Project description
Overcoming scaling challenges in artificial intelligence and machine learning datacenters
The exponential growth of data, fuelled by technologies like AI and blockchain, puts a strain on data centre networks, creating challenges in bandwidth, signal integrity and power. As demand for compute power escalates, data centre operators struggle to keep pace, hindering efficiency and scalability. At the same time, proposed solutions like co-packaged optics and optical I/O face constraints in fibre and wavelength count, limiting system scaling potential. With this in mind, the EIC-funded COCOPOP project pioneers coherent optical communication solutions, introducing the first coherent-capable external laser source to enhance current systems and future-proof scalability. Partnering with Pilot Photonics, the project leverages chip-scale frequency comb technology to achieve unprecedented performance in linewidth, intensity noise and wavelength stability.
Objective
The volume of data produced, managed and consumed continues to grow exponentially driven by emerging technologies like machine learning, artificial intelligence and blockchain. Demand for compute power to support these services is growing at 10X every 18 months and datacenter operators are struggling to keep up. Significant challenges have emerged in datacentre networks around bandwidth, signal integrity, power and face-plate density.
The migration of the optical interconnect to the board (Co-Packaged Optics, CPO) and to the chip (Optical I/O, OIO) has been proposed as a potential solution, however only a few years into this new paradigm, two of the available dimensions for system scaling (fiber, and wavelength count) are already heavily utilised, posing scaling challenges in the near term. Today’s CPO/OIO systems use intensity modulation/direct detection, but given these pressures, a transition to coherent is inevitable. COCOPOP will deliver the first coherent-capable external laser source (ELS) which benefits today’s systems, and also future-proofs them by enabling full exploitation of the third scaling dimension-bit rate/wavelength-through coherent communication. In doing so, Pilot Photonics will capture for Europe a key position in this strategically important market segment, forecasted to grow to $2.2bn by 2032.
Building upon developments in EIC “PICOMB”, the chip-scale frequency comb that will be matured and commercialised through COCOPOP brings many benefits over commercial state of the art DFB arrays, such as unmatched linewidth, relative intensity noise, output power, and wavelength stability derived from the synchronisation and locking of independent lasers with a low linewidth, frequency-locked optical frequency comb (OFC).
PILOT has a proven track record in commercially exploiting the outcomes of advanced R&D programmes in the area of chip-scale OFC technology and we intend for the COCOPOP ELS to be on the market within two years of COCOPOP project end.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences computer and information sciences computer security cryptography
- natural sciences computer and information sciences artificial intelligence machine learning
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Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.3.1 - The European Innovation Council (EIC)
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Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
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Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
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Call for proposal
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Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-EIC-2023-TRANSITION-01
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9 Dublin
Ireland
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