Imagine a computer chip that uses light instead of electricity to process information, making it incredibly fast and energy-efficient. It mimics how the human brain works to recognize patterns instantly. It also adds a layer of security that is nearly impossible to hack because it uses the unique physical properties of light.
Traditional electronic computing is hitting a wall in terms of energy efficiency and speed, especially for AI and high-speed imaging. Current quantum and neuromorphic solutions are often too bulky or difficult to integrate into a single, scalable chip.
A Photonic Integrated Circuit (PIC) on silicon-on-insulator featuring a programmable synaptic layer and co-integrated lasers. It includes driving electronics and packaging to create a standalone hybrid engine.
If you are a medical device manufacturer dealing with slow data processing in flow cytometry — this project developed a photonic integrated circuit that enables ultra-fast image processing. This allows for near-instant analysis of biological samples with very low power consumption.
If you are a hardware security provider dealing with vulnerable authentication systems — this project developed a photonic physical unclonable function (PUF). This creates a hardware-based identity for chips that is virtually impossible to duplicate.
If you are a machine vision system integrator dealing with latency in high-speed production lines — this project developed a spiking neural layer chip. This allows for GHz firing rates to process industrial images in real-time.
Based on available project data, specific unit pricing is not provided; however, the project focuses on reducing operational costs through marginal power consumption using barium titanate phase-shifters.
The project uses silicon-on-insulator (SOI) and standard fabrication flows at Scintil Foundry and CEA-Leti, which are compatible with industrial semiconductor manufacturing.
Based on available project data, specific licensing terms are not listed, but the consortium includes 6 industry partners and 4 SMEs who are co-developing the technology.
The project is developing specific driving electronics, including DACs, OpAmps, and TIAs, to ensure the photonic chip can communicate with standard electronic systems.
The project period runs from 2022-09-01 to 2026-08-31, suggesting that finalized prototypes will be available toward the end of 2026.
The consortium is heavily industry-weighted with a 50% industry ratio, comprising 6 companies (including 4 SMEs) and 6 academic/research institutions. This balance suggests a strong push toward commercial viability rather than pure theory, with a geographical spread across 8 European countries to leverage specialized foundries and packaging expertise.
Contact IPRONICS PROGRAMMABLE PHOTONICS, SL in Spain
Contact us to explore licensing opportunities for the BTO phase-shifter technology.
