Imagine a computer chip that uses light instead of electricity to move information, like a tiny city of fiber-optic roads. Instead of using heat-heavy switches, it uses microscopic mechanical parts that move to redirect light. This makes the chip run much cooler and use far less energy than today's AI hardware.
Current AI and data processing hardware consumes too much power and generates excessive heat. Existing programmable light-based chips are either too power-hungry or too small to be practical.
A programmable photonic chip architecture using nanoelectromechanical technology and optimized silicon nanofabrication processes.
If you are a data center operator dealing with massive electricity bills and overheating servers — this project developed nano-electromechanical programmable photonic circuits that reduce power consumption compared to conventional technologies.
If you are an EV maker dealing with the high energy drain of onboard AI processors — this project developed a compact, low-power photonic chip architecture that can process complex data for autonomous systems more efficiently.
If you are a quantum processor developer dealing with the need for precise, scalable signal routing — this project developed a programmable platform scaled to thousands of nodes to manage optical interconnections.
Based on available project data, the technology uses nanoelectromechanical switches which offer ultralow power consumption compared to existing programmable photonic approaches, reducing energy overhead.
The project is developing scalable platforms and advanced silicon nanomachining to enable the creation of circuits with thousands of programmable nodes.
Based on available project data, the project is in the research phase and does not specify licensing terms, though it aims to establish foundations for four business cases.
The project focuses on neuromorphic computing, using photonic systems with nonlinear dynamics to perform information processing tasks similar to brain-inspired AI.
The project period runs from March 1, 2023, to February 28, 2027.
The consortium consists of 7 partners across 5 countries, showing a balanced mix of academic and commercial interests. With 2 SMEs and a 29% industry ratio, the project has a direct link to the market, while the 3 research centers and 2 universities provide the deep technical expertise in silicon nanotechnology required for this high-risk development.
Contact AGENCIA ESTATAL CONSEJO SUPERIOR DE INVESTIGACIONES CIENTIFICAS in Spain
Contact us to identify the specific business cases emerging from this photonic research.
