News: Suppliers
27 August 2024
AlixLabs awarded research grant from imec-led, EU-supported PhotonHub Europe
AlixLabs AB of Lund, Sweden — which was spun off from Lund University in 2019 and has developed the Atomic Layer Etching (ALE) Pitch Splitting technology (APS) — is expanding into the photonics field thanks to a new research grant from imec-led and EU-supported PhotonHub Europe. The total value of the research project is about €197,000, of which PhotonHub will provide €58,500, with AlixLabs itself investing €129,000.
The R&D project with PhotonHub Europe will allow AlixLabs to work closely with nanoelectronics research center imec of Leuven, Belgium, granting access to photonics equipment and technology not present at AlixLabs. The project also enables AlixLabs to evaluate, prototype and benchmark its technology and processes in imec’s laboratories, qualifying them for worldwide industry use.
“Photonics is a hot topic in the future of semiconductor industry, and we are eager to explore application of our technology in this field,” says research director Reza Jafari Jam. “We’re thrilled about the opportunity to collaborate closely with imec and tap into the vibrant hub of European semiconductor research, enhancing our capabilities in developing high-performance photonic devices,” he adds.
The goal of the project is to significantly enhance the performance of photonic devices, particularly ring resonators. With AlixLabs’ ALE process, which allows for precise material manipulation at an atomic scale, the goal is to achieve defect- and damage-free surfaces for photonics devices. As surface quality directly contributes to better photon extraction and transmission, ALE in photonics is expected to result in more reliable devices with higher signal quality and enhanced operational qualities.
PhotonHub Europe was announced in 2020 and is funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 program. It has 54 partners and over 500 experts from 15 EU member states, all aiming to create and launch new products in industries as diverse as health, digital infrastructure, manufacturing, safety, security, space & defence, agro-food and mobility & energy.
AlixLabs gains SEK2.5m grant from Sweden’s Vinnova
EU Intellectual Property Office grants trademark registration for AlixLabs’ APS process
