Silicon photonics is a UK growth opportunity that cannot wait
Silicon photonics is becoming a foundational platform for the next generation of connectivity, computing and sensing. From data centres and AI to LiDAR, healthcare and environmental sensing, the sector is increasingly shaping the systems that underpin modern life. At CORNERSTONE, we believe the UK has both the research depth and industrial experience to play a leading role.
In this blog, we explore why the moment for silicon photonics has arrived, the breadth of real-world applications it enables, and what infrastructure the UK needs, including the case for a dedicated pilot line to make the UK a key player in the global silicon photonics race.
The Council for Science and Technology’s recent letter to the Prime Minister has set out a clear case for photonics as a strategic UK priority, calling for a national roadmap, stronger support for domestic capability, and more coordinated investment across the sector.
That importance is already reflected in the numbers. The UK photonics industry is a major economic asset, with a turnover of £18.5 billion in 2024 and a contribution of £8.6 billion to the UK economy. Looking ahead, the opportunity is even larger: by 2035, more than 60% of the UK economy could directly depend on photonics to remain competitive.
Globally, investment is already accelerating. NVIDIA’s recent $4 billion investment in photonics companies is a strong signal that the technology is moving to become a central component of future AI infrastructure, with energy efficiency and rapid data movement now central concerns for the industry as it looks to scale efficiently.
For the UK, this is a wake-up call as much as an opportunity. The country has world-class academic research, a strong history in silicon photonics and a growing innovation base, but to capture more of the value being created globally, it needs the right scale-up infrastructure.
How CORNERSTONE and C-PIC bridge the gap
As the UK’s leading open-access silicon photonics foundry, CORNERSTONE is uniquely positioned to turn the nation’s ambitions into action. Founded at the University of Southampton, CORNERSTONE was created to give academics a practical route into fabrication. Over time, this model attracted growing interest from startups and SMEs looking for flexible prototyping support and a way to test ideas without incurring high costs.
That evolution helped shape C-PIC, the CORNERSTONE Photonics Innovation Centre. As the UK’s dedicated innovation and knowledge centre for silicon photonics, C-PIC formalises the support that talent needs to move from research to proof-of-concept. Its role is to bring together prototyping, training, networking, and access to a wider ecosystem of partners, all underpinned by CORNERSTONE’s open-source foundry model.
This matters because the route from research to product is often where promising technologies stall. CORNERSTONE and C-PIC exist to make that transition easier.
Applications with real-world impact
The strongest case for silicon photonics lies in its wide range of applications. In data centres, the technology is already central to communications, and rising AI workloads are driving demand for faster, more energy-efficient ways to move data between chips and systems. As data centres scale, there’s an equally growing demand for silicon photonics to reduce energy consumption.
Other opportunities are equally compelling. LiDAR systems for autonomous vehicles could become smaller and more practical, and quantum technologies are also increasingly relying on silicon photonics as a scale-up platform. The common thread is clear: a strong photonics base can support multiple high-growth sectors at once, which is why the UK’s scale-up infrastructure is more important than ever.
The case for a UK pilot line
A clear path forward exists, but action needs to be taken today.
By committing funding to a National Silicon Photonics Pilot Line, the UK government can broaden access to dedicated silicon photonics facilities for companies, enabling them to prototype faster and accelerate their journey.
The strategic and economic case is undeniable: a national pilot line could contribute £2.9 billion to the UK economy by 2040, develop design and manufacturing capabilities for applications in defence and security, and retain talent to keep the UK globally competitive.
We have a real opportunity to establish world-leading silicon photonics companies and build products that will power huge socioeconomic and environmental gains. Yet without the infrastructure to do so, we risk seeing another advanced UK-developed technology commercialised overseas, losing our competitive edge, our talent, and our economic potential.
What’s next
CORNERSTONE is helping to build the foundations of a stronger UK silicon photonics ecosystem: one that is open, collaborative and focused on real-world impact. The task now is to turn that foundation into momentum. With the right investment, the UK can accelerate prototyping, strengthen supply chains, support startups and SMEs, and position itself as a serious player in a technology that is already reshaping global industry.
Silicon photonics is moving fast. The opportunity for the UK is to move with it.
If you would like to learn more about what we do, check out our C-PIC page.