Objective
The exponential growth of data driven by the rapid expansion of information technologies is creating a major bottleneck for data centers, which must meet the resulting surge in processing, storage, and energy demands. A modern data center consists of thousands of computers interconnected by optical fibers, implying that data must be converted from electronic signals within the computers to optical signals to be transmitted along the fibers. The devices that perform this crucial functionality are electro-optic modulators, which are silicon photonic chips that modulate an optical resonator back and forth in wavelength. The current modulator technology requires that each resonator be wavelength-locked to the input-laser to compensate for fabrication variations in resonator-modulator production. Tuning in today’s modulator technology relies on heaters, which are effective because they provide wide tuning ranges due to the temperature-dependent refractive index of silicon. This technology is widely deployed in today’s data centers and across the Internet and it works, evidently, extremely well. However, it has a major drawback: these heaters require constant power and are therefore intrinsically power-hungry. In addition, they require water cooling, are complex to operate, and pose a scaling bottleneck due to thermal cross-talk. This ERC PoC project aims to validate and accelerate the commercial potential of a heater-free all-silicon photonic modulator that directly builds on breakthroughs from the ERC Consolidator project, SPOTLIGHT, and eliminates the continuous thermal tuning required in electro-optic modulators. With hundreds of billions of euros invested annually in new data centers, the potential impact on both the environment and European strategic autonomy is significant. The business opportunity is correspondingly huge. Key elements of the PoC project include a prototype demonstrator, benchmarking, IP/patenting, business plan, and partner validation.
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.
- engineering and technology materials engineering fibers
- natural sciences computer and information sciences internet
- natural sciences chemical sciences inorganic chemistry metalloids
- natural sciences physical sciences optics fibre optics
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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.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
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-ERC-POC - HORIZON ERC Proof of Concept 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) ERC-2026-POC
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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.
2800 Kongens Lyngby
Denmark
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.