PhotonDelta Group of the Netherlands shares in LioniX, a manufacturer of photonic integrated circuits

On September 9, the group platform, including PhotonDelta, the pioneer of Photonic Integrated Circuit (PIC) in the Netherlands, announced that it had acquired the shares of LioniX International, a manufacturer of MEMS and Photonic Integrated Circuit (PIC), worth 3.5 million euros from Korean investors.

It is reported that "PhotonDelta" group is a Dutch industrial ecosystem platform composed of Universiteit Twente Holding, Oost NL, PhotonDelta and other companies and university research groups. Previously, its main investors were Invest-NL and FORWARD.one.

PIC-based tunable laser in butterfly package (photo source: PhotonDelta)
LioniX, headquartered in Enschede, the eastern city of the Netherlands, focuses on the development and production of customized microsystems, which are applied to telecommunications, metrology, life sciences, instrumentation and aerospace industries. Its photonics cases include PIC modules based on silicon nitride waveguides, and multi-project wafer services can be used to produce microsystems based on 1550nm, 850nm and visible range lasers.

The company has also developed an integrated photonics technology platform called "TriPleX". The application scope of the platform includes augmented reality and virtual reality (AR/VR), sensing and telecommunications, and photon quantum computing.

In addition, LioniX also provides OEM customers with complete module development and production services, including micro-processing, packaging and assembly, prototype design, testing and characterization, and engineering design.

Arne Leine, CEO of LioniX, commented on the transaction: "These investors enable LioniX International to further grow in the future. We are pleased to continue to develop and provide cutting-edge microsystem solutions for existing and new customers around the world."

Leo Holwerda, director of Invest-NL, a Dutch state-owned financing and development agency, added: "This investment is an exciting development for LioniX International and the entire Dutch technology industry. It is fully in line with the ambition of our high-tech fund (DTF), which aims to invest in knowledge-intensive start-ups and has the potential to promote Dutch innovation to a new level."

Last year, PhotonDelta announced an investment plan of 1.1 billion euros, which is mainly funded by the Netherlands Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy, aiming to support 200 start-ups and help expand the production of Photonic Integrated Circuit (PIC) in the country. Photon Delta said at that time: "This is part of the national plan of the Dutch government, aiming to consolidate and expand the country's leading position in the field of integrated photonics."

LioniX has participated in many projects at European and national levels to develop products and applications based on photonic integrated circuits (PIC). The latest example is the "LOLIPOP" project in the field of nonlinear optics, which aims to produce the first 532 nm band integrated laser Doppler vibrometer in history.

In a project called "SPINTER" in "Horizon Europe", LioniX is part of a cooperative project aimed at manufacturing complex three-dimensional PICs for the destructive reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexer (ROADM) used for high-speed data communication.

Other work includes the development of PIC-based optical coherence tomography module in cooperation with the University of Amsterdam, as well as the development of red, green and blue laser engine wafers for augmented reality and virtual reality (AR/VR) earphones.

Paul Pruijmboom, partner of FORWARD.one, the investor, said: "The technology developed by LioniX is in the leading position in the field of photonics and has many potential applications. As a high-quality Dutch high-tech enterprise, LioniX just reflects the innovative potential of the Netherlands. We are happy to be part of the company's future success."

Chimwemwe de Gaay Fortman from Oost NL added: "Through our investment in LioniX, we have strengthened our position in the field of chip technology in the Netherlands. Together, we have established a strong Dutch photonics cluster with global influence."

Ellen Velthuis, Chief Financial Officer of Twente University Holding Company, commented: "The investment in LioniX International will further strengthen the scientific and technological ecosystem of Twente, and will help to further establish Twente as one of the key photonics and quantum technology centers in Europe. We are very happy to make this investment with our Dutch partners, which is not only conducive to the further development and expansion of LioniX, but also strengthens the Dutch ecosystem."

Source: OFweek laser network