UNIVERSITE DIJON BOURGOGNE

Their core work

The University of Burgundy (Dijon) is a French public university with strong research capabilities in photonics, plasmonics, and CMOS-compatible optical technologies. Their teams design and characterize plasmonic waveguides, modulators, and photonic integrated circuits for high-speed data communications and neuromorphic computing. They also maintain expertise in bio-based composite materials from plant fibres and in microbiology (Listeria adaptation). Their H2020 involvement shows a lab-driven profile, contributing specialized measurement and fabrication know-how to larger European consortia.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In the early H2020 period (2015–2018), the university focused on foundational photonic and plasmonic integration — designing CMOS-compatible plasmonic modulators, waveguides, and silicon photonics for high-speed electronics (PLASMOfab, EXIST). From 2019 onward, their photonics work shifted decisively toward neuromorphic computing applications (NEBULA, PlasmoniAC), while they also branched into ultrasonic non-destructive testing for aerospace (U-CROSS). The evolution shows a research group that built its photonics platform early and is now applying it to AI-adjacent computing architectures.

Moving from photonic component design toward applying plasmonics for neuromorphic and AI computing hardware — expect future proposals in optical neural networks and energy-efficient computing.

How they like to work

The University of Burgundy operates primarily as a specialist contributor rather than a consortium leader — only 2 of 8 projects were coordinated, and 3 were as a third party (affiliated entity). Their 73 unique partners across 14 countries suggest they are well-connected but not a central hub; they join consortia where their specific photonics or characterization expertise is needed. Working with them means accessing deep technical capability in a focused niche, not broad project management capacity.

Collaborated with 73 distinct partners across 14 countries, indicating broad European reach despite a moderate project count. Their network spans both academic photonics labs and industrial electronics/aerospace partners.

What sets them apart

Their distinctive strength is the intersection of CMOS plasmonics and neuromorphic computing — a niche where few European universities have sustained multi-project involvement. They bridge the gap between silicon photonics fabrication and emerging AI hardware architectures. For consortium builders, they offer a rare combination: photonic device expertise with a growing track record in computing applications, plus secondary capabilities in NDT and biocomposites that open cross-sector opportunities.

Highlights from their portfolio

• PLASMOfab
  Largest single EC contribution (EUR 430K) and central to their identity — a CMOS-compatible plasmonics/photonics platform for volume manufacturing.
• PlasmoniAC
  Represents their frontier direction: ultra-fast plasmonic circuits specifically designed for neuromorphic computing architectures.
• List_MAPS
  One of only two projects they coordinated, and notably different from their photonics core — a Marie Curie training network in food microbiology.