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Photonics Driving Economic Growth in Europe - Photonics21

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74 Towards 2020 – <strong>Photonics</strong> driv<strong>in</strong>g economic growth <strong>in</strong> <strong>Europe</strong><br />

Wafer-level probe test<strong>in</strong>g<br />

on 200/300 mm silicon wafers.<br />

© CEA-Leti<br />

<strong>Photonics</strong> will provide the<br />

next level of performance<br />

for ICs, provid<strong>in</strong>g data l<strong>in</strong>ks<br />

across <strong>in</strong>dividual chips,<br />

as well as optical <strong>in</strong>ter-<br />

connects between devices<br />

with<strong>in</strong> a subsystem.<br />

with developments <strong>in</strong> new optical elements, such<br />

as stacked micro-optics technologies and free-<br />

form optical surfaces. The emergence of laser-<br />

assisted manufactur<strong>in</strong>g processes and of pr<strong>in</strong>t<strong>in</strong>g<br />

technology for additive deposition of functional<br />

materials offers further potential for enhanc<strong>in</strong>g<br />

competitiveness.<br />

Major opportunities will result from a close coupl<strong>in</strong>g<br />

of advanced photonics with current trends<br />

<strong>in</strong> microelectronics. For example, we are already<br />

see<strong>in</strong>g the application of powerful digital signal<br />

process<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> l<strong>in</strong>k equalisation for high-speed telecommunications<br />

systems (40Gbit/s, 100Gbit/s),<br />

as well as <strong>in</strong> data communications over shorter<br />

l<strong>in</strong>ks. This approach is revolutionis<strong>in</strong>g the design<br />

of such systems and allow<strong>in</strong>g photonics to reach<br />

new levels of performance and cost-effectiveness.<br />

Close <strong>in</strong>tegration of photonics with electronics is<br />

also of major importance for micro-opto-electromechanical<br />

systems (MOEMS), sensors and medical<br />

devices. It is vital that we accept and embrace the<br />

importance of electronics <strong>in</strong> photonic systems,<br />

and work to <strong>in</strong>tegrate the photonic and electronic<br />

parts very closely <strong>in</strong> our research and development<br />

strategy.<br />

We note that IC manufacturers and processor<br />

architects are <strong>in</strong>creas<strong>in</strong>gly look<strong>in</strong>g to photonics<br />

to provide the next level of performance <strong>in</strong> their<br />

devices, for <strong>in</strong>stance <strong>in</strong> provid<strong>in</strong>g data l<strong>in</strong>ks across<br />

<strong>in</strong>dividual chips, as well as optical <strong>in</strong>terconnects<br />

between devices with<strong>in</strong> a given subsystem. Besides<br />

improved functional performance, such approaches<br />

can also lead to significant improvements <strong>in</strong> power<br />

efficiency. The merg<strong>in</strong>g of electronic and photonic<br />

technologies at the circuit level will accord<strong>in</strong>gly<br />

be a vital area of research. We anticipate that hybrid<br />

and heterogeneous <strong>in</strong>tegration techniques<br />

(for example, 3-dimensional multi-chip modules,<br />

III-V layers on active silicon ICs, dielectric/semiconductor<br />

hybrids) will augment the capabilities of<br />

photonics based purely on silicon. These advances<br />

must be supported by appropriate efforts on device<br />

packag<strong>in</strong>g, as well as a holistic approach to<br />

<strong>in</strong>tegrated systems design.<br />

At the level of build<strong>in</strong>g electronic systems <strong>in</strong>corporat<strong>in</strong>g<br />

photonic signal distribution and process<strong>in</strong>g,<br />

new system <strong>in</strong>tegration approaches and<br />

manu factur<strong>in</strong>g techniques are required <strong>in</strong> order to<br />

achieve maximum gear<strong>in</strong>g from the photonic<br />

<strong>in</strong>fra structure. We note here electro-optical circuit<br />

board (ECOPB) techniques and advanced<br />

module concepts, such as will be required for<br />

next-generation processors, communications and<br />

<strong>in</strong>formation storage systems. Over the past decade,<br />

<strong>Europe</strong>an research <strong>in</strong>stitutes and companies<br />

have spear headed research and development <strong>in</strong><br />

the field of circuit board embedded optical l<strong>in</strong>k<br />

solutions employ<strong>in</strong>g planar optical waveguides<br />

<strong>in</strong> polymer or glass. <strong>Europe</strong> must leverage its currently<br />

unparalleled expertise <strong>in</strong> this field towards<br />

the development of commercially viable processes<br />

for the manufacture of electro-optical circuit boards<br />

and modules, thereby secur<strong>in</strong>g a global competitive<br />

advantage. ECOB technology forms a vital<br />

part of the photonic eco-system of tiered optical<br />

<strong>in</strong>terconnect solutions outl<strong>in</strong>ed <strong>in</strong> this roadmap.<br />

<strong>Europe</strong>an manufacturers have built up an enviable<br />

position <strong>in</strong> global markets for semiconductor

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