Particle accelerators are indispensable tools in science, industry and health care. Almost all of them are based on microwave driving. Based on a similar principle, acceleration of electrons with the help of laser light has already been proposed decades ago: Nanophotonic structures are needed that generate an optical near-field mode efficiently propelling the electrons. We could recently demonstrate the accelerator on a chip. Like in classical microwave accelerators, the electrons' momentum is not only increased but the electromagnetic forces also prevent the accelerated electrons from crashing into the structure walls. The talk will show the status of the field and give an outlook on what is needed to build a fully integrated laser-based electron accelerator on a chip, which might lead to new light sources or new medical treatment tools. Even the generation of special non-classical photon states seems within reach.