Geplaatst: 13 juli 2026

Firefly Sensing has been awarded a NanoLabNL voucher granting access to the cleanroom facilities in Eindhoven. The voucher became effective in July 2026 and enables the company to make use of advanced infrastructure to further accelerate the development of its sensor technology. The voucher was presented by Wilbert Rooijakkers, cleanroom manager in Eindhoven, to Don van Elst, CTO and co-founder of Firefly Sensing.

Don van Elst: “Photonics sensing technology requires advanced processing equipment, which can make it difficult for startups to get off the ground. The NanoLab voucher allows us to keep momentum in the early phase and iterate our sensor designs fast. Being able to develop our innovation close-by home will accelerate us towards the market.”

Firefly Sensing develops innovative sensor technology for the analysis of liquid composition. Access to the cleanroom facilities enables the company to manufacture prototypes and develop new fabrication processes, supported by the expertise and infrastructure available at NanoLabNL.

In the photo: the Firefly Sensing team.

Geplaatst: 9 juli 2026

Nanotechnology plays a key role in the digital technologies of today and tomorrow. In the FD Magazine issue on AI Sovereignty & Data Science, the article “Nanotechnology as the backbone of the digital economy” highlights the essential contribution of nanotechnology to the digital economy.

In the article, Hans Hilgenkamp, chair of NanolabNL, discusses the importance of high-quality nanotechnology infrastructure, collaboration and knowledge development to keep the Netherlands and Europe technologically strong and competitive.

From semiconductors and quantum technology to integrated photonics and advanced sensors: many innovations build on developments at the nanoscale. NanolabNL supports these developments by providing researchers and companies with access to unique national nanotechnology facilities.

Read the full article (page 7 in Dutch) in FD Magazine AI Sovereignty & Data Science:
https://issuu.com/contentway/docs/ai-soevereiniteit_data_science

Geplaatst: 25 mei 2026

On 20 May 2026, NanoLabNL organised its annual Operator Day at Delft University of Technology, hosted by the Else Kooi Lab and Kavli NanoLab Delft. The event brought together operators, technicians and cleanroom specialists from the different NanoLabNL locations across the Netherlands to exchange knowledge and experiences on the management and further development of the national nanofabrication infrastructure.

The Operator Day is an important moment for the technical experts who support NanoLabNL’s advanced facilities. By sharing knowledge, best practices and experiences, participants strengthen collaboration across the network and contribute to the continuous improvement of cleanroom processes and services.

The programme started with presentations from Delft University of Technology, highlighting a range of fabrication techniques available at the Else Kooi Lab and Kavli NanoLab. The session included contributions from Shriparna Mukherjee (TNO), Richard Norte, Matteo Arfini and Praktik Tawade (Delft University of Technology).

A second plenary session focused on experiences and developments from the different NanoLabNL hubs. Wilbert Rooijakkers presented updates from NanoLab Eindhoven University of Technology, Eddy Ruiter shared insights from MESA+ NanoLab at the University of Twente, and Igor Hoogsteder represented NanoLab AMOLF.

The presentations were followed by interactive round-table discussions, allowing participants to exchange ideas and discuss topics relevant to their daily work in cleanroom operations. The day concluded with network drinks, (VR) tours and an informal dinner at Huszár in Delft, providing further opportunities to connect with colleagues from across the NanoLabNL community.

NanoLabNL looks back on a successful and inspiring Operator Day, where collaboration, knowledge sharing and strengthening the national nanofabrication infrastructure were central themes.

Geplaatst: 14 april 2026

On 1 April 2026, MinacNed and NanoLabNL jointly organised the event “From Brilliant Idea to Mid-Volume Production” at the University of Twente in Enschede. The event focused on one of the key challenges within the Dutch micro- and nanotechnology sector: how to successfully bring promising research results from the laboratory towards mid-volume production.

Many innovations originate at universities and research institutes, but the transition from a scientific idea to a market-ready product requires more than just excellent technology. Companies need access to specialised infrastructure, expertise, funding and a strong innovation ecosystem. For many start-ups and scale-ups, shared cleanroom facilities, such as those provided by NanoLabNL, play a crucial role in developing prototypes and taking the next steps towards industrialisation.

The programme brought together representatives from knowledge institutes, technology companies, investors and regional development organisations to discuss the complete innovation journey: from idea to product and from prototype to scalable production.

The afternoon opened with contributions from Martijn Fransen (MinacNed) and Hans Hilgenkamp (NanoLabNL), followed by a presentation on “From idea to product” by Roy Kolkman from Novel-T. Timo Meinders highlighted the ecosystem around MESA+ NanoLab and High Tech Factory, showing how shared facilities and regional collaboration support innovation.

The importance of collaboration between research infrastructure and industry was further illustrated by user experiences from the NanoLab ecosystem. Arne Leinse and Ronald Dekker from LioniX, together with Tim Tiek, Douwe Geuzebroek and Sander Slaa from Brilliance, shared their experiences in developing technologies and bringing innovations closer to the market.

The programme also addressed the financial and regional aspects of scaling up innovation, with contributions from Ytsen van der Meer (Cottonwood) on investment opportunities and Oost NL on the role of regional development organisations. The presentations were followed by an interactive discussion with participants and an informal networking reception.

Why this matters

The event demonstrated that successful innovation depends on a strong connection between technology, infrastructure, entrepreneurship and investment. The Netherlands benefits from a unique combination of university cleanrooms, specialised companies, investors and regional innovation networks. Collaboration between these partners enables emerging technologies in areas such as photonics, MEMS, quantum technology and semiconductors to progress from prototype development towards mid-volume production.

For researchers, start-ups, scale-ups and established companies, the event provided valuable insights into the full innovation chain and the support available to bridge the gap between research and industrial application.

NanoLabNL and MinacNed look back on an inspiring afternoon with valuable discussions, knowledge exchange and new connections across the Dutch micro- and nanotechnology ecosystem.