India Advances Tech self-reliance with Silicon Photonics Launch

On Friday, India marked a pivotal advancement in achieving technological self-reliance with the launch of indigenous Silicon Photonics solutions at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT-Madras) in Chennai. These solutions, including a Process Design Kit (PDK) and a programmable photonic chip test engine, were unveiled by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).

This launch, hailed as a major milestone by Secretary MeitY S Krishnan, positions India's Silicon Photonics on par with global innovations. He emphasized the need for a Silicon Photonics fabrication lab under the India Semiconductor Mission to complement this achievement. The Process Design Kit boasts over 50 verified components, empowering industries, startups, and academic sectors to produce advanced chips domestically.

Furthermore, the Universal Programmable Photonic Integrated Circuit (PPIC) Test Engine offers a dynamic platform for testing photonic and optoelectronic modules across various applications. Amitesh Sinha, Additional Secretary, MeitY, underscored the technology's expansive potential in classical and quantum realms. He suggested support under the forthcoming ISM 2.0 program and discussed the potential establishment of a Silicon Photonics fabrication plant following market validation.

Preparations at the IIT Madras center are underway to enhance capabilities by year-end, according to Chief Investigator Prof. Bijoy Krishna Das. Starting Q3 of this financial year, the center plans to facilitate Silicon Photonics manufacturing runs while providing testing, packaging, and module characterization. This initiative aligns with a Product Research, Development, and Manufacturing model and aims to serve as a national facility within India's photonics R&D landscape.

(With inputs from agencies.)