Photonics Technology
Optical Technologies for Semiconductor Innovation
Photonics is reshaping the future of microelectronics by integrating light-based technologies with traditional semiconductor systems. As the demand for faster data processing, higher bandwidth, and lower energy consumption continues to grow, photonic solutions are becoming essential for overcoming the limitations of purely electronic architectures.
Silicon photonics enables optical components such as waveguides, modulators, photodetectors, and lasers to be manufactured using CMOS-compatible processes. This integration allows photonic and electronic functions to coexist on a common platform, opening new possibilities for high-performance computing, optical communications, sensing, and artificial intelligence.
At AT-C³, we support companies across the entire photonics innovation lifecycle – from optical design and simulation to fabrication, characterisation, and system integration. By combining cutting-edge research infrastructure with industrial expertise, we help accelerate the development of photonic technologies and their transition into scalable, market-ready semiconductor solutions.
Photonics in microelectronics refers to the integration of light-based components and functions alongside or within traditional electronic systems, primarily to address bottlenecks that purely electronic approaches struggle to overcome as chips scale.
The convergence with microelectronics, often called silicon photonics, involves fabricating optical components (waveguides, modulators, photodetectors, lasers) using the same processes and materials used for conventional chips, primarily silicon and related compounds. This allows photonic and electronic elements to be manufactured on shared platforms, sometimes even on the same die, using CMOS-compatible fabrication techniques.
The main applications driving this integration include optical interconnects for data centers and high-performance computing, where:
- electrical signals between racks, boards, or even chiplets are increasingly replaced by optical links to reduce energy consumption and increase bandwidth
- co-packaged optics, where optical engines are placed directly adjacent to or integrated with switch ASICs to shorten the electrical path and cut power losses
- and emerging areas like optical computing and neuromorphic photonic processors, which explore using light directly for certain computational tasks, particularly matrix multiplications relevant to AI workloads.
Methods & Competencies Driving Photonics Innovation
Photonics is transforming semiconductor technologies by using light to transmit, process, and detect information with exceptional speed, bandwidth, and energy efficiency. As data volumes continue to grow and conventional electronic architectures reach their limits, integrated photonics is becoming a key enabler for next-generation communication systems, sensing technologies, artificial intelligence, and high-performance computing.
Silicon Photonics
Silicon photonics combines optical and electronic functions on a common semiconductor platform, enabling faster data transmission with lower power consumption. By integrating waveguides, modulators, photodetectors, and other photonic components using CMOS-compatible manufacturing processes, companies can develop highly scalable solutions for communications, sensing, and advanced computing applications.
We support you at every stage
From feasibility to optimization – our tech services guide you through every phase of your product journey.
AT-C³ can help users explore the potential benefits of using in-house developed chips in products and evaluate the costs involved in such development. Examples may include replacing a PCB with standard components using an in-house developed integrated circuit (ASIC). This study could also examine alternative manufacturing processes to optimize an existing ASIC. Feel free to contact AT-C³ if you’re interested in learning more about a potential feasibility study for your company.
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Get to know more focus areas
Inside Austria’s Chip Industry
14. July 2026
Webinar 30 July 2026: Building the Materials Platform for the Future of Integrated Photonics
In this Chips Think Tank webinar on July 30, 2026, Jean-Louis Guyaux, VP Technology at Riber, will share how one of Europe’s leading epitaxy equipment manufacturers is evolving from supplying MBE systems to enabling complete materials platforms for integrated photonics.
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8. July 2026
AT-C³ Joins the First Event of Intent to Foster Innovation & Startup Collaboration
AT-C³ was pleased to participate in the first Event of Intent at NAPO on the Campus Inffeld of the Graz University of Technology. The new networking format brought together around 40 participants from startups, scaleups and established companies with one clear goal: transforming conversations into concrete collaborations.
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26. June 2026
ITF World 2026 – A Recap
More than 2,000 international technology and AI leaders gathered in Antwerp for IFT World, organized by imec under the theme “Strategic paths to an AI-Defined Future.”
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