Silicon Photonics: The window of opportunity is open

Challenges with prototyping and access to scale-up infrastructure risk stalling the growth of the silicon photonics sector in key global markets if not urgently addressed, new market research published by the CORNERSTONE Photonics Innovation Centre reveals

The market research, which includes insights from 500 decision-makers based in the UK, US, the Netherlands, Germany, and Spain involved in developing or deploying silicon photonics chips or in the planning stages, reveals the following key findings:

• 59% stated their country lacks the infrastructure needed to progress from research to commercialisation, despite 67% viewing scale-up infrastructure as key to bolstering sovereign tech capabilities
• Two-thirds of respondents (66%) report that manufacturing access is the primary roadblock to commercialisation
• Almost a third (32%) of respondents cited high tariff costs as the biggest barrier to prototype development
• Nearly a quarter (23%) said understanding the ecosystem and/or connecting with multiple supply chain partners presented a challenge
• Globally, almost half (48%) of survey respondents state that they could begin generating commercial revenue 7–12 months earlier if prototyping cycles were accelerated by 25%