Swiss PIC inaugurates manufacturing center for photonic integration

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Villigen - The Swiss Photonics Integration Center (Swiss PIC) has officially opened its manufacturing centre for the integration of light-based microchips at Park Innovaare. The aim here is to make it easier for photonics companies, particularly those with smaller production volumes in particular to launch their products on the market.

(CONNECT) Photonics combines electronic and optical components. Their integration requires precision to less than one thousandth of a millimeter, which is a particular challenge for photonics companies with small production quantities.

For this reason, the Swiss Photonics Integration Center has inaugurated a manufacturing centre for the integration of light-based microchips at its headquarters in Park Innovaare situated in the immediate vicinity of the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI). According to a press release, this center is home to high-precision machines, specially developed processes and extensive experience, which are resources typically lacking at start-ups and SMEs in particular. “Swiss PIC assembles photonic microchips for technology companies with industry-standard connectors, thus enabling rapid access to a much wider range of applications than would be possible with microchips lacking such connectors”, explains Christoph Harder, CEO of Swiss PIC, in the press release.

In this way, Swiss PIC is breaking down barriers for companies seeking to launch their products on the market, as Kirsten Moselund, head of the Laboratory for Nano and Quantum Technologies in the PSI Center for Photon Science and co-initiator of Swiss PIC, explains: “Swiss PIC’s manufacturing center for photonic integration, located next to the PICO cleanroom in Park Innovaare, contributes to establishing it as a hub for industrial and research activity in photonics”.

Dieter Egli, a member of the cantonal government of the canton of Aargau who heads up the Department of Economic Affairs and the Interior, is proud of the technology transfer center for photonics: “We see the opening of the Swiss PIC manufacturing center for photonic integration as recognition of our excellent location”.

Swiss PIC was founded in 2023 by industry and research stakeholders. The technology transfer center is based in Park Innovaare in Villigen in the canton of Aargau. Alongside the PSI, OST - Eastern Switzerland University of Applied Sciences, the association Swissphotonics and the companies Ligentec from Ecublens in the canton of Vaud and Polariton Technologies based in Adliswil in the canton of Zurich are also involved. ce/ug