India has launched two silicon photonics platforms to support chip design, testing, and manufacturing in photonic technologies.
Researchers at the MeitY-sponsored Centre of Excellence for CPPICS at Indian Institute of Technology Madras have developed two indigenous silicon photonics technology platforms aimed at strengthening India’s photonic chip design and testing capabilities, marking a significant step toward building domestic capacity in photonic integrated circuits (PICs).
The Silicon Photonics PDK, developed indigenously at the Centre, includes more than 50 verified components and is intended to serve as a critical design platform for industries, startups, academic institutions, and defence R&D organisations developing advanced photonic integrated circuits in India. The Universal PPIC Test Engine, also developed at the Centre, is an automated characterisation platform for photonic and optoelectronic modules designed to support a wide range of applications.
Alongside the launch, the next phase of technology development under the Centre was also initiated, with officials noting that India’s progress in silicon photonics is now aligned with global state-of-the-art capabilities. They emphasised that the next step would be to complement these advances by establishing a dedicated silicon photonics fabrication facility under the India Semiconductor Mission.
Officials also highlighted that the technologies developed under the Centre have applications across both classical and quantum domains and could be supported under the proposed ISM 2.0 R&D vertical through industry partnerships to accelerate technology development and productisation. They added that, following successful demonstration of commercial viability, a silicon photonics fabrication facility with integrated packaging capabilities could also be established.
The Centre of Excellence for CPPICS operates on a Product Research, Development, and Manufacturing (PRDM) model based on CMOS-compatible silicon photonics technology. It works with SilTerra as its foundry partner and Izmo Microsystems as its photonic IC packaging partner.
“Starting in Q3 of this financial year, our center will enable Silicon Photonics MPW fabrication runs while offering comprehensive testing, packaging, and module characterization,” said Chief Investigator Prof. Bijoy Krishna Das. “We deeply appreciate MeitY’s steadfast support in making this possible.”
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