17-01-2025

New Origin lays foundation for global revolution in photonic chips from Twente

New Origin lays foundation for global revolution in photonic chips from Twente

Twente will become the centre of a global revolution in photonics with the development of New Origin, an advanced production facility for photonic chips. Thanks to a grant from the Province of Overijssel and the entry of regional development company Oost NL as a shareholder, the company is taking the next step from planning to actual construction of the plant.

First investment round for production facility in Enschede

The arrival of New Origin strengthens Twente’s position as an international leader in integrated photonics, a technology that uses light to process information faster and more efficiently. New Origin has emerged from the historical accumulation of knowledge in the region, stemming in part from the pioneering work of the MESA+ Institute at the University of Twente (UT). New Origin’s ambition is to produce the first photonic chips by the end of 2026, laying the foundation for applications in ultra-fast communication for AI, consumer products, medical devices, and quantum technology, among others.

INVESTMENT FOR INNOVATION AND GROWTH

The realisation of New Origin is an important step for ChipTech Twente, in which education, government and industry work closely together to further develop the region’s unique strength in analogue chip design, chip design software, supply to the semiconductor industry and new technology such as quantum and photonics. New Origin focuses on manufacturing high-performance Silicon Nitride (SiN) photonic chips. Photonic chips use light instead of electricity, enabling information transfer at higher speeds and lower energy consumption. Further applications are wide-ranging: from smart sensors in cars to medical diagnostics and from quantum computers to AR/VR.

Overijssel Province executive Erwin Hoogland explains:
The Twente chip industry continues to develop at lightning speed, which is good for economic growth and innovation in the region, but also for the Netherlands and the countries around us. Europe needs a robust, independent microchip sector. That is why, as Overijssel province, we are happy to contribute to the expansion of photonics as a new technology within the semiconductor industry.
I hope New Origin can make an important contribution with an independent development and manufacturing facility in Twente. To the photonics cluster in the Netherlands, but also to Europe’s technological autonomy.

REGIONAL COOPERATION AS KEY

University of Twente Holding (UTH), active with knowledge valorisation on behalf of UT and the driving force behind this initiative since the beginning, has been working intensively with regional partners such as Oost NL and companies like Bronkhorst High-Tech, Demcon, LioniX International and Micronit in recent months to shape the business plan. PhotonDelta, a booster for photonic chip technology from the National Growth Fund, is also closely involved.

Twan Korthorst, CEO of New Origin, looks to the future with confidence:
This is a unique opportunity to realise the world’s first specialised silicon-nitride photonic chip factory. With the continued support of UTH and this new support from the Province of Overijssel and Oost NL, we can expand our team and take the necessary steps to build a world-class manufacturing facility. With this, we are laying the foundation for a new generation of technological applications, from Twente, for the whole world.

A GROWING IMPACT

By building the factory at Kennispark in Enschede, New Origin is contributing to sustainable economic growth and regional employment. The project also intensifies cooperation between knowledge institutions, companies and international partners, further strengthening the region as a hub for high-tech innovations.

Wendy de Jong, general director of East NL, emphasises:
With New Origin, there is a unique opportunity to sustainably anchor knowledge, technology and production in the East Netherlands. This project strengthens the competitive position of the Netherlands, and our technological key position. Thanks to the cooperation between business, government, the ROM and knowledge institutions, we are positioning our region as a key player in photonic chip technology worldwide.

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