The main obstacles to New Origin's planned photonic chip factory at Kennispark in Enschede have been virtually cleared, with a smart grid plan for electricity and process water from the Twente Canal now on the table.
Credit: this report is based on a story first published by IO+. Read the original at ioplus.nl.
According to IO+, New Origin is set to build a production facility for photonic chips in Enschede. The plant is meant to take technology developed in Twente from the laboratory to industrial production, closing a gap between research, chip design and large-scale manufacturing.
The project also has public money behind it. The Province of Overijssel is co-investing in the factory, on the grounds that making photonic chips in Twente is of strategic importance to the Netherlands and to Europe.
Two bottlenecks addressed
Grid congestion and water scarcity are holding back new economic and social projects across the Netherlands. For New Origin, both have now been met with workable solutions, according to the report.
Over recent months, New Origin worked on the factory's energy and water supply with the City of Enschede, the Province of Overijssel, the Vechtstromen Water Board, Enexis, the University of Twente and other partners. The energy plan is a smart grid solution developed with the parties involved, with Enexis and the grid operator contributing input. Further technical details are still to be worked out.
On water, Aqua Twente will supply process water from the Twente Canal for regular operations. The Vechtstromen Water Board is willing, under certain conditions, to make treated wastewater available as a supplementary source.
"Concrete solutions are now on the table for both electricity and water," said Twan Korthorst, CEO of New Origin.
Agreements still to be formalised
With this progress, the parties say the main hurdles to New Origin's arrival have been virtually cleared, and they are confident the factory will be built at Kennispark. They are continuing to develop solutions.
Barry Overink, Enschede's alderman for Economic Affairs, said agreements still need to be worked out and formalised, while expressing full confidence that the project will go ahead.
Erwin Hoogland, Provincial Executive Member of Overijssel, said photonic chips will play a key role in telecommunications, AI infrastructure, healthcare and security, and that the province wants that technology in Dutch and European hands.
What comes next
The next step is to work out and formalise the agreements between the partners. Further technical details of the smart grid solution will be settled in the coming period, while the water board's offer of treated wastewater remains subject to conditions.
Original source: IO+, "Enschede chip factory clears major construction hurdles" Suggested image: official New Origin image of the planned facility or team from the company website (neworigin.eu)
