1 The EIC Accelerator Project
EIC Accelerator Program Overview
The EIC Accelerator program, part of the European Innovation Council (EIC), is designed to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and startups in their journey toward scaling innovative technologies. It provides funding to help bridge the gap between research and market launch, facilitating the development of groundbreaking solutions particularly in the DeepTech sector. The program aims to foster innovation, drive economic growth, and enhance competitiveness within the European Union.
Funding Structure
The EIC Accelerator funding comprises two components: grants and equity investments.
Purpose and Impact in the Ecosystem
The EIC Accelerator serves as a catalyst for growth in the European DeepTech and startup ecosystem. By providing substantial financial backing, the program helps innovative companies overcome common barriers to scaling, such as high development costs and market entry challenges. Furthermore, the EIC Accelerator encourages collaboration between startups and established industry players, enhancing knowledge transfer and market penetration.
The program also plays a pivotal role in attracting private investment. By backing promising projects, the EIC Accelerator enhances their credibility, making them more appealing to venture capitalists and other private investors. This symbiotic relationship between public funding and private investment is essential for nurturing a vibrant innovation landscape in Europe.
NewPhotonics Ltd and the NEWPhotonics Project
Company Overview: NewPhotonics Ltd is an Israel-based company focused on revolutionizing data center technologies through innovative optical solutions.
Project Acronym: NEWPhotonics
Project Description: The NEWPhotonics project aims to develop advanced optical technologies that will enhance data center efficiency and performance. Recognizing the growing demands for data processing and storage, NewPhotonics is poised to deliver solutions that minimize energy consumption while maximizing data throughput.
Date of Proposal Submission: The company's Step 2 proposal was submitted on June 15, 2022, and they successfully advanced to the Step 3 interview, ultimately securing funding through the EIC Accelerator program.
Technology Background and Basics
The technology underpinning the NEWPhotonics project centers on advanced photonic systems. These systems leverage light to transmit data, offering significant advantages over traditional electronic methods.
Through the EIC Accelerator funding, NewPhotonics Ltd is positioned to make a significant impact in the data center technology landscape, promoting efficiency and sustainability while driving technological advancement in the European market and beyond. The support from the EIC Accelerator not only validates NewPhotonics' innovative approach but also enhances its potential for attracting further investment and scaling its operations effectively.
2 The Funding Rounds
Financing Raised and Funding Rounds
NEWPhotonics Ltd, an Israeli fabless chip startup specializing in end-to-end optical connectivity for hyperscale data center networks, has raised financing through a combination of equity investments and public grants since its founding in 2020. The company has completed at least two funding rounds, attracting both venture capital firms and strategic investors from the data center sector.
Details of Funding Rounds
- NEWPhotonics conducted two notable funding rounds. Although the exact dates and amounts for these private investment rounds are not specified in publicly available sources, participating investors include:
- NextLeap Ventures
- VAHOCA
- AWZ Ventures
- TRIREC
- In addition to venture capital investments, NEWPhotonics has received significant grant funding:
- European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator Blended Finance scheme under Horizon Europe (June 2022 cut-off)
- This program typically provides up to €17.5 million per company through a mix of grants (non-dilutive funding) and equity investment.
- The specific amount granted to NEWPhotonics is not publicly disclosed as of current reports.
- Israel Innovation Authority (IIA) grant support
- Three major Data Center operators have also made strategic investments in NEWPhotonics, recognizing its potential impact on reducing energy consumption within their infrastructure.
Timing and Amounts
- The EIC Accelerator award was secured following the June 15, 2022 cut-off date; successful companies were announced later that year after passing interviews and due diligence stages.
- The private venture-backed rounds occurred between the company’s founding in early 2020 and early-to-mid-2023 but without precise public disclosure on transaction dates or round sizes.
Investor Information
The following entities have invested or contributed financially to NEWPhotonics:
- NextLeap Ventures
- VAHOCA
- AWZ Ventures
- TRIREC
- Three unnamed strategic Data Center companies (as direct/strategic investors)
Additionally:
Public grant contributors:
- European Union via Horizon Europe / EIC Accelerator program.
- Israel Innovation Authority.
Company Valuations
There is no verified public disclosure regarding any explicit valuation for NEWPhotonics corresponding to its recent funding rounds or as part of its EIC blended finance award.
Exit Events: IPOs, Buyouts & Acquisitions
As of May 1st, 2025:
NEWPhotonics Ltd has not undergone any known exit event such as an initial public offering (IPO), acquisition by another entity, or other buyout transaction. No announcements regarding planned exits have been reported.
