LiGenTec

What LiGenTec does

LIGENTEC SA (LiGenTec) is a Swiss B2B deep-tech company that manufactures Photonic Integrated Circuits (PICs) on a proprietary Silicon Nitride (SiN) waveguide platform with heterogeneous integration of Thin-Film Lithium Niobate (TFLN) and III-V materials. The company operates a 200mm CMOS fab-scale, automotive-qualified production line that achieves ultra-low propagation losses below 0.5 dB/m and high-Q resonators exceeding 20 million, positioning its process among the low-loss leaders in the integrated photonics foundry market. Founded around 2016 and headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland, LiGenTec employs 51-100 people and serves a horizontal customer base of photonic system designers.

LiGenTec's revenue model is built on four service streams: Multi-Project Wafer (MPW) prototyping runs (approximately 15 per year) that lower the entry barrier for mid-market and academic customers; dedicated foundry services for volume production; Process Design Kit (PDK) and design enablement tools; and custom integration / R&D partnerships through its LIGENTEC LABS division. Pricing is quote-based across all streams with no public price list, reflecting bespoke commercial terms. The company targets approximately 10 application segments with 4 primary use cases spanning datacom, quantum computing, sensing, and neuromorphic computing.

The company is a co-founder of the Swiss PIC manufacturing center, inaugurated in November 2025, which gives it a dedicated European production footprint. LiGenTec is also an active partner in the P4Q European photonic-quantum consortium and in an expanded partnership with X-FAB for SOI and TFLN process integration. These ecosystem positions, combined with its in-house fab and growing product portfolio (TFLN modulators, III-V heterogeneous integration), indicate a foundry positioning that bridges academic prototyping and industrial volume production within the European photonic supply chain.

Name

LiGenTec

Legal name

LIGENTEC SA

Website

https://ligentec.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

LIGENTEC SA is a Swiss manufacturer of Photonic Integrated Circuits using a proprietary low-loss Silicon Nitride waveguide platform, serving B2B customers across datacom, quantum computing, sensing, and neuromorphic computing applications via MPW prototyping and dedicated foundry services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Photonic Integrated Circuit Manufacturing

NAICS

Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing (33441)

SIC

Semiconductors & Related Devices (3674)

akta.pro primary industry

Optoelectronic / Photonics Foundries (Silicon Photonics/LED/Laser) (HDAHACAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Foundry Platform & Design Enablement Services (PDK/DFM/Process Qualification) (HDAHACAJ)

Keywords

• Photonic integrated circuits
• Silicon nitride photonics
• Photonic foundry services
• Multi-project wafer runs
• Thin-film lithium niobate

Headquarters

HQ city

Lausanne

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Dedicated Foundry Services: High-volume manufacturing of photonic integrated circuits through automotive-qualified 200mm SiN foundry. Provides unparalleled performance with ultra-low propagation losses and high-Q resonators, uncompromising quality with optical/morphological testing, certifications and SPC, and industrial scalability.
2. Multi-Project Wafer (MPW) Program: Cost-effective prototyping service with approximately 15 runs per year. Allows customers to share wafer costs and access advanced PIC development. Includes photodetector integration and TFLN modulators through LIGENTEC LABS.
3. Design Enablement Services: Technical guidance, design optimization, troubleshooting, PDK access, and expert support throughout the design process. Includes comprehensive PDKs for major software providers with DRC rules and validated models.
4. Custom Integration and R&D Partnerships: Strategic R&D partnerships and custom integration solutions for unique challenges, pioneering new functionalities in integrated photonics.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

LIGENTEC manufactures low-loss Photonic Integrated Circuits (PICs) on a proprietary Silicon Nitride (SiN) platform with heterogeneous Thin-film Lithium Niobate (TFLN) and III-V integration, fabricated at a 200mm automotive-qualified CMOS fab. The company provides a complete foundry offering—from Multi-Project Wafer (MPW) prototyping runs through dedicated volume production—alongside PDK-based design enablement, feasibility studies, layout support, and high-throughput testing for customers building computing, connectivity, and sensing photonic products.

Product overview

LIGENTEC is a leading European manufacturer of Photonic Integrated Circuits (PICs) providing access to state-of-the-art technologies through a modular platform architecture. The core offering centers on Silicon Nitride (SiN) PIC manufacturing at 200mm automotive-qualified fabs, complemented by Thin Film Lithium Niobate (TFLN) and III-V heterogeneous integration via LIGENTEC Labs. Customers access the technology via Multi-Project Wafer (MPW) runs for prototyping, Dedicated Foundry Services for volume production, and Design Enablement with comprehensive PDKs compatible with major EDA tools. The platform supports applications across LIDAR, Quantum computing, Biosensing, Datacom/Telecom, Metrology, Neuromorphic computing, AR/VR, and Space.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• LIGENTEC LABS: Advanced technology division offering Thin Film Lithium Niobate (TFLN) and III-V Heterogeneous integration services.

