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PhotonHub
  • About us
    • PhotonHub Association
    • PhotonHub PHACTORY Project
    • PhotonHub Europe Project
  • Innovation Support
    • Who we support
    • Innovation Support
    • What you need to know
  • Demo & Experience Centres
    • In-person training
    • Online training
  • Success stories
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PhotonHub Digital Infrastructure Hero Image
Supported industries

Digital Infrastructure

Whether you are building data centers, advancing cloud and edge computing, or shaping the future of ultra-fast connectivity, you face constant pressure to deliver higher performance, greater energy efficiency, and secure, reliable networks. Photonics — the science and technology of light — gives you powerful tools to achieve this, from enabling lightning-fast data transmission and energy-efficient computing to supporting the backbone of next-generation digital services.

Photonics offers endless possibilities

Discover how you can:

  • Reduce energy consumption of digital systems using photonics ICT solutions
  • Communicate securely using ultra-broadband optical fibre networks and quantum solutions
  • Enhance IoT and VR solutions through photonics sensors and consumer products

And so much more!

Apply for innovation support Read more on the support
PhotonHub Pilot Photonics Chip

How photonics can support your innovation

Fibre optic communication systems are the basis for the internet and modern wireless communication systems. Photonics is also used everywhere in ICT, from optical fibres to photonic integrated circuits (PICs), ultra-compact cameras, laser-machining, smart displays and micro-optics. The smartphone would simply not exist without photonics.

Photonics technologies used for digital infrastructure are being harnessed to reduce power consumption, footprint and cost. This makes their use in other applications very competitive.

Apply for innovation support
PhotonHub LioniX optical bean forming network for 5G antenna and consumer products

Some success stories

in Digital Infrastructure

Production of flexible polymer stamps with small seams by means of Step & Repeat UV nanoimprinting for antireflective films for photovoltaics and displays

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Model eye for testing and verification of adaptive optics retinal imaging devices

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Atomic Layer Etching for surface cleaning of GaP coupons

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All success stories

How photonics is applied in Digital Infrastructure

Curious how photonics can support your work? These examples show how light-based technologies power faster, greener, and more secure digital infrastructure — from ultra-high-speed data transfer to efficient data centers and smarter network monitoring.

Apply for innovation support
Optical networks

Use light to transmit massive amounts of data at ultra-high speed over long distances, forming the backbone of the internet and cloud services.

Intra-chip, chip-to-chip, board-level optical interconnects

Replace traditional electrical connections with light-based links inside and between chips for faster data transfer and lower power consumption.

Active and passive components and systems for high-speed optical communication

Include lasers, modulators, detectors, filters, and other elements that enable reliable, high-capacity data transmission.

PICs for optical communication and computing applications

Photonic Integrated Circuits (PICs) combine multiple optical functions on a single chip, enabling compact, energy-efficient communication and computing.

Quantum communications components

Harness quantum properties of light to create ultra-secure communication links resistant to eavesdropping.

Multicore fibres / free-form core fibres

Advanced optical fibres with multiple cores or customised paths to greatly increase data capacity and flexibility.

Internet of Things (IoT)

Photonics supports IoT by enabling high-speed, low-power data transfer and precise sensing for connected devices.

Visible light communication

Transmit data using visible light, such as LED lighting, for wireless, interference-free connectivity.

Laser satellite communication systems

Use lasers to transfer data between satellites and ground stations at very high speeds, supporting global connectivity.

Training

Industry tailored sessions with skilled photonics experts

PhotonHub offers tailored training for the digital infrastructure sector. Learn how to apply photonics to boost data transmission speeds, improve energy efficiency, enable secure communications, and power next-generation computing. Our hands-on sessions give you the practical skills to integrate light-based technologies into your digital systems and networks.

PhotonHub: people following in-person training in a cleanroom

In-person

Would you like to experience photonics hands-on?  Sign up for an onsite, application-specific training programme at one of our competence centres across Europe for the opportunity to learn through practical demonstrations how photonics could be deployed in your product or process.

Upcoming in-person training sessions:

See all in-person training sessions

Additive manufacturing of large metal parts
25/02/2026 08:00 – 17:00 O Porriño, Spain AIMEN
What to expect This one-day course provides industry with an overview of the possibilities brought b…
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Surface patterning with ultrashort pulsed lasers
26/02/2026 08:00 – 17:00 O Porriño, Spain AIMEN
What to expect This one-day demo/experience centre provides industry with an overview of the possibi…
More
Experience Centre on Optics and Freeform Optics
17/03/2026 – 19/03/2026 08:30 – 17:00 VUB
What to expect Lenses and mirrors are essential optical components in imaging and non-imaging system…
More
Read more
PhotonHub - partner is giving a presentation about the project
Events

Find out more

Meet us at digital infrastructure trade fairs and conferences across Europe. Discover how photonics can drive faster networks, greener data centres, and more secure communications. Stop by our booth or sessions to see live demonstrations and talk to our experts about your challenges.

SPIE Photonics Europe
12/04/2026 Strasbourg, France
The premier European optics and photonics research and development event.
More
PhotonHub SPIE Photonics Europe copy
Interschutz 2026
01/06/2026 Hannover, Germany
Safeguarding tomorrow.
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PhotonHub interschutz-buchstaben

Start your innovation support today

What you need to know Apply for innovation support

Discover other industries

PhotonHub Agriculture and Food Hero Image

Agriculture & Food

Reduce energy costs, optimise harvest yields, assure food safety and more

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PhotonHub Climate, Energy and Mobility Hero Image

Climate, Energy & Mobility

Monitor environmental and climate change, boost energy productivity, improve vehicle safety and more

Read more
PhotonHub Digital Infrastructure Hero Image

Digital Infrastructure

Reduce energy consumption, communicate securely, enhance IoT and VR solutions and more

Read more

Health

Diagnose diseases, manage chronic conditions, advance therapy options and more

Read more
PhotonHub Manufacturing Hero Image

Manufacturing & Industry 5.0

Optimise fabrication yields, increase product quality, reduce overall costs of maintenance and more

Read more
PhotonHub Safety, Security and Space hero image

Safety, Security & Space

Provide secure communications, improve forensic capabilities, enhance threat detection and more

Read more
PhotonHub

PhotonHub has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe programme under the Grant Agreement n* 101189537, in Public Private Partnership with Photonics21.

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