Imagine a giant, shared toolbox for light-based technology spread across Europe. Instead of building your own expensive lab, you can use this network to turn a sketch into a working product. It's like a professional kitchen for tech startups where the best chefs and equipment are already in place to help you scale up.
Photonics SMEs often struggle to move from a lab prototype to mass production due to the extreme cost of specialized foundries and a lack of investment readiness.
A virtual factory network providing streamlined access to PIC foundries, pilot lines, and business consultancy services.
If you are a start-up dealing with high costs of building a cleanroom — this project developed a virtual factory that provides access to PIC foundries. This allows you to move from a lab idea to a pilot line without massive upfront capital.
If you are a manufacturer dealing with slow product development cycles — this project developed a streamlined support system for TRL acceleration. It helps you reach industrial scale faster by using existing European pilot lines.
If you are a developer dealing with a fragmented supply chain — this project developed a network of 37 partners to secure technological sovereignty. This ensures your components are manufactured within the EU for better security.
Based on available project data, specific pricing is not listed, but the project focuses on providing investment support and accelerating investment readiness levels (IRL) for companies.
Yes, the project provides access to pilot lines and PIC foundries to support the transition from TRL2 to TRL7.
The consortium includes specialist partners specifically dedicated to intellectual property support to maximize commercial impact.
Based on available project data, the project runs from 2025 to 2028, though individual support case timelines are not specified.
PHACTORY provides tailored business support, investment readiness assistance, and EU manufacturing support services.
The consortium is highly balanced for commercialization, featuring 37 partners across 15 countries. With 10 industry partners (including 9 SMEs) and 16 research entities, the 27% industry ratio indicates a strong push toward market application rather than pure academic research.
Contact Vrije Universiteit Brussel regarding the PhotonHub Factory access.
Contact us to identify if your photonics product fits the 125 selected support cases.
