PhotonHub PHACTORY

PhotonHub PHACTORY is sponsored by European Commission (Horizon Europe Programme) in Public Private Partnership with Photonics21. PhotonHub PHACTORY is a pan-European initiative offering expert support, fast-track access to leading European laboratories, and subsidies to accelerate the uptake, integration, and deployment of photonic technologies in innovative products across various industry sectors.

EU Invests €15M to Help Companies Supercharge Their Products with Light - PhotonHub Quantitative phase microscopy – principles, instrumentation and biomedical applications — 12/06/2026 Quantitative phase microscopy – principles, instrumentation and biomedical applications — 12/06/2026 EU Invests €15M to Help Companies Supercharge Their Products with Light New investment from the European Commission is helping innovators exploit the unique properties of light technologies to add smart features and improve the performance of their products through a proven ‘one-stop-shop’ photonics innovation factory.

Called “PhotonHub PHACTORY”, the new €15 million initiative offers expert support, fast-track access to Europe’s leading laboratories, and generous subsidies. Delivered through a trusted one-stop-shop model, the initiative makes high-end photonics support faster, easier, and more accessible than ever.

As the science and technology of light, photonics is integral to many applications and is a key enabler to breakthroughs in emergency medical diagnostics, solar energy for a greener future, and quantum communications, for example. This new programme dramatically lowers the barrier to entry, offering EU subsidies that can cover up to 85% of project costs, making it low-risk for businesses.

It aims to help companies achieve a wider and faster uptake, integration, and deployment of photonic technologies, boost competitiveness and foster new business. With over thirty European partners, the new framework covers the entire value chain from early-stage concept (TRL2) and prototyping (TRL3-4) to upscaling (TRL5-7).

It spans a wide range of cutting-edge technology platforms, facilitating open access and guided orientation to the broadest possible range of photonics expertise, equipment and technologies available from the best facilities throughout Europe.

Led by Brussels Photonics (B-PHOT) at Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), the initiative builds on the success of PhotonHub Europe, which to date has helped over 100 companies deliver more than €750 million in new revenues, create 1,000 jobs and raise €250 million in venture capital in just four years.

Professor Hugo Thienpont, Director of Brussels Photonics and coordinator of the PhotonHub programme, said: “We are delighted to continue to promote and support photonics innovation through PhotonHub PHACTORY.

This €15M programme funded by the European Commission will be instrumental in creating opportunities for collaborative innovation projects for wide-ranging sectors over the next four years, enhancing European sovereignty in this rapidly growing industry.

” By streamlining access to talent, facilities and funding, the new programme condenses what might normally take years — from a feasibility study to building and testing prototypes — into a matter of months. “Because it’s built on a cross-border network, a firm in the Netherlands could seamlessly partner with a German lab or Italian research team, accelerating collaborative outcomes across the EU.

“Building on our impact to date and in response to the needs of the market, we are extending PhotonHub’s previous offering to also support entrepreneurially minded researchers and start-ups. We look forward to guiding these early-stage ventures as well as established SMEs and scaling companies in their commercial and technical development through photonics-led innovation,” said Professor Thienpont.

Hugo Thienpont, coordinator of the PhotonHub programme Tailored Support Packages The PhotonHub PHACTORY team is offering tailored support streams for EU companies, depending on their stage, technology readiness level (TRL) and strategic ambitions.

These include a Launchpad for spinouts and start-ups, a Scaling Club for fast-growing ventures, and bespoke Business Coaching for established SMEs and some large-scale companies aiming for market growth. “Our goal is simple: to help European businesses shine in the global marketplace – with photonics lighting the way,” said Nathalie Debaes, Consortium Management Support Officer for PhotonHub PHACTORY.

“We facilitate direct access to the very best expert partners across Europe to support projects ranging from initial feasibility studies to prototype or demonstrator development to upscaling. Any interested companies can apply at www. photonhub.

eu, and applications can be reviewed on a rolling basis. All support is cross-border, with companies collaborating with innovation partners elsewhere in the EU. ” The framework, which runs until the end of 2028, targets small and mid-sized firms across all sectors, offering tailored support depending on their needs.

This includes expert assessments on technical and commercial viability at no cost, access to Europe’s researchers and laboratories, and training and coaching across various industries. PhotonHub operates a continuous open call – interested companies can apply online now as the first step on their photonics technology innovation journey. All discussions and correspondence are conducted in English.

Learn more at photonhub. eu Join PhotonHub at the Global Advanced Manufacturing Alliance (GAMA) 2026 PhotonHub, the one-stop-shop photonics innovation hub, is joining forces with Optica to co-organise the 2026 edition of the Global Advanced Manufacturing Alliance (GAMA) summit in Brussels. Photonics21 Innovation Award 2026: win €5.

000 plus an entrepreneurial skill training from PhotonHub The Photonics21 Innovation Award is a competition for business ideas at an early stage. It can be a simple thought, an idea you cannot get out of your head or an idea that you have been working with for a while.

Polariton Implements Plasmonic Modulators on 200 mm Silicon Photonics, Reaching >110 GHz Electro-optic Bandwidth PhotonHub reports that Polariton and imec have integrated plasmonic electro-optic modulators on a 200 mm silicon-photonics platform, achieving over 110 GHz bandwidth and enabling scalable, ultra-fast optical links.

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