June 28,2016, Shanghai, CFOL reports, China’s Silicon Photonics Alliance held its first meeting last Friday in Shanghai LZM hotel. Deputies from founding corporate members, Gigalight, APAT and ATOP, and leading silicon photonic experts from Institute of micro-system, institute of microelectronics of Chinese academy sciences, institute 38^th, Nanjing University, Shanghai Jiaotong University attended the meeting.  The meeting achieved active results on alliance structure , working mechanism, participating condition, product roadmap and relation with academic organizations.

    Silicon photonics is the study and application of photonic systems which use silicon as an optical medium. With performances like low cost, high integration, silicon photonics will play important roles in optical communication, data center, super-computing, biotech, national defense, AR/VR, and driverless car industry. Both north America and Europe have invested huge amount of money in this field and build their leading position in the industry. According to the market research company LightCounting, Silicon photonics market in fiber communication will reach 1billion USD in 5 years. In 10 to 20 years, this market will be much bigger than this estimation considering the many applications of silicon photonics technology.

    In China, silicon photonics is a hot topic both in academic and industry field. The institute of semiconductor, the institute of micro system, the institute of microelectronic of Chinese Academy Sciences and Shanghai Jiaotong University all build their own semiconductor processing line. The 38^th institute , the 23^rd institute of CETC, Tsinghua university, Peking University, Zhejiang University and many other universities also join the research of silicon photonics and achieved many good results. Huawei, ZTE, Accelink and some other companies also began to develop silicon photonics technology in different ways. However, development of silicon photonics requires huge investment on processing line and human resources, which few companies can undertake by themselves. Under this background, Gigalight, APAT, ATPO and Mouldetek, four optical component companies and CFOL propose to found China’s silicon photonics alliance. The aim of the alliance is to develop market required silicon photonics product, build the processing line based on Chinese domestic resources, organize a team of silicon photonics researchers, apply a series of related patents, and realize the upgrade of each member companies.    

    Shanghai and neighbor areas have a lot of silicon photonics manufacturing and research resources. That is the reason why the first meeting of silicon photonics alliance was held in Shanghai. In this meeting, several results were achieved including:

   China’s silicon photonics resources was fully discussed,

   The important to set up a silicon photonics company was confirmed

   Basic agreements between the alliance and leading experts were reached.
   The structure and working mechanism were basically decided.  

    “The setup of China’s silicon photonics alliance benefits from the common target between industry and academic field on silicon photonics technology. The target is to achieve first class industrial results on silicon photonics , to help Chinese companies build leading competition position in the industry. ”said by Mr. Zhendong, Li, Founder and CEO of Gigalight, the founding member of the alliance.

    Next step, the alliance will speed up the setup a silicon photonic company in China, build closer relationship with silicon photonics experts around the world, organize the advisory committee of the alliance, and attract more companies to join the alliance. The alliance will hold a big conference this September in Shenzhen during CIOE.

Want to know more about the alliance, please visit www.sinosi.net