What Photonics Foundry does

Photonics Foundry GmbH is a Bremen, Germany-based contract manufacturer founded in November 2023 by three photonics industry veterans — Aljoscha Schu (CEO, ex-ficonTEC), Dr. Simon Kibben (CTO, ex-ficonTEC and BIAS), and Dr. Erik Beckert (Fraunhofer IOF) — collectively bringing over 50 years of expertise in photonic device design, prototyping, and packaging. The company operates class-leading, highly automated multi-purpose photonic device assembly systems in cleanroom facilities under build-out, offering small-to-medium volume contract manufacturing for photonic devices and MEMS, with emphasis on backend packaging, active alignment, opto-electronic packaging, and align-and-attach processes.

The company's service portfolio spans Manufacturing, Prototyping & Process Development, Technology Development & Transfer, Design-for-X (DfX) consulting, and Feasibility Studies. Underlying capabilities include digital and real twin simulation for continuous improvement, design-for-automation principles, and a downstream technology transfer function that enables customers to eventually bring manufacturing in-house. The business model is B2B professional services: quote-based contract manufacturing engagements with fabless companies, startups, MEMS manufacturers, and established photonic device producers requiring capacity without capital expenditure on assembly equipment.

Photonics Foundry is positioned to benefit from European de-globalization tailwinds (US Chip Act, European Chip Act, Chinese material restrictions) driving demand for regionally-based photonic manufacturing capacity. In May 2024, microfab GmbH — a MEMS foundry with 25+ years of wafer processing experience — joined as a strategic shareholder, creating a complementary wafer-to-packaged-device value chain. The company operates primarily across Europe, is privately held with no disclosed external funding rounds, and had a headcount of approximately five as of late 2024 with cleanroom infrastructure still being completed.

Name

Photonics Foundry

Legal name

Photonics Foundry GmbH

Website

https://photonics-foundry.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Photonics Foundry is a Bremen-based photonic device and MEMS contract manufacturer founded in 2023, offering small-to-medium volume assembly, prototyping, and technology transfer services to fabless companies, startups, and established photonic manufacturers across Europe.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Photonic Device Contract Manufacturing

NAICS

Semiconductor Machinery Manufacturing (333242)

SIC

Optical Instruments & Lenses (3827)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Foundry Platform & Design Enablement Services (PDK/DFM/Process Qualification) (HDAHACAJ), Custom/ASIC & Foundry-Adjacent IDM Services (HDAHAAAL)

Keywords

• Photonic device manufacturing
• MEMS contract manufacturing
• Opto-electronic packaging
• Backend packaging services
• Active alignment assembly

Headquarters

HQ city

Bremen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Operations

Revenue model

1. Contract Manufacturing Services: Small to medium volume contract manufacturing for photonic devices and MEMS. Services include manufacturing, prototyping, process development, and technology transfer. Revenue generated through service contracts for organizations needing manufacturing capacity without own facilities.
2. Design & Prototyping Services: Feasibility studies, DfX options, prototyping, and design optimization for photonic and MEMS devices. Includes design for automation considerations.
3. Technology Transfer Services: Machine vendor selection, project management during buy-off, bring-in service, documentation, maintenance, and operator training for customers transitioning to in-house manufacturing.
4. Training Services: On-the-job training for customer staff to maintain productivity during technology transfer and ramp-up phases.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Photonics Foundry provides contract manufacturing services for photonic devices and MEMS, covering small to medium volume production using class-leading, highly automated, multi-purpose photonic device assembly systems. Offerings span the full lifecycle from design assistance and prototyping through batch manufacturing and eventual technology transfer to in-house production, with core expertise in align-and-attach processes, opto-electronic packaging, and active alignment of LIDAR, transceivers, and fiber optics.

Product overview

Photonics Foundry offers a holistic suite of photonic device and MEMS contract manufacturing services. The core offerings include Manufacturing Services for small to medium volume production, Prototyping & Process Development for design and prototype builds, and Technology Development & Transfer for scaling operations. These are supported by Design for X (DfX) services and Feasibility Studies & Viability Services. The company serves fabless companies, startups, and global players seeking backend packaging, active alignment, and technology transfer capabilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Small Volume & Batch Manufacturing Services
• Prototyping & Process Development
• Technology Development & Transfer

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• microfab GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 May 2024microfab GmbH is a MEMS foundry with 25+ years experience that processes wafers until singulation. Photonics Foundry handles backend packaging for MEMS and photonic products. The collaboration is based on congruent business models and a common understanding of sustainable service. microfab brings fundamental understanding of how to process products in highest possible quality, complementing Photonics Foundry's backend packaging capabilities.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Jabil: Global EMS provider with established optical and photonic contract manufacturing capabilities across multiple geographies. Competes for large photonic device OEMs needing volume manufacturing at scale.
• Sanmina: Global EMS with optical and photonic assembly capabilities serving photonic and optical networking customers. Comparable as a broad incumbent offering photonic packaging within a much larger portfolio.
• ams-OSRAM: Major European optoelectronics incumbent producing photonic sensors, LIDAR emitters, and optical semiconductors. Overlaps with Photonics Foundry's customer segments (LIDAR, optical emitters) as both supplier and adjacent market participant.
• X-FAB Silicon Foundries: Major analog/mixed-signal IC and MEMS foundry offering foundry and post-processing services in Europe and globally. Comparable as an established European foundry serving fabless customers across photonic/MEMS-adjacent process flows.
• SUSS MicroTec: German semiconductor equipment manufacturer covering lithography, wafer processing, and bonding tools used in photonic and MEMS manufacturing. Adjacent incumbent serving overlapping European photonic/MEMS customers.

Direct peers

• ficonTEC Service GmbH: Germany-based designer and manufacturer of photonic device assembly and test equipment, also offering photonic packaging and contract manufacturing services. Two of Photonics Foundry's founders (Schu, Kibben) are ex-fficonTEC, making it the closest head-to-head competitor for photonic assembly and active alignment services.
• LioniX International: Dutch photonic integrated circuit (PIC) foundry and design house offering manufacturing services for silicon nitride and other photonic platforms. Comparable as a Europe-based photonic device 'foundry' service provider serving fabless customers.
• PHIX Photonics Assembly: Dutch company specializing in photonic packaging and assembly services for photonic integrated circuits (PICs) and MEMS. Directly competes for the same fabless photonic and startup customer base with backend packaging and assembly capabilities.
• VTT Memsfab: Finland-based MEMS and photonics contract manufacturing services provider operated by VTT. Comparable as a publicly-funded European contract manufacturer for MEMS and photonic device assembly.

Emerging players

• Innolume GmbH: German photonic device manufacturer producing quantum-dot lasers, SOAs, and SLDs. Comparable as a Germany-based photonic device business operating in the same regional ecosystem and serving adjacent photonic customer bases.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/photonics-foundry

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Photonics Foundry