February 08, 2024 -- A new research centre at the University of Southampton aims to improve the development and commercialisation of silicon photonics technologies in the UK.

The Cornerstone silicon photonics Innovation and Knowledge Centre (IKC) will focus on the development of the technology across a wide range of applications, from data centre communications and sensing for healthcare, the environment and defence to quantum technologies, AI and LiDAR.

The aim of the £11m centre is to  bring together industry and research expertise to translate a wide range of silicon photonics technologies from research labs into industry, supporting the creation of new companies and jobs as part of the UK semiconductor strategy.

The new centre, funded by the UKRI innovation agency, will act as a shop front for UK expertise in semiconductors, using the C-PIC silicon photonics prototyping foundry at Southampton and working with researchers at the university of Glasgow.

“The CORNERSTONE IKC will unite leading UK entrepreneurs and researchers, together with a network of support to improve the commercialisation of semiconductors and deliver a step-change in the silicon photonics industry,” said Southampton IKC lead Professor Graham Reed (above right).

The Cornerstone IKC will be hosted at the Optoelectronics Research Centre (ORC) at the University of Southampton. Another IKC is being set up for high voltage semiconductors at the University of Bristol.