Products and services

• Multi-Project Wafer (MPW) Program
• Dedicated Foundry Services
• Silicon Nitride (SiN) PIC Manufacturing
• Thin Film Lithium Niobate (TFLN) Integration
• III-V Heterogeneous Integration
• Design Enablement & PDK
• Feasibility & Testing Services
• InGaAs Photodetectors

Quantifiable outcome

• Propagation losses <0.5 dB/m and Q factors >20M for high-precision applications
• +4 more outcomes

Segments10 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered strategic, core and minor.

• Photonics for Quantum (P4Q) ConsortiumstrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 January 2026LIGENTEC participates as a commercial partner in the Photonics for Quantum (P4Q) consortium, a €50 million European pilot project launching in 2026 across twelve countries. The initiative aims to improve reliability, scalability, and manufacturability of photonic chips for quantum sensing, computing, and secure communications. The consortium develops standards, design kits, and production techniques to transition quantum photonic technologies from lab prototypes to repeatable industrial production. LIGENTEC collaborates with research organizations including Delft University of Technology, Imec, and TNO, and other commercial partners including Quix Quantum and New Origin.
• X-FABcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 January 2026LIGENTEC and X-FAB expanded their existing collaboration to strengthen their integrated photonics portfolio. The partnership integrates X-FAB's XPH90 Silicon Photonics (SOI) technology into LIGENTEC's photonics platform, creating a unified ecosystem spanning SOI and low-loss SiN technologies. The partners jointly invest in scaling thin-film lithium niobate (TFLN) integration within X-FAB's 200mm wafer foundry ecosystem for high-performance electro-optic capabilities in next-generation communication and quantum computing applications. The collaboration aims to simplify customer access to advanced photonic technologies and strengthen Europe's position in next-generation photonic integration.
• Swiss PIC (Swiss Photonics Integration Center)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 November 2025LIGENTEC is a co-founder of Swiss PIC, officially inaugurated on November 24, 2025 at Park Innovaare in Villigen, Switzerland. Swiss PIC is a manufacturing center for photonic integration that provides high-precision machines, specialized processes, and expertise to help photonics companies bring light-based microchips to market. The center enables companies to assemble photonic microchips with industry-standard connectors for rapid access to broader applications. Swiss PIC was founded in 2023 by an alliance including PSI, OST, Swissphotonics Association, and companies Ligentec and Polariton Technologies.
• Quix QuantumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerQuix Quantum is a commercial partner in the P4Q consortium alongside LIGENTEC, working on the industrialization of photonic quantum chips.
• New OriginminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNew Origin is a commercial partner in the P4Q consortium alongside LIGENTEC, working on the industrialization of photonic quantum chips.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• AIM Photonics: US-based public-private partnership operating a 300mm silicon photonics foundry. Large-scale incumbent with broader SOI platform offering competing for similar datacom, quantum, and sensing customers as LiGenTec.
• Tower Semiconductor: Israeli specialty foundry offering silicon photonics platforms (including SiGe and SOI-based PH18) via TowerJazz. Large incumbent with integrated analog+photonics portfolio serving similar datacom and sensing customers.
• GlobalFoundries: Major semiconductor foundry offering GF Fotonix silicon photonics platform at 200mm/300mm. Large incumbent with bundled SOI+photonics offering that competes with LiGenTec's specialist SiN focus.
• X-FAB: European specialty foundry (XPH90 Silicon Photonics) and LiGenTec's strategic partner. Broader analog/mixed-signal operating model with silicon photonics as one technology pillar, both partnering and competing for the same customer base.
• IMEC: Major Belgian independent research center operating a silicon photonics foundry (iSiPP50G) and co-leader in P4Q consortium with LiGenTec. Broader incumbent offering extensive PDKs, design services, and SOI/SiN capabilities.

Direct peers

• AMF (Advanced Micro Foundry): Singapore-based Silicon Nitride photonic foundry providing MPW and volume manufacturing. Competes directly with LiGenTec in SiN-based PIC services for similar telecom, datacom, and sensing end markets.
• LioniX International: Dutch-based photonic integrated circuit foundry specializing in TriPleX (SiN-based) waveguide technology. Closest European direct competitor to LiGenTec, offering MPW runs and custom fabrication with similar low-loss waveguide focus.
• CSIPL (CompoundTek): Singapore-based Silicon Nitride (SiN) photonic foundry offering MPW and dedicated wafer services. Direct competitor to LiGenTec in the SiN platform space, serving similar customers in datacom, quantum, and sensing applications.
• VLC Photonics (Hitachi): European photonic design house and foundry services company, now part of Hitachi. Competes with LiGenTec on photonic circuit design and foundry access across multiple material platforms including SiN and SOI.

Emerging players

• Polariton Technologies: Swiss-based TFLN modulator company and co-founder of Swiss PIC alongside LiGenTec. Comparable in niche focus on high-performance electro-optic components, with potential to be both collaborator and adjacent competitor in the TFLN space.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/LIGENTECPIC
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCq6QawiG1ox3NL1OayMomXw
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ligentec

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds4 records

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about LiGenTec