SINFONIA · Project

Next-Generation Chip Technology Using Magnetic Waves Instead of Electric Current

digitalPrototypeTRL 3Thin data (2/5)

Imagine sending messages through a material not with electrical signals (like today's computer chips) but with tiny magnetic ripples — like tossing a pebble into a pond, except the pond is an ultra-thin magnetic film. SINFONIA figured out how to trigger and control these magnetic ripples using light shone onto specially designed molecular coatings, all happening at frequencies a thousand times faster than what current chips can handle. The goal is to build the basic building blocks — like logic gates — for a future generation of computing hardware that runs cooler, smaller, and faster than anything based on today's transistor technology.

By the numbers

THz

Operational frequency regime — potentially 1,000x faster than current GHz chip technology

Consortium partners collaborating across the research program

Countries represented in consortium (DE, ES, FR, IT)

Total project deliverables completed

Key demonstration deliverables including proof-of-concept magnonic circuits

nanometer

Target device scale for information storage and transport

The business problem

What needed solving

Today's computer chips are hitting a wall — transistors can't shrink much further, clock speeds have plateaued, and power consumption keeps climbing. The semiconductor industry needs fundamentally new approaches to keep advancing computing performance. Companies investing in next-generation computing need access to breakthrough technologies before competitors lock up the IP.

The solution

What was built

The project built proof-of-concept magnonic logic circuits that use magnetic waves instead of electric current to process information, demonstrated that light can trigger these magnetic waves in specially designed hybrid organic/inorganic films, and successfully fabricated nanostructures on antiferromagnetic substrates — delivering 29 project outputs in total.

Audience

Who needs this

Semiconductor companies scouting post-CMOS computing architecturesTelecom equipment manufacturers developing THz-frequency componentsAdvanced materials suppliers serving the electronics industryDefense and aerospace contractors needing ultra-fast, low-power computingQuantum and neuromorphic computing startups exploring alternative hardware

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Semiconductor & Chip Design

enterprise

Target: Fabless semiconductor companies and chip design houses exploring post-CMOS architectures

If you are a semiconductor company struggling with the physical limits of shrinking transistors further — this project developed proof-of-concept magnonic logic gates that process information using magnetic waves at THz frequencies instead of electric currents. The approach enables nanometer-scale devices with lower power consumption, potentially unlocking performance gains where traditional CMOS scaling has stalled.

Telecommunications Equipment

enterprise

Target: Companies developing THz-range signal processing components for 6G and beyond

If you are a telecom equipment maker looking for components that operate natively at THz frequencies — this project demonstrated optically induced spin wave generation in antiferromagnetic materials that inherently respond in the THz regime. This could feed into ultra-fast signal processing modules without the conversion losses of current electronic approaches.

Advanced Materials & Nanotechnology

mid-size

Target: Specialty materials companies producing thin-film coatings and nanostructured substrates

If you are a materials company supplying the electronics industry and looking for next-generation product lines — this project developed hybrid organic/inorganic interface films and nanostructured antiferromagnetic substrates with tunable magnetic properties. These materials could become commercial products as magnonic computing moves toward industrial adoption.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would it cost to license or adopt this technology?

SINFONIA was a publicly funded FET Open research project, so foundational results are likely accessible through academic licensing from Politecnico di Milano and consortium partners. However, this is early-stage technology — any commercial licensing would require significant further development investment. Contact the coordinator to discuss IP terms.

Can this be manufactured at industrial scale today?

Not yet. The project produced proof-of-concept magnonic circuitries and demonstrated spin wave generation in lab-fabricated nanostructures. Scaling from lab prototypes to industrial fabrication would require partnership with semiconductor foundries and substantial process development.

Who owns the intellectual property?

IP from EU-funded RIA projects is owned by the partners who generated it. With 10 consortium partners across 4 countries — including 2 industry partners — IP is likely distributed across multiple entities. A freedom-to-operate analysis would be needed before commercialization.

How does this compare to existing chip technology?

Current CMOS chips use electrical currents and operate in the GHz range. SINFONIA's magnonic approach uses magnetic waves at THz frequencies — potentially 1,000 times faster — with lower power consumption since no electrical currents flow. The project positions itself as a pathway to go beyond CMOS, which is the current industry standard.

What was actually demonstrated and proven?

The project delivered 29 deliverables including 3 key demonstrations: proof-of-concept magnonic circuitries (basic logic gate prototypes), optically induced spin wave generation, and successful nanostructuring on antiferromagnetic substrates. These are laboratory-level validations of the core concept.

What is the realistic timeline to a commercial product?

Based on available project data, this is fundamental research at an early stage. A realistic path to commercial products would likely require 10-15 years of additional development, pilot manufacturing, and industry adoption cycles. Companies should view this as a strategic R&D investment opportunity, not a near-term product.

Are there regulatory hurdles for this technology?

Magnonic devices would need to meet standard semiconductor industry certifications and electromagnetic compatibility standards. Based on available project data, no specific regulatory barriers were identified beyond those common to any new chip technology entering the market.

Consortium

Who built it

The SINFONIA consortium brings together 10 partners from 4 European countries (Germany, Spain, France, Italy), led by Politecnico di Milano — one of Europe's top technical universities. The mix is heavily academic: 5 universities and 3 research organizations provide deep scientific expertise, while 2 industry partners (including 1 SME) offer a modest commercial perspective. The 20% industry ratio is typical for fundamental research projects. For a business looking to engage, the academic-heavy consortium means strong scientific foundations but limited immediate commercial readiness — any company interested would be entering at an early stage with significant first-mover potential.

POLITECNICO DI MILANOCoordinator · IT
ASOCIACION CENTRO DE INVESTIGACION COOPERATIVA EN NANOCIENCIAS CIC NANOGUNEparticipant · ES
UNIVERSITAT DE VALENCIAparticipant · ES
TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITAT DORTMUNDparticipant · DE
CONSIGLIO NAZIONALE DELLE RICERCHEparticipant · IT
UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI MILANOparticipant · IT
UNIVERSITE PARIS-SACLAYthirdparty · FR
THALESparticipant · FR
CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE CNRSparticipant · FR

How to reach the team

Politecnico di Milano, Italy — look for the principal investigator through the university's physics or materials science department

Order a report on this consortium See POLITECNICO DI MILANO profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to explore licensing magnonic computing IP or partnering with this consortium? SciTransfer can arrange an introduction to the right team members and help you evaluate the commercial potential.

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