Rapid Photonics, a spin-off from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, has announced a significant boost to its innovative endeavors with a €300K convertible loan from Innovatiefonds Noord-Holland.
This strategic funding is earmarked for advancing the market readiness of integrated photonic chips using lithium niobate (LN), a material poised to revolutionize Photonic Integrated Circuits (PICs) with its unique properties.
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Unlocking the Potential of Lithium Niobate
Lithium niobate stands out for its potential to replace traditional materials like Silicon (Si) and Indium Phosphide (InP) in ultra-high-speed data communication, quantum computing, and Artificial Intelligence applications. The advent of thin-film LN wafers, known as Lithium Niobate on Insulator (LNOI), marks a significant advancement towards realizing LN-based PICs. However, the challenges in fabricating PICs on LNOI have hindered the full exploitation of LN’s potential until now.
Rapid Photonics’ Groundbreaking Technology
Rapid Photonics addresses these fabrication challenges with its patented PIC production technology, DEpicT (Direct Etch-less photonic integrated circuits Technology). DEpicT enables the production of low-loss waveguides in LNOI with high yield, short lead times, and at an affordable cost. This 100 percent CMOS-compatible technology facilitates the seamless scale-up of PIC production in conventional Si PIC foundries.
The company collaborates with selected partners for electrical and optical integration, packaging, and testing, supporting the integration of both passive and active photonic components. With ongoing development for additional active components, Rapid Photonics is at the forefront of unlocking the full potential of lithium niobate PICs.
A Step Towards Commercialization
Steven Tan, Co-Founder of Rapid Photonics, highlighted the years of research that have demonstrated lithium niobate’s capabilities in data rate and energy efficiency. “Our technology is going to change that. We are very pleased with the support of the Innovation Fund North Holland that will enable us to take the first steps toward commercialization,” Tan stated.
Backing from Innovatiefonds Noord-Holland
The Innovation Fund North Holland, an initiative supported by various academic and research institutions, provides convertible loans to entrepreneurs in the Proof-of-Concept phase. Wouter Keij, Fund Manager of Innovatiefonds Noord-Holland, commended Rapid Photonics for its innovative etchless production process and its contribution to the Netherlands’ technological position in the field of photonics.
With this convertible loan, Rapid Photonics is set to make significant strides in the photonic industry, offering scalable and sustainable solutions for the next generation of photonic integrated circuits.
