News: Optoelectronics
16 October 2024
PIC Summit stresses need for deeper European cooperation and government support to accelerate photonic chip industry growth
Organized by non-profit photonic chip industry accelerator PhotonDelta (which connects and collaborates with an ecosystem of photonic chip technology organizations worldwide), PIC Summit Europe 2024 in Eindhoven, The Netherlands (15-16 October) covered a range of issues and opportunities surrounding photonic chip technology and its applications. Senior leaders debated how photonic and electronic chip industries can work together to further integrate chips by standardizing processes and breaking down barriers.
Attended by more than 700 business, government and academic leaders (from organizations including IBM, Sony, Nokia Bells Labs, Global Foundries, Unilever and NVIDIA), the summit featured keynotes and panels with leaders including Gustav Kalbe (acting director Enabling and Emerging Technologies of the EU Commission), Tjerk Opmeer (acting director-general of Economic Affairs), Sytze Kampen (Airbus’ head of technology), Faisal Kamran (principal technology analyst at Sony), and Nicolas Fontaine (head of silicon photonics at Nokia Bell Labs).
“You can see how ubiquitous applications for integrated photonics are becoming. They’re becoming a fundamental building block,” said Gustav Kalbe in his address. “The need is ever-increasing, and ever-critical because photonics underpins so many other technologies,” he added. “Integrated photonics remains a key European focus. But it’s important that we come together to coordinate and collaborate – between member states and across the industry.”
PhotonDelta also unveiled a new initiative to encourage much needed talent into the integrated photonics industry. A new jobs board, information portal and online campaign aims to promote opportunities within the sector to help it reach its potential. It follows PhotonDelta and Wevolver’s announcement of a new €50,000 Global Photonic Engineering Contest to find photonic chip applications that tackle global challenges.
“Photonic chip technology offers solutions to big societal challenges in areas such as mobility, energy, climate change, food and health. The hurdle we need to overcome is bringing these solutions to market faster,” said PhotonDelta’s CEO Eelko Brinkhoff. “To do this we need a holistic approach which combines public and private funding, entrepreneurship and international cooperation. This is why PIC Summit Europe has placed a strong focus on stimulating cooperation between photonic and electronic chip industries, academics, industry leaders, policymakers, and value chain partners, from material suppliers to end-users,” he added.
“The Summit has generated a wealth of new ideas and initiatives that cover everything from photonic chip technology and its applications, integration with semiconductors, through to standardization, public and private funding and government support. I would call on European companies, government bodies and academic organisations to listen to these ideas and work together to drive the industry forward,” Brinkhoff concludes.
PhotonDelta launches engineering contest to drive photonic chip applications
