Introduction: A New Era of Convergence Between Photonics and Microelectronics
The boundary between photonics and microelectronics is rapidly dissolving. On October 23, 2025, the IPCEI ME/CT community hosted its fifth webinar, titled “Bridging Photonics and Microelectronics: Insights from IPCEI ME/CT Experts.”
This event attracted over 100 participants, highlighting the growing importance of hybrid electronic–photonic systems in reshaping industries — from quantum computing and advanced manufacturing to automotive sensing and medical diagnostics.
Why Integration Matters for Europe’s Technological Future
Photonics — the science of generating and manipulating light — underpins everything from fiber optics to quantum systems. Microelectronics, on the other hand, powers the digital logic and control layers behind nearly every smart device.
Bridging these two realms enables energy-efficient, high-speed, and miniaturized technologies that could define the next wave of European innovation.
IPCEI ME/CT’s Fifth Webinar: A Gathering of Innovators
The IPCEI ME/CT initiative (Important Project of Common European Interest on Microelectronics and Communication Technologies) continues to foster collaboration between academia, industry, and policymakers.
This webinar showcased how materials science, system integration, and industrial-scale collaboration are working hand in hand.
Spotlight on the Speakers
The event featured three prominent voices in the field:
Prof. Andreas Waag – Pioneering GaN-Based Photonic Systems
Professor Andreas Waag, from TU Braunschweig’s Nitride Technology Center (NTC), delved into the crucial role of Gallium Nitride (GaN) in bridging photonics and electronics. His research demonstrates how GaN-on-silicon enables novel hybrid devices, reducing complexity while improving performance.
Dr. Martin Strassburg – Shaping Intelligent Digital Light
Representing ams-OSRAM, Dr. Martin Strassburg, Deputy Chair of the IPCEI ME/CT Facilitation Group, presented cutting-edge developments in digital light — where micro-LEDs and driver circuits merge into a new class of intelligent, addressable light sources.
Olivier Kellener – Building the European Photonics Supply Chain
Olivier Kellener of X-FAB highlighted the Photonics Fab project, a major European initiative uniting 12 partners from nine countries to establish a complete supply chain for photonics integrated circuits (PICs).
Miniaturisation in Photonics: The Role of GaN and CMOS Integration
Understanding Gallium Nitride (GaN) in Microelectronics and Photonics
Unlike silicon, which dominates classical microelectronics, GaN offers superior optical and electronic properties — including wide bandgap, high thermal stability, and efficient light emission.
These features make it a prime candidate for hybrid integration with CMOS chips, allowing both optical and electronic functionalities on a single platform.
Applications: Ion-Trap Quantum Computing and Optical Neuromorphic Systems
Professor Waag discussed two breakthrough applications:
- Photonics for ion-trap quantum computing, where lasers manipulate ions in ultra-precise configurations.
- Optical neuromorphic computing, where micro-LED arrays coupled with CMOS backplanes mimic neural networks, achieving energy-efficient machine learning at the chip level.
The Future of GaN-CMOS Hybrid Platforms
By merging GaN emitters with CMOS control circuitry, Europe can lead in integrated photonic circuits — paving the way for smaller, faster, and more sustainable devices.
This integration also opens new markets in LiDAR, AR displays, and quantum communication.
Intelligent Digital Light: Transforming Human–Machine Interfaces
Micro-LEDs and Sensor Integration: The Power of Miniaturisation
Dr. Strassburg’s presentation highlighted ams-OSRAM’s innovation in micro-LED bonding, where each pixel becomes individually controllable.
This enables a new generation of adaptive, high-resolution lighting and AR micro-displays that blend the physical and digital worlds.
Next-Generation Applications: AR Displays, Automotive, and Data Communication
Applications include:
- Adaptive headlights that respond to driving conditions,
- Augmented reality (AR) systems for immersive visualization,
- Optical interconnects in data centers for ultra-fast, energy-efficient communication.
