Periodic Reporting for period 1 - AMICA (Adaptive microcombs for innovative connectivity in datacenter applications and optical clocks)
Reporting period: 2024-08-01 to 2025-07-31
The demand for global data traffic is growing at an unprecedented rate, with data centres and supercomputers already responsible for more than 75% of Internet traffic. This trend poses major technological, economic, and environmental challenges, as the energy consumption of data centres is projected to reach 3.2% of Europe’s total energy demand by 2030. Amica addresses this challenge by developing a new class of chip-scale multi-wavelength laser sources, known as super-efficient photonic molecule microcombs. These devices can provide many optical channels simultaneously, enabling faster and more energy-efficient communication links inside and between data centres. The project brings together leading academic partners, an industrial leader in datacentre interconnects, and a high-tech start-up to advance this disruptive photonics technology from the laboratory towards market deployment.
Amica’s objectives are to:
· Demonstrate prototype microcomb modules that meet the performance requirements of next-generation co-packaged optics (CPO).
· Prepare scalable manufacturing routes through heterogeneous integration.
· Validate the technology in relevant applications such as optical communication and optical clocks.
· Develop a credible pathway to commercialization via the start-up Solinide Photonics AB (formerly Iloomina AB).
By achieving these objectives, Amica will support Europe’s strategic goals in digital sovereignty, semiconductor leadership, and energy-efficient ICT.
Amica’s objectives are to:
· Demonstrate prototype microcomb modules that meet the performance requirements of next-generation co-packaged optics (CPO).
· Prepare scalable manufacturing routes through heterogeneous integration.
· Validate the technology in relevant applications such as optical communication and optical clocks.
· Develop a credible pathway to commercialization via the start-up Solinide Photonics AB (formerly Iloomina AB).
By achieving these objectives, Amica will support Europe’s strategic goals in digital sovereignty, semiconductor leadership, and energy-efficient ICT.
In the first year, Amica has:
· Advanced scientific breakthroughs in the design and fabrication of microcombs on a wafer-scalable silicon nitride platform.
· Demonstrated high-yield devices with low losses and record stability, consolidating Europe’s leadership in this field.
· Initiated system-level work with Nvidia for C-WDM and D-WDM demonstrators, preparing for multi-terabit communication testing.
· Progressed heterogeneous integration methods using micro-transfer printing to couple III-V gain materials with passive silicon nitride circuits.
· Expanded the intellectual property portfolio, including patents on control techniques and multilayer integration.
These achievements represent a strong foundation for reaching TRL6 demonstrators and preparing the industrialisation phase foreseen in later stages of the project.
· Advanced scientific breakthroughs in the design and fabrication of microcombs on a wafer-scalable silicon nitride platform.
· Demonstrated high-yield devices with low losses and record stability, consolidating Europe’s leadership in this field.
· Initiated system-level work with Nvidia for C-WDM and D-WDM demonstrators, preparing for multi-terabit communication testing.
· Progressed heterogeneous integration methods using micro-transfer printing to couple III-V gain materials with passive silicon nitride circuits.
· Expanded the intellectual property portfolio, including patents on control techniques and multilayer integration.
These achievements represent a strong foundation for reaching TRL6 demonstrators and preparing the industrialisation phase foreseen in later stages of the project.
Amica’s technology achieves several breakthroughs compared to existing multi-wavelength laser solutions:
· Four-fold scalability in channel count while maintaining stable channel spacing.
· High wall-plug efficiency, significantly improving energy consumption.
· Wafer-scalability and high yield, essential for mass production.
· Reconfigurability of comb spacing, enabling both coarse and dense WDM applications.
These results create new opportunities for Europe in datacentre interconnects, optical clocks, and precision sensing. To ensure uptake, further work will focus on:
· Large-scale pilot production through European foundries.
· Strengthening the business model of Solinide for investment readiness.
· Engagement with end-users in telecom sectors.
· Four-fold scalability in channel count while maintaining stable channel spacing.
· High wall-plug efficiency, significantly improving energy consumption.
· Wafer-scalability and high yield, essential for mass production.
· Reconfigurability of comb spacing, enabling both coarse and dense WDM applications.
These results create new opportunities for Europe in datacentre interconnects, optical clocks, and precision sensing. To ensure uptake, further work will focus on:
· Large-scale pilot production through European foundries.
· Strengthening the business model of Solinide for investment readiness.
· Engagement with end-users in telecom sectors.