CSEM spin-off CCRAFT launches world’s first industrial foundry for TFLN photonic chips

Neuchâtel-based CCRAFT, a new spin-off from CSEM, has been officially launched as the world’s first production-ready foundry for Thin-Film Lithium Niobate (TFLN) photonic integrated circuits. The company aims to deliver millions of high-performance chips per year to support next-generation optical communication, quantum technologies, and advanced sensing.

CCRAFT’s chips are designed to accelerate global data processing by addressing a key technological bottleneck: converting signals between optical and electronic formats efficiently. As global data traffic surges—driven by AI, cloud computing, and real-time communications—existing platforms like silicon photonics are reaching their performance limits. TFLN technology, by contrast, enables up to eight times faster speeds and up to ten times lower energy use.

The new company, founded by Dr. Hamed Sattari and supported by CSEM’s infrastructure and innovation program, will manufacture both monolithic and hybrid photonic chips for data centers, high-performance computing, lidar, space, and quantum applications. CCRAFT has already delivered thousands of chips to more than 40 clients during its precommercial phase at CSEM.

Positioning Switzerland at the forefront of photonic manufacturing

With its planned expansion in Neuchâtel, CCRAFT aims to reach an annual output of 12 million chips by 2030, targeting up to 30% of the global market for high-speed photonic circuits. The company also offers a complete Process Design Kit (PDK) to help clients design and test their own microcircuits, supported by MultiProject Wafers that can carry up to 800 unique chip designs.

CSEM’s support has been critical in accelerating CCRAFT’s journey from research to industrial scale. The initiative also aligns with broader European ambitions to regain technological sovereignty in advanced communication and computing infrastructure.

By anchoring TFLN chip production in Western Switzerland, CCRAFT strengthens the region’s role in deep tech and photonics while contributing to Europe’s resilience in critical semiconductor supply chains.