How Optoelectronic Integration Drives Energy Efficiency
These systems combine sensing, illumination, and visualization in one compact form — dramatically reducing power consumption while enhancing functionality across consumer and industrial domains.
Building the European Photonics Supply Chain: The Photonics Fab Project
A Pan-European Collaboration Worth €47.6 Million
Olivier Kellener’s Photonics Fab project represents a €47.6 million investment aimed at establishing Europe’s first complete photonic IC supply chain.
The project integrates design, prototyping, and high-volume manufacturing, ensuring European independence in critical semiconductor technologies.
Key Industrial and Research Partners
Key partners include X-FAB, Smart Photonics, iMEC, Luceda, and CEA-Leti, with industrial demonstrators from Nokia, NVIDIA, and Teleste.
This consortium bridges academic research and industrial application, leveraging Europe’s strength in heterogeneous integration (Si, SiN, and InP technologies).
Impact on Telecom, Quantum, Automotive, and Healthcare Sectors
Photonics Fab targets high-impact domains:
- Telecom and datacom, via high-speed optical links,
- Quantum computing, through photon-based qubits,
- Automotive sensing, via LiDAR and optical radar,
- Medical diagnostics, enabling compact, real-time biosensors.
Key Takeaways: Where Photonics Meets Microelectronics
Material Innovation as the Cornerstone of Progress
Advanced materials like GaN, InP, and SiN are essential to creating new device architectures that blend light and logic.
Device-Level Integration for Smarter Systems
Combining optoelectronic and microelectronic systems leads to faster, more efficient, and intelligent applications — from AI chips to photonic processors.
Collaborative Infrastructure for a Resilient Europe
Projects like Photonics Fab show that collaboration between R&D centers, industry, and policymakers is key to Europe’s technological sovereignty.
Expert Insights from IPCEI ME/CT: Building the Future Together
How Industry and Academia Are Bridging the Gap
IPCEI ME/CT fosters a multi-sector collaboration model that accelerates innovation and commercialization — ensuring research translates into real-world impact.
Policy and Investment Opportunities for Europe’s Leadership
With the European Commission backing these initiatives, photonics–microelectronics integration is positioned as a strategic enabler for the continent’s digital future.
Conclusion: The Road Ahead for Integrated Photonic-Electronic Systems
The fifth IPCEI ME/CT webinar made one thing clear: Europe is at the forefront of merging light and logic.
From GaN-based miniaturisation to intelligent digital lighting and European-scale manufacturing initiatives, the continent is building the foundation for a smarter, greener, and more connected future.
Stay tuned for further updates at the Annual IPCEI ME/CT Forum 2025 in The Hague, where more milestones in photonics–microelectronics integration will be unveiled.
FAQs About IPCEI ME/CT and the Future of Photonics–Microelectronics Integration
1. What is IPCEI ME/CT and what does it stand for?
It stands for Important Project of Common European Interest on Microelectronics and Communication Technologies, a collaborative framework advancing Europe’s semiconductor ecosystem.
2. Why is the integration of photonics and microelectronics important?
It enables energy-efficient, miniaturized, and high-performance systems vital for AI, quantum computing, and next-generation communication networks.
3. What are the main technologies discussed during the webinar?
Key technologies include Gallium Nitride (GaN), micro-LEDs, and Photonic Integrated Circuits (PICs).
4. How does GaN contribute to miniaturisation and energy efficiency?
GaN offers high thermal stability and wide bandgap efficiency, allowing smaller devices with higher performance and lower energy use.
5. Which industries benefit from photonic–microelectronic integration?
Industries spanning telecom, automotive, healthcare, quantum computing, and consumer electronics stand to gain the most.
6. How can Europe strengthen its position in this emerging field?
By investing in R&D infrastructure, cross-border partnerships, and industrial-scale fabrication through initiatives like IPCEI ME/CT and Photonics Fab.