Modern technologies like the Internet of Things and upcoming 5G/6G networks demand computing systems that are faster, use less energy, and can handle large amounts of data efficiently. To meet these needs, new materials and approaches are required. Graphene and other two-dimensional materials offer a powerful solution. They can control light with incredible speed and precision, using very little power - reacting in just femtoseconds (a millionth of a billionth of a second). But to turn this into a real-world computing platform, these materials must be integrated with existing silicon-based technology, especially CMOS-compatible silicon nitride, offering low signal loss. This combination opens the door to creating compact, energy-efficient, high-speed optical circuits for general-purpose computing and memory - without relying on electronics. GATEPOST project aims to build and test such a graphene-based system using a real CMOS pilot production line.
GATEPOST has advanced the development of graphene-enhanced photonic technologies aimed at facilitating rapid detection of cybersecurity threats and a wider spectrum of high-velocity data applications. Notable accomplishments encompass the simulation, design, engineering of integrated photonic circuits, establishment graphene integration methodologies in CMOS pilot line, the creation of a reusable photonic design kit (PDK), and the advancement of microresonator-based optical frequency combs. Collectively, these innovations foster the realization of scalable, energy-efficient, and high-performance photonic systems applicable to cybersecurity, telecommunications, and neuromorphic computing.