Summary Table
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Private Funding Rounds | At least two; investors: NextLeap Ventures, VAHOCA, AWZ Ventures, TRIREC |
| Public Grants | EU EIC Accelerator Blended Finance; Israel Innovation Authority |
| Strategic Investors | Three leading Data Center operators |
| Round Timing | Pre-June/July 2022–early/mid–2023 |
| Total Amount Raised | Not precisely disclosed |
| Company Valuation | Not publicly available |
| Exit Events | None reported as of May 1st ,2025 |
Sources: NEWPhotonics: Shaping the Future of Data Centers Through All Optical Chips for Digital Signal Processing NEWPhotonics: The Future of Data Center Technologies – CORDIS EIC Accelerator winners and statistics June 2022 – Strata.team EIC Accelerator welcomes high potential start-ups – European Commission Open Call for EIC Accelerator 2022 – BalkanInnovation.com
3 The Press Releases
NewPhotonics Ltd: Advancements and Partnerships Since EIC Accelerator Funding
NewPhotonics Ltd, based in Israel, received funding from the EIC Accelerator program on June 15, 2022. Since then, the company has made significant strides in photonics technology, particularly in advancing data center efficiency and communication infrastructure.
Technology Advancements
- Monolithically Integrated Lasers: NewPhotonics has developed cutting-edge monolithically integrated lasers for 1.6 Tbps optical connectivity solutions, which are crucial for future AI-era data centers. These innovations are integrated into their advanced transmitter-on-chip solutions, enhancing data center infrastructure with lower latency and power consumption.
- NPG102 Transmitter-on-Chip: The company has introduced the NPG102, a photonic integrated circuit (PIC) with an integrated optical equalizer. This technology reduces complexity and enhances link performance for high-throughput optical interconnects, particularly beneficial for AI workloads requiring minimal latency and power.
- 224Gbps Electrical-to-Optical Link: In collaboration with Intel, NewPhotonics achieved a breakthrough by integrating Intel’s 224Gbps electrical SerDes design with photonics technology. This integration enables high-speed, end-to-end electrical-to-optical links, significantly reducing power consumption and enhancing data center performance.
Partnerships
- SoftBank Corporation: NewPhotonics announced a strategic partnership with SoftBank to advance photonics technology for LPO (Linear Pluggable Optics), CPO (Coherent Pluggable Optics), and all-optics switch fabric targeting AI-RAN (Artificial Intelligence Radio Access Networks). This collaboration marks a significant milestone in developing innovative all-optics connectivity solutions for data centers.
- Centera Photonics: NewPhotonics collaborated with Centera Photonics to introduce an industry-first 1.6 terabits per second (1.6Tbps) transceiver module featuring NewPhotonics' NPG102 PIC transmitter-on-chip. This collaboration has been pivotal in enhancing data center capabilities.
Team and Patents
NewPhotonics has been expanding its team and has filed several patents related to all-optic chip architectures that improve efficiency and reduce energy consumption in data centers.
Press Releases and Updates
NewPhotonics regularly updates its blog and press releases on advancements in photonics, collaborations, and product innovations. These updates highlight the company's commitment to delivering scalable, low-latency, and low-power optical connectivity solutions for the AI era.
Sources:
- All News - NewPhotonics
- NewPhotonics Ltd News & Press Releases
- NewPhotonics - News
- Softbank And Newphotonics Announce Collaboration
- NEWPhotonics: The Future of Data Center Technologies
- Intel and NewPhotonics Achieve Breakthrough
4 The Technology Advancements
NewPhotonics Ltd: Post-EIC Accelerator Funding Advancements in Photonic IntegrationSince receiving Horizon Europe EIC Accelerator funding in 2022, NewPhotonics Ltd. has significantly advanced its all-optics photonic integrated circuit (PIC) technology, targeting AI-driven data center demands. Below are key developments:
Core Technological Advancements
Market Collaborations & Demonstrators
Intellectual Property & Industry Recognition
- Patent Filings: Previously reported five patents pre-EIC funding; newer filings remain undisclosed but implied through innovations like auto-tunable lasers and on-chip temperature monitoring in the NPG102 TOC.
- Awards: Won "Most Innovative Component Product" at ECOC Exhibition 2024 for the NPG102 TOC design optimized for LPO modules.
Sources
5 The Partnerships and Customers
NewPhotonics Ltd: Strategic Partnerships and Market Positioning Post-EIC Accelerator Funding Since securing EIC Accelerator funding in June 2022, NewPhotonics Ltd has established several high-impact collaborations to advance its optical communication technologies. Below is an overview of its key partnerships, technological advancements, and market strategies:Key Partnerships
- SoftBank Corporation: Announced in September 2024, this collaboration focuses on advancing photonics technologies for Linear-drive Pluggable Optics (LPO), Co-packaged Optics (CPO), and All-Optics Switch Fabric. The partnership targets AI data centers and mobile fronthaul infrastructure to reduce latency and power consumption while improving scalability.
- Centera Photonics: Demonstrated joint innovations at OFC50 (Optical Fiber Communications Conference), showcasing advancements in LPO specifications for single-mode optical transmission up to 800G Ethernet.
Technology Advancements & Product Launches
- NPG102 Transmitter-on-Chip: Introduced in September 2024, this solution supports both DSP-based modules (1.6Tbps) and LPO modules, enabling low-latency data transmission at reduced power consumption. The integrated lasers improve manufacturing yield and accelerate time-to-market for optical transceivers.
