ERC Proof Of Concept For UT Photonic Chip Research

University of Twente researcher David Marpaung has received an ERC Proof of Concept (PoC) grant for SABER. This project brings a promising photonic chip technology a crucial step closer to real-world use. The technology is based on thin-film lithium niobate (TFLN) and enables ultra-precise signal filtering for next-generation 6G wireless communication.

As each new generation of wireless technology connects more devices at higher speeds, the demands on the underlying infrastructure increase sharply. Traditional photonic technologies struggle to combine speed and low energy on a single chip. TFLN changes that. The material allows light to be guided and switched at very high speeds with extremely low loss.

While this etched TFLN technology has attracted significant international attention, it has not yet been commercially exploited in the Netherlands. The ERC Proof of Concept grant addresses this gap by investigating how the University of Twente’s in-house developed TFLN technology can be scaled towards commercial production.

Application-specific innovation
The ERC Proof of Concept project SABER (Scalable Brillouin spectrum engineering in thin-film lithium niobate) builds on the TFLN platform developed within Marpaung’s ERC Consolidator Grant (awarded in 2022). That earlier project established the scientific basis of TFLN as a versatile integrated photonics platform.

In recent research, Marpaung’s team showed that sound waves can be controlled on the same chip as light waves. This opens up new ways to shape and process signals. In practice, it means that future photonic chips can filter wireless signals without needing bulky external hardware. This work was published in Science Advances and demonstrates components such as Brillouin-based amplifiers and processors on TFLN, illustrating the potential for high-performance signal functions on a compact photonic platform.

Scaling and commercialisation through Sabratha
SABER is closely connected to Sabratha, a spin-off from the NLNP group that aims to bring TFLN-based photonic chip technology to the market, with a focus on the 6G wireless communication sector. In parallel with the ERC PoC, an NWO Take-Off Phase 1 grant supports the feasibility study of scaling this TFLN technology towards manufacturable and commercially viable solutions. Together, these grants support the transition from a university-developed photonic platform to a scalable technology offering that strengthens the Dutch photonics ecosystem and enables industrial uptake.

The work brings together expertise across the University of Twente, with key contributions from Steven Ye (CTO, Sabratha), an expert in Brillouin scattering, Kees Franken (CEO, Sabratha), and Akshay Keloth (Head of Process, Sabratha), who bring deep knowledge of chip fabrication. Support from the MESA+ and UT’s spin-off infrastructure, including Novel-T and the local ChipTech community, plays a vital role. In addition to the ERC PoC and NWO Take-off, Sabratha is also linked to the National Growth Funds activities, including the Photondelta NGF and Future Network Services (FNS).

Commercial or societal potential
Proof of Concept grants, worth €150,000 each, aim to help researchers who are currently conducting or have recently conducted ERC-funded research, to explore the commercial or societal potential of their ERC-funded work. The grants can be used in various ways, for example, to explore business opportunities, prepare patent applications or verify the practical viability of scientific concepts.