Paper 14100-33
Paper 14100-33
Monolithic PIC platforms developed in the PIXEurope pilot line for open access services (Invited Paper)
15 April 2026 • 10:30 - 11:00 CEST | Boston/Salon 11 (Niveau/Level 1)
Abstract
This paper gives an overview of the monolithic PIC technologies that are to be developed in the PIXEurope pilot line, which is one of the first five Chips JU pilot lines launched in Europe as part of the European Chips Act. The five-year PIXEurope project started in June 2025 and a selection of the first results obtained since then are reported here. However, the main goal of the paper is to provide an introduction to all the different monolithic PIC platforms that are planned to be developed in PIXEurope and to explain their complementarity for different applications, wavelength ranges and end-user needs. In particular, the presentation will introduce PIC platforms based on indium phosphide, 220 nm and 3 μm thick silicon-on-insulator, silicon nitride, aluminum oxide, silicon carbide and germanium. Together these PIC platforms can fulfil the needs for both passive and active PIC components in the wavelength range from UV and visible all the way to mid-infrared. The development of design kits, hybrid integration, packaging and testing for the PICs in PIXEurope is also briefly summarized.
Presenter
VTT Technical Research Ctr. of Finland Ltd. (Finland)
Timo Aalto works as a Research Team Leader at VTT, and leads the Silicon Photonics research team. His research focuses on the micron-scale silicon waveguides that are used to make ultra-compact and low-loss photonic integrated circuits for communication, imaging and sensing applications at near and mid infrared wavelengths. As one of the first pioneers in silicon photonics, Aalto has contributed to over 120 scientific publications, reviewed several EU projects, journal articles and theses, and coordinated large projects funded by EU, the European space agency, national funding organisations and the industry. Aalto received his D.Sc. (tech) degree in optoelectronics technology from the Helsinki University of Technology in 2004 and has worked in Silicon photonics research at VTT since 1997.