Imagine a computer chip that uses light instead of electricity to process information. It works like a flexible plumbing system for light, where you can reroute the flow to solve complex math problems instantly. This makes computing much faster and uses far less power than traditional silicon chips.
Traditional electronic processors struggle with high power consumption and speed limits when handling massive data for AI and mobile networks. There is a need for flexible, programmable hardware that can perform high-speed analog operations without the heat and energy waste of electricity.
Field Programmable Photonic Gate Arrays (FPPGAs) including the optical layer, driving electronics, and a software suite. Three TRL6 demonstrators were created for education, RF-photonics, and data centers.
If you are a network provider dealing with slow waveform processing in mobile networks — this project developed an RF-Photonics demonstrator that accelerates signal processing. This allows for faster data handling and reduced energy costs.
If you are a data center operator dealing with massive power consumption and heat from AI workloads — this project developed a Photonic Computing demonstrator. It speeds up operations by using light interference for analog calculations.
If you are a research lab dealing with the high cost and complexity of custom optical circuits — this project developed a general-purpose starter kit. It provides a programmable platform for R&D and simple optical applications.
Based on available project data, specific pricing is not mentioned; however, the project focused on reducing power consumption and space requirements to lower operational costs.
The project moved from TRL4 to TRL6 by producing a pilot batch of chips in the AMF foundry, indicating a path toward industrial manufacturing.
The project is coordinated by iPronics Programmable Photonics, SL. Based on available project data, specific licensing terms are not disclosed.
The project developed a dedicated driving unit to provide electrical pulses and a monitoring unit to share output information with a Logic Unit.
The project concluded in March 2024, with results intended to refine the business model for a follow-on scale-up and market entry project.
The project is highly concentrated, consisting of a single partner: iPronics Programmable Photonics, SL, a Spanish SME. This 100% industry ratio suggests a strong drive toward commercialization and direct control over the intellectual property, though it lacks the diverse academic validation typically found in larger consortia.
Contact iPronics Programmable Photonics, SL in Spain
Contact us to explore licensing opportunities for FPPGA technology.