- 224Gbps Electrical SerDes Integration: Achieved with Intel in December 2023, this milestone enhanced electrical-photonic engine performance for high-speed data centers.
Market Positioning & Strategic Goals
NewPhotonics aims to dominate the AI-era optical connectivity market through:The SoftBank partnership exemplifies NewPhotonics’ strategy to align with global telecom leaders seeking energy-efficient infrastructure upgrades driven by AI workloads.
Sources Used:
- Intel and NewPhotonics Achieve Breakthrough with 224Gbps Electrical SerDes [PR Newswire]
- LPO MSA Membership Group Releases Linear Pluggable Optics Specification [NewPhotonics]
- Softbank And NewPhotonics Announce Collaboration On Advanced Photonics Technology [Photonics Online]
- Softbank Collaboration Press Release [PR Newswire]
- Announcing Collaboration with SoftBank (Note: Corrected URL unavailable; see PR link above)
6 The Hiring and Company Growth
NewPhotonics Ltd, an Israel-based fabless semiconductor company specializing in photonic integrated circuits (PICs) for AI-driven data centers, has demonstrated significant team growth and hiring activity since its 2020 founding. While specific headcount figures are not publicly disclosed, the company’s career page actively recruits for roles across R&D, product development, and operations under the #TeamNP initiative.Key Growth Indicators
- Leadership Team: The management structure includes co-founders Yaniv Ben-Haim (CEO), Yosef Ben-Ezra (CTO), and Yossi Zilberfarb (EVP Corporate Development), alongside VP-level hires in R&D (Oren Horvits), product management (Alon Sella), and operations (Amir Dorner).
- Recent Hires: Doron Tal was appointed SVP & GM of Optical Connectivity to lead LPO/LRO module development, reflecting prioritization of low-latency optical interconnects for AI workloads.
- Strategic Expansion: NewPhotonics is scaling its sampling program for second-gen NPG102 PICs with integrated optical equalizers, requiring specialized talent in photonics design and manufacturing.
Hiring Focus
The company emphasizes wafer-level heterogeneous laser integration expertise to improve transceiver reliability while reducing production steps. Open positions likely target engineers capable of advancing its "all-optics" paradigm for sustainable data center connectivity.
Post-EIC Accelerator Trajectory
Since winning EIC funding in June 2022, NewPhotonics has solidified partnerships through industry groups like the LPO MSA consortium while accelerating PIC commercialization. Its workforce growth directly supports:
- Product Launches: Centera Photonics’ 1.6T DSP module collaboration showcases NewPhotonics’ role as a critical IC supplier for next-gen optical modules.
- Market Positioning: Advances in linear drive optics position the company as a key enabler of DSP-free LPO solutions demanded by hyperscale AI clusters.
Sources
- NewPhotonics - Current Openings
- CB Insights Profile - NEWPhotonics
- Startup Nation Finder - Newphotonics
- Company Leadership Page
7 The Media Features and Publications
Media Features and Industry Presence of NewPhotonics Ltd Since EIC Accelerator Funding NewPhotonics Ltd, an Israeli fabless semiconductor company specializing in photonic integrated circuits (PICs) for AI-era data centers, has gained notable media attention and industry recognition since its establishment in 2020. While specific details about its 2022 EIC Accelerator win are not publicly disclosed in the available sources, the company’s advancements in optical connectivity solutions have been widely covered.Publications and Media Coverage
- Photonics Spectra: Featured NewPhotonics in a July 2024 article discussing photonic integrated circuits and Linear Pluggable Optics (LPO) maturity for AI clusters.
- Optics.org: Highlighted NewPhotonics’ collaboration with Intel on a 224Gbps electrical-to-optical link solution to address latency and power challenges in data centers.
- Press Releases: Announced partnerships with SoftBank Corp. (2024) for LPO/CPO photonics R&D and Centera Photonics’ 1.6Tbps transceiver module using NewPhotonics’ NPG102 chip (March 2025).
Podcasts and Interviews
No direct mentions of podcasts or interviews featuring NewPhotonics executives were found in the available sources. However, industry platforms like the IEEE Photonics Society Podcast frequently cover photonics innovations, making future appearances plausible given the company’s growing profile.Conferences and Events
- OFC50 (Optical Fiber Communications Conference) – San Francisco: Showcased demos of their NPG102 PIC technology alongside Centera Photonics’ 1.6Tbps DSP module announcement.
- ECOC Exhibition – Frankfurt: Won “Most Innovative Component Product” at ECOC 2024 for their NPG102 transmitter-on-chip solution tailored for LPO modules. Presented collaborative work with SoftBank on CPO/AI-RAN applications.
Event Participation Highlights
NewPhotonics actively engages in global tech forums:- Collaboration Announcements: Partnered with Intel to demonstrate ultra-low-latency optical links for AI clusters and SoftBank to advance optical switching technologies for AI data centers.
- Industry Advocacy: Contributed to the LPO MSA Group, releasing specifications for interoperable single-mode optics up to 800G Ethernet standards.
Sources
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