NWO Demonstrator grant for new photonic microchip technology ready to create breakthroughs

Imran Avci, from the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, has secured the NWO Demonstrator grant for a project titled SOHO: A New Approach for Ultra-Precise, Fast, and Sensitive Photonic Microchip Measurements. The innovation in this field is expected to lead to breakthroughs in quantum computing, neuromorphic processors, wearable sensors, Lidar systems, medical diagnostics, and more. 

“The versatility and efficiency of photonic integrated circuits (PICs) are paving the way for groundbreaking advancements in various emerging fields including quantum computing, neuromorphic processors, wearable sensors, Lidar systems, medical diagnostics and imaging, and more,” Imran Avci explains.

New Technology and its promise

Imran Avci and her colleagues at VU Amsterdam have discovered a new method that offers over 100 times better spectral resolution and 1,000 times greater sensitivity than traditional photonic integrated circuits. This approach uses a combination of a fixed-wavelength laser and a standard tunable laser, controlled by custom software. It is simple, cost-effective, and accessible to a wide range of users. The team has already demonstrated the potential of this method and now plans to expand its capabilities and explore new applications.

Support by IXA

IXA has been closely involved in preparing the interview portion of the application process of the Demonstrator grant. We are very pleased that the grant has been awarded, congratulation to all involved! If you have any questions about your project and possibly applying for the NWO Demonstrator Grant, please contact us.

In addition, Imran has received support in Demonstrator Lab and in 2019 and 2021 she was in the finals of the Amsterdam Science & Innovation Award.

About the NWO Demonstrator grant

Demonstrator is one of the valorisation instruments of NWO. Through this funding instrument, researchers are empowered to transform their research into a product or service, reaching the stage of a minimally functional version. This crucial step enables the involvement of third parties in the further development and application of scientific knowledge.

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