Accessible cleanroom infrastructure for semiconductor photonics

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Semiconductor photonics is a key technology that uses photons (light) instead of electrons (current) used in conventional chip circuits. This technology focuses on the production of semiconductors (chips) and offers benefits such as better performance, reliability and energy efficiency. In order to strengthen the innovative power of companies in the border region, cleanroom infrastructure is needed for developments within semiconductor photonics – and specific light source integration. However, this type of infrastructure is not accessible to industry. Lightup therefore focuses on setting up a pilot line for printing III-V semiconductors such as aluminum and arsenic on silicon semiconductor photonics wafers – a thin slice of crystalline – for light source integration. With “si-photonics” a light source such as a lens or light detector is not combined in a classic way, but integrated on a chip. The pilot line must be widely accessible and for this the project will deliver six industry-relevant chips focusing on applications such as air quality control, structural follow-up of green infrastructure, personalised medicine and energy-efficient cloud computing in data centers. The chips will be used in networking activities and will therefore also serve as training material so that companies can get in touch with the technology in a low-threshold way. The aim of the project is to strengthen the innovative strength and competitiveness of companies, as well as to promote cooperation and exchange of knowledge in the border region.

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