IBM teams up with AIM Photonics
Information technology giant joins initiative to enable advanced packaging designs and manufacturing of photonic integrated circuits (PIC). Announcement also includes IP licensing agreement.
The American Institute for Manufacturing Integrated Photonics (AIM Photonics) has announced a patent and intellectual property licensing agreement with IBM and confirmed that IBM has joined its photonics consortium. AIM Photonics views this as another significant step in the advancement of the silicon photonics industry in upstate New York.
The collaboration between IBM and AIM Photonics is expected to provide a path for the development of new technologies and products that will further solidify the consortium's position in the integrated photonics manufacturing ecosystem.
Additionally, the intellectual property licensing agreement with IBM will help AIM Photonics establish standard processes in the development of silicon photonics assemblies, such as couplings for communication signals and light sources. Industry and academic AIM Photonics members will access these technologies through a process design kit (PDK) and prototype development at the Rochester Test Assembly and Packaging (TAP) facility and the 300mm chip facility at SUNY Poly's Albany campus.
One of AIM Photonics' primary goals is to make Rochester a technology hub for silicon photonics manufacturing and packaging, generating both growth and job opportunities for the city of Rochester, Monroe County, and the State as a whole.
"Today's announcement furthers New York State's global leadership in developing next-generation integrated silicon photonics technologies," said Michael Liehr, AIM Photonics CEO and SUNY Poly Executive Vice President of Innovation and Technology and Vice President of Research. "Working side by side with IBM photonic PIC and packaging experts is a significant milestone for AIM Photonics as we continue to advance our capabilities and prepare the TAP facility."
Through its membership, IBM will contribute to the development of AIM Photonics' advanced integrated silicon photonics technology, packaging services, and other future offerings to make advanced technology available to AIM Photonics members and the wider technical community. IBM, together with the other industry partners and the affiliated universities, will play a significant role to direct advanced research activities of AIM Photonics towards new products.
Related reading -
Q&A: exploring the use of integrated optical platforms in IT and beyond (PIC International magazine, issue #2)
