StarIC featured by Invest in Holland
StarIC was recently featuered in an article by Invest in Holland. Original article can be found [here], with a copy shown below.
StarIC Sets Up in the Netherlands’ Semiconductor Sector: The Canadian photonics company opens its first international design center in Utrecht, joining PhotonDelta as an ecosystem partner
Toronto-based StarIC, a fabless analog and mixed-signal semiconductor design and integrated photonics company specializing in developing “electronics for photonics,” has expanded to the Netherlands. By opening a design center for research & development in Utrecht, the company brings its expertise to the PhotonDelta ecosystem, one of the world’s leading hubs for the integrated photonics industry.
The Netherlands emerged as the ideal choice for StarIC’s first international design center after less than a year of evaluating potential locations. “The country offers a rich ecosystem of world-class analog and photonics design talent, supported by significant government investment in the semiconductor and photonics sectors,” explained StarIC CEO Imran Ahmed. “This combination of expertise and strategic national focus made the Netherlands a natural and compelling location for our European expansion.”
Trans-Atlantic semiconductor and photonics collaboration
StarIC’s European presence will help strengthen the regional innovation ecosystem and foster deeper collaboration between Canada and the Netherlands. The Dutch ecosystem offers a breeding ground and testing center for new technologies across robotics, quantum, semiconductor, photonics, aerospace and electrical vehicles.
Ahmed shared: “Our vision is to establish a world-class design center in the Netherlands that serves both the European and global markets in analog and mixed-signal design – critical technologies that underpin the next generation of high-performance electronics and photonics.”
The company’s focus aligns strongly with the broader Dutch photonics industry. As photonics becomes a key enabling technology in advanced applications such as artificial intelligence and high-performance computing, collaboration among complementary companies – such as those tied to the PhotonDelta ecosystem – is essential to deliver smart, sustainable solutions for the future.
A supportive business community and talent pool
The Netherlands is well known for its triple-helix approach to collaboration between corporations, government and academia. In addition to the Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency, Invest in Holland Network partner ROM Utrecht Region helped StarIC set up in the Netherlands. This project exemplifies how various levels of Dutch support ease foreign companies’ expansion processes.
Beyond a strong technical support system, the world-class Dutch workforce also attracted StarIC. Renowned for its advanced industries and excellent quality of life, the Netherlands is an attractive location for skilled professionals.
“The exceptional talent pool and strong innovation ecosystem were key factors in our decision to expand into the Netherlands,” added Ahmed. “Within the country, Utrecht stood out as a great location for our new design center. Its central position makes it very accessible, enabling us to attract top engineering talent from across the Netherlands.”
About StarIC
StarIC collaborates closely with photonics companies to define and develop the supporting electronics that bring optical systems to life. With experience across a range of technology nodes, its portfolio includes both high-speed and low-speed designs. StarIC operates from offices in Canada and the Netherlands, supporting global partners with flexible, reliable design solutions.