Project description
New technology for photonics communication devices
From optics to healthcare, the photonics sector is improving our daily lives. In this context, the EU-funded ULTRAPHO project aims to validate and commercialise a novel photonics concept which will boost Europe’s semiconductor industry to a world-leading level in the field of photonics technologies and devices that use graphene to increase the data transmission capacity of optical fibres. Specifically, using new fabrication technology and tools developed, the consortium will bring to market an ultrafast broadband graphene photodetector that is key for data centres and 5G infrastructure.
Objective
Goal of the ULTRAPHO FTI project is to change the market for photonic communication devices by bringing a groundbreaking technology to the market. The final goal is to establish a novel world leading enterprise in the semiconductor industry in the EU. Supported by major players like Nokia, Sony, and GLOBALFOUNDRIES, the consortium members will become worldwide leaders in the emerging field of photonic technologies and devices.
The fundamentally new high-speed photonic devices use graphene to increase data transmission capacity of optical fibers. Together with novel fabrication and characterization tools and technology developed and marketed by the consortium the whole value chain from fabrication to the final product is covered. The consortium markets an ultrafast and broadband graphene photodetector which is of increasing importance for datacenters or 5G infrastructure. Moreover, the fabrication technology and tools for automated assembly and characterization will also be commercialized by the consortium.
The ULTRAPHO objectives are:
• To create a novel ultrafast photodetector that increases the data transmission capacity of optical fibers and validate it for industrial acceptance
• Market a mass production process for graphene-on-wafer fabrication
• Increase yield of the fabrication process and optimize quality control
• Market tools for automated assembly and characterization on wafer level of high-speed photonic devices
• Scale the production capacity to 10,000 wafers per year
Consortium members patented world-leading technology and with the help of the ULTRAPHO project get the final boost to bring the novel technology to a market worth 41 B€ in 2022 (CAGR 37%).
Fields of science
- engineering and technologymaterials engineeringfibers
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringinformation engineeringtelecommunicationstelecommunications networksmobile network5G
- engineering and technologynanotechnologynano-materialstwo-dimensional nanostructuresgraphene
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringsensorsoptical sensors
- natural sciencesphysical sciencesopticsfibre optics
Keywords
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
IA - Innovation actionCoordinator
20009 Donostia
Spain
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.