than $100 million in government grants. For more information, please click here.
Source/Photo Credit: PhotonDelta, Silicon Catalyst
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