A new competence centre that aims to connect Finland with the wider European chips ecosystem was recently awarded four years worth of funding from the EU.
The Finnish Chips Competence Centre (FiCCC), part of the Chips for Europe Initiative, will support the development of advanced chip technologies and solutions, opening new possibilities for their use and, in turn, drive increased demand and business opportunities for semiconductor providers.
But how will the new centre support photonics technologies? Juha Purmonen, Executive Director at Photonics Finland talks to Electro Optics about Finland’s strengths in light-based technologies and what the new investment means for European photonics SMEs.
How will FiCCC support chip sovereignty in Europe?
FiCCC will act as a gateway between Finnish chip competencies and the broader European ecosystem, ensuring European industry gains access to leading-edge Finnish expertise. By advancing high-performance, energy-efficient system-on-chip designs and specialised manufacturing processes, FiCCC will play a critical role in reducing Europe’s reliance on external supply chains and bolstering self-sufficiency in chip technologies.
Additionally, FiCCC will serve as a one-stop shop for technical support, connecting SMEs, start-ups, and other stakeholders to pilot lines, design platforms, and technical experimentation opportunities, making chip innovation more accessible.
What are the most exciting chip innovations SMEs are working on in integrated photonics in Finland/Europe?
Finnish SMEs and European innovators are at the forefront of integrated photonics, developing chips for applications that address global challenges.
For example, HyCom Core, a member of Photonics Finland, is revolutionising connectivity between AI clusters by developing broadband optical links based on its proprietary thin-film lithium niobate platform. Their ultra-compact optical transceiver (UCOT) platform leverages cutting-edge thin-film lithium niobate (TFLN) waveguide technology, enabling unprecedented data rates and energy efficiency for next-generation optical networks.
ElFys, another Photonics Finland member, has developed a patented Black Silicon Induced Junction Photodiode that captures nearly 100% of light rays – compared to about two-thirds in traditional light sensors. This technology delivers superior sensitivity across a wide spectral range, especially in the ultraviolet spectrum, and at ultra-wide viewing angles. Such advancements open up significant improvements for applications in medical diagnostics, imaging, and industrial sensing.
These innovations highlight how Finnish SMEs are pushing the boundaries of photonics technologies. Their solutions contribute to advancements in optical connectivity, light sensing, telecommunications, and industrial applications, strengthening Europe’s position as a leader in integrated photonics.
What are the challenges for Finnish/European integrated photonics companies?
Access to pilot manufacturing facilities:
SMEs often lack the resources to scale prototypes into production. FiCCC addresses this challenge by offering access to pilot lines and technical experimentation platforms.
Market entry barriers:
Competing globally requires significant investments in infrastructure, partnerships, and technology readiness.
Fragmented supply chains:
Ensuring access to high-quality photonics components within Europe remains a challenge.
Material availability and trade restrictions:
The availability of critical materials for photonics and semiconductor manufacturing, such as rare-earth elements and specialised substrates, poses a significant challenge. Geopolitical uncertainties and the risk of import restrictions can disrupt supply chains, further emphasising the need for European-level solutions to secure material access and independence.
Through collaboration and shared infrastructure, FiCCC helps overcome these hurdles by fostering innovation networks, improving access to shared resources, and strengthening Europe’s photonics ecosystem against global risks.
What else would you like to see happen in Europe to support integrated photonics?
To fully leverage the potential of integrated photonics in Europe, several key actions are needed:
Recognising the importance of photonics and ensuring proper infrastructure and funding:
Photonics is a foundational technology for next-generation applications in telecommunications, quantum computing, sensing, and AI. It is essential that Europe acknowledges its strategic importance by investing in robust infrastructure, pilot lines, and long-term innovation funding. This will allow SMEs and start-ups to scale their innovations and bring disruptive technologies to market.
Highlighting national strengths and connecting them across Europe:
Europe has strong photonics hubs, such as Finland, where specific expertise in areas like Photonic Integrated Circuits (PICs), optoelectronics, and quantum technologies has emerged. It is critical to highlight these national centers of excellence and foster collaboration across EU member states to create a well-connected, synergistic innovation network.
Strengthening international collaboration:
While competition exists on a global scale, collaboration with key photonics and semiconductor leaders such as the United States, Taiwan, and Japan offers significant opportunities, particularly in application development. By sharing knowledge, aligning standards, and fostering joint innovation projects, Europe can strengthen its position in the global photonics ecosystem while addressing common challenges.
By implementing these measures, Europe can solidify its leadership in integrated photonics and ensure the sector’s long-term competitiveness, innovation, and impact.
How will the centre support photonics technologies specifically?
Photonics is integral to FiCCC’s core activities, particularly in its focus on specialised microelectronics processes. FiCCC emphasises the development of quantum technologies, MEMS, RF, and optoelectronics—all areas where photonics plays a pivotal role. One key focus area is photonic integrated circuits (PICs), which are essential for enabling advanced applications in data communication, sensing, and quantum technologies.
In Finland, there is a growing number of SMEs and start-ups specialising in photonics technologies. These companies need access to European-level pilot line services to scale up their innovations from prototypes to production. FiCCC ensures that these SMEs can leverage its networks, infrastructure, and expertise to advance their photonics-based solutions.
Additionally, FiCCC supports the highly active photonics start-up ecosystem in Finland by providing opportunities for networking and collaboration. By acting as a bridge to European competence centres and pilot lines, FiCCC helps photonics innovators access the tools, platforms, and partnerships they need to succeed in a competitive global market.
This article was originally released by Electro Optics.
