China has made a significant breakthrough in silicon photonics, a technology that uses light instead of electrical signals for data transmission. This development is crucial as electrical signal transmission between chips is nearing its physical limits. The Wuhan-based JFS Laboratory, a state-funded semiconductor research center, successfully lit a laser light source integrated with a silicon-based chip, marking a major milestone in the country’s optoelectronics technology.
This breakthrough fills a key gap in China’s optoelectronics technology and has significant implications for the global semiconductor industry. Recognizing its potential, global semiconductor leaders are heavily investing in silicon photonics, with companies like Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), Nvidia, Intel, and Huawei Technologies actively pursuing advancements in the field.
The development of silicon photonics could help China overcome existing chip design challenges and achieve technological independence despite US sanctions. The lab’s achievement is attributed to a government investment of 8.2 billion yuan (US$1.2 billion) established in 2021, one of China’s key institutions dedicated to achieving technological breakthroughs.
According to estimates by SEMI, the global market for silicon photonics chips is projected to grow from US$1.26 billion in 2022 to $7.86 billion by 2030. The technology has the potential to revolutionize data processing, graphics, and artificial intelligence (AI), making it an attractive investment opportunity.
China’s success in silicon photonics may also provide a competitive edge against US export controls on advanced chip-making technologies, which have hindered the growth of traditional semiconductors.
Source: https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/china-silicon-photonics-chip-breakthrough