SOLMATES BV

Their core work

Solmates is a Dutch technology SME specializing in Pulsed Laser Deposition (PLD) equipment for manufacturing high-quality thin films at industrial scale. Based in Enschede near the University of Twente, they develop and commercialize PLD tools used in photonic integrated circuits, semiconductor fabrication, and advanced electronics. Their equipment enables partners across Europe to deposit complex oxide and nitride thin films for applications ranging from 5G components to memory devices and sensors.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In the early period (2015–2018), Solmates focused heavily on photonic integration platforms and memory devices, contributing PLD thin film capabilities to projects like PETMEM, HAMLET, PIX4LIFE, and SILENSE. From 2019 onward, the company shifted toward scaling up its PLD technology for industrial manufacturing — coordinating FIVE-G and 5G-TRAIN to build production-ready deposition tools for 5G and semiconductor markets. This evolution marks a clear transition from being a technology contributor in research consortia to leading its own commercialization-focused projects.

Solmates is moving from research-stage equipment supplier to industrial-scale PLD tool manufacturer, with 5G and advanced semiconductors as their target markets.

How they like to work

Solmates primarily joins consortia as a specialist partner (7 of 9 projects), contributing their PLD equipment and thin film expertise to larger teams. Their two coordinator roles came later (2019–2021) in SME-focused innovation projects, signaling growing confidence in leading commercialization efforts. With 93 unique partners across 17 countries, they are well-networked but function as a focused technology provider rather than a consortium hub.

Solmates has collaborated with 93 unique partners across 17 countries, giving them a broad European network concentrated in the photonics and semiconductor equipment ecosystems. Their Dutch base near the University of Twente places them at the heart of the Twente photonics cluster.

What sets them apart

Solmates occupies a rare niche as one of very few companies commercializing Pulsed Laser Deposition at industrial scale — most PLD remains a lab technique. Their ability to bridge the gap between university-grade thin film research and factory-floor manufacturing makes them a critical enabling partner for any consortium that needs complex oxide or nitride thin films deposited reliably. For consortium builders, they bring both the equipment know-how and a proven track record of delivering within EU project timelines.

Highlights from their portfolio

• FIVE-G
  Largest single EC contribution (EUR 1.72M) and first coordinator role — focused on validating PLD equipment for high-volume 5G component manufacturing.
• 5G-TRAIN
  Second coordinator role developing a cluster reactor for PLD manufacturing of 5G thin films, confirming their shift toward industrial-scale production.
• CHIRON
  Demonstrates cross-domain versatility — applying PLD to exotic magnetoelectric and multiferroic materials for spin wave computing, a frontier research topic.