UK’s CORNERSTONE photonics innovation centre to boost silicon photonics innovation
The UK’s silicon photonics (SiPh) ecosystem is set for a major step forward with the launch of the CORNERSTONE Photonics Innovation Centre (C-PIC), designed to act as the national hub for research-to-market innovation.
Building on decades of academic excellence and open-access fabrication initiatives, C-PIC aims to accelerate prototyping, foster cross-industry collaboration, and strengthen the UK’s position in the global SiPh supply chain.
SiPh, already transformative in data centres and telecoms, is now poised for emerging applications in quantum computing, LiDAR, biosensing, and AI acceleration.
Adoption, however, is challenged by integration costs, toolchain maturity, and fragmented collaboration.
C-PIC addresses these hurdles by combining industry-aligned fabrication, open-access design enablement, and early engagement with investors and application specialists.
Its state-of-the-art facilities, including JEOL electron beam lithography systems, allow researchers and start-ups to prototype designs aligned with real-world system requirements.
The UK already benefits from world-class research at the University of Southampton’s Optoelectronics Research Centre, a growing base of photonics SMEs, and support from initiatives like ChipStart UK, which has helped companies raise over £25 million since 2023.
Government-backed programmes through UKRI, EPSRC, and Innovate UK, alongside international engagement such as Taiwan’s ITRI opening a London office, further strengthen the UK’s global standing.
With SiPh projected to grow at 26–30% CAGR to 2030, C-PIC’s coordinated approach aims to turn research strength into market-ready solutions, giving the UK a competitive edge in integrated photonics innovation.
