Project description
Photonic system energy efficiency and sustainability
For the EU to reach its Green Deal goals, it needs new technologies that make energy use much more efficient. These solutions will help switch to green alternatives while cutting emissions. Photonics systems are increasingly critical across a variety of technologies and applications, creating a unique opportunity to develop novel solutions that enhance their sustainability. The EIC-funded BLOSSOM project aims to develop and introduce a revolutionary solution that collects energy losses from photonic integrated components and reuses them to power the components, enabling their operation with nearly zero external power requirements. To achieve this, it will create electro-optical interfaces and utilise novel materials and methods to develop a self-sustaining photonic integrated module.
Objective
In the quest for efficient and sustainable technology solutions, innovative approaches to energy management are crucial. Our vision is to harness the parasitic energy (i.e. losses) of photonic integrated components and reuse it to drive the components themselves, enabling their operation with near zero external power requirements. This approach aims to revolutionize integrated photonics by drastically reducing energy consumption and enhancing sustainability.
We propose collecting these energy losses and release energy on demand back to the system. We plan to explore various types of harvesting interfaces, including electro-optical polymer-plasmonic joints, traditional PN junctions, and advanced approaches such as 2D materials based on graphene, as well as natural energy harvesting methods using synthetic photosystem complexes. These methods are expected to push the frontiers of interoperability between molecular physics, electronics, and integrated photonics.
A key element of our vision is the creation of a photonic integrated module that is self-sustaining. This module would be part of a machine where the parasitic energy collected triggers the system. This concept has the potential to pave the way for ultra-massive integrated photonic modular networks and neuromorphic solutions, where the size of the networks can scale exponentially without a significant increase in energy requirements.
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.
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Keywords
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)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
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.
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.
Funding Scheme
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.
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.
HORIZON-EIC - HORIZON EIC Grants
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-EIC-2025-PATHFINDEROPEN
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
36214 VIGO
Spain
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.