According to the VDE, there is a need for action in the interlinking of basic research and industry. Although the German Research Foundation (DFG) is funding basic research for integrated electronic-photonic systems in a priority program, there is a lack of access to global cutting-edge technology for semiconductor production. "Today, semiconductor factories for such products are located almost exclusively in Asia or the USA," states the VDE position paper "Photonic-electrical integration" (p.8). Although this dependency has existed for a long time, it was rarely seen as a problem in the past and was compensated for by partnerships with international semiconductor manufacturers.

In the position paper, the VDE lists five other relevant fields of research for photonic-electronic integrated systems in addition to sensor technology.

© VDE

This general situation has now apparently changed. "Cooperation with leading commercial semiconductor manufacturers is absolutely essential, but has recently become increasingly difficult for cost/benefit reasons," warn the authors of the VDE position paper. As a way out - not only from the lack of semiconductor technology, but also for a faster transfer of photonic-electronic research into industrial products - they recommend three concrete measures. In general, the authors of the position paper consider the conditions in Germany to be "excellent" for solving the challenges in photonics and microelectronics and thus opening up a key technology for new applications in the areas of Industry 4.0, communication and mobility in Germany.

1st support program under the leadership of the industry

The gap between basic research and a product that can be produced on an industrial scale is to be closed by a funding program. To this end, the VDE is encouraging industry-led joint projects in which "promising photonic-electronic integrated solutions for communication and sensor technology" are to be researched and brought to application maturity. The association also includes the expansion of manufacturing capacities for prototypes and small series and the establishment of a network for manufacturing partners, which should also include international manufacturers.

2. further development of silicon

Silicon is considered the most important technology for the development of electronic-photonic components. According to the VDE, the hetero-integration of silicon photonics, silicon electronics and III-V compound semiconductors is to be promoted first and foremost. Cooperation with international semiconductor manufacturers is seen as essential for this. However, the current cooperation models are becoming less and less promising, so new ones need to be developed. A priority goal must be to provide SMEs and research institutions with access to cutting-edge technology for the commercialization of their developments.

Development of an industrial strategy

One development goal is the highly automated production of photonic-electronic integrated microchips. The basis for this must first be created in Germany. To this end, the VDE proposes a Germany-wide industrial strategy, which ideally would also include the European Union. The goal must be a "race to catch up or re-industrialization" with the resettlement of production and testing in the photonics and electronics sector. As part of this strategy, the VDE is calling for better tax incentives for R&D expenditure, a reduction in the high electricity and water costs typically associated with production and the promotion of production relocations.

Application area optical sensor technology

Optical sensors are considered a promising option for monitoring infrastructure, systems and in medical technology as a point-of-care diagnostic tool because optical signals can be transmitted in optical fibers with low attenuation. Two specific applications in which photonic-electronic integration is expected to increase performance are LiDAR-on-a-chip and a 3D imaging process for optical coherence tomography (OCT). Higher performance is to be achieved with optical oscillators, which have a lower phase noise than electrical oscillators.

THz signal sources can be provided optically by mixing two laser signal sources. A THz antenna and plasmonic transducer system is being investigated as a potential candidate for THz wave detection and 3D face recognition.

Photonics industry and market potential

The German photonics industry consists of around 1000 companies with around 135,000 employees. One focus is on optical communication technology: 50 companies, 20 universities and research institutes are involved in this field and five of the world's ten largest optical network equipment suppliers have R&D sites in Germany. The market research company Yole Devéloppement puts the market for silicon photonics components at 3.5 billion US dollars in 2025. Photonics also plays an important role in Germany today: the industry association Spectaris puts the turnover of the German photonics industry at €3 billion in 2018.

Sources:

[1] Photonic-electronic integration: key technology for communication technology and sensor technology. VDE position paper, VDE ITG, January 2021.