Partners
The WIPE consortium consists of seven partners, academia and industry.
Within the WIPE-project, two departments of the Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e, the Netherlands) are participating:
- The COBRA Research Institute for Optical Communication Technology and
- The Mixed-signal Micro-electronics (MSM) group.
The COBRA Research Institute for Optical Communication Technology is the Dutch National Center for Research on III/V semiconductors and optoelectronics. COBRA is one of the world’s leading institutes in the field of Photonic Integration and it holds a number of world records on device miniaturisation and integration complexity. It employs more than 150 scientists and technicians working on material, device and systems research.
The Mixed-signal Micro-electronics (MSM) group performs leading-edge research on RF and mm-wave transceiver circuits and high-speed, low-power integrated analog-to-digital converters. The group cooperates extensively with industry players such as NXP, Philips, SiTel, Xilinx and Catena. If possible, mainstream state-of-the-art technologies are used, such as deep sub-micron CMOS and SiGe, and where appropriate, circuits are implemented in special processes (GaAs, InP).
Role of TU/e in WIPE
Within the WIPE project, TU/e has three tasks: 1) Integration technology development; 2) Mixed signal IC design; 3) project co-ordination. COBRA defines and develops the processes to enable wafer to wafer bonding; designs and implements the structures which enable efficient optical coupling and high density electronic connections; performs tests and analysis for the bonded wafers. Design activities include photonic device and IC definition; characterisation activities include the verification of component performance.
IBM Research GmbH – Zürich Research Laboratory is the European branch of the IBM Research Division. IBM has a long experience in microelectronic and optical device technology. The activities in the Photonics group address both short to medium term needs in board-level optical links, as well as medium to long term opportunities in chip-to-chip and on-chip links. This application oriented group developed optical printed circuit board technology as well as innovative optical packaging concepts.
Role of IBM in WIPE
As a provider of server systems for wide range of applications including cloud, datacentre and HPC applications, IBM highly benefits from high performance (optical) links. IBM will provide driver chips to WIPE that are currently developed. Additionally, IBM is responsible for the the fiber-chip optical assembly and the device cooling technology.
SMART Photonics (Eindhoven, the Netherlands) is a pure-play foundry for InP photonics semiconductors. The company’s uniqueness lies in the fact that it combines pure-play foundry approach, a dedicated photonics cleanroom for InP semiconductors, an experienced engineering team, and a generic process in which customers can design based on functional building blocks, rather than using technological steps to design photonic chips from scratch. The building block method is common in electronics, but new for the photonics industry. SMART Photonics is the world’s first foundry to offer MPW services for InP based integrated circuits on a semi-commercial basis.
Role of Smart in WIPE
SMART photonics develops the process technology for creating nanophotonic tapers in the InP wafers which facilitates the membrane based mode expanders. Smart provides the wafers for the purpose of the development of the photonic-electronic integration technology in the first phase of the project.
The Fraunhofer Institute for Telecommunications, Heinrich-Hertz-Institut (HHI), located in Berlin, Germany, has been a member institute of the Fraunhofer Association (Fraunhofer Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Angewandten Forschung e.V.) since 2003. Established in 1981, the Photonic Components (PC) department has a history of more than 30 years in researching and developing a wide range of discrete and integrated photonic devices for optical communications, and optical sensing and instrumentation applications. Relying on the two enabling materials platforms “InP semiconductors” and “optical polymers”, HHI now focuses on the development and prototyping of photonic chips in close cooperation with domestic and foreign companies, but is also engaged in pilot production to help transfer devices from the laboratory environment to real deployments in the field.
Role of HHI in WIPE
In WIPE Fraunhofer HHI will be involved as “technology partner” focusing on the photonic device level by developing, fabricating and providing the InP based wafers and chips.
iMinds is an independent microelectronics research centre housed by 5 different Flemish universities and founded by the Belgian Flemish Government in 1984. The Department of Information Technology (iMinds) of Ghent University acts as an associated division of IMEC since 1984. IMEC and iMinds will merge in 2016.
The iMinds_design lab is active in optoelectronics front-end design particularly for optical access network applications since the early nineties. Various high speed photonic-electronic integrated prototypes, laboratory and field demonstrators were successfully developed.
Role of iMinds in WIPE
iMinds carries out the design and test of the ultrahigh line rate transceivers, specifically exploring the use of advanced modulation formats (e.g. PAM4) in driver and receiver. iMinds also take into account the role of distributed drivers codesigned with multi-section modulators to explore limits to bandwidth and energy efficiency.
EFFECT Photonics (Eindhoven, the Netherlands) delivers highly integrated optical communications products based on its Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM) optical System-on-Chip technology. EFFECT Photonics Ltd (Brixham UK) was founded in 2014 to provide packaging and production assembly around the Photonic Integrated Circuits.
Role of EFFECT in WIPE
EFFECT Photonics NL is responsible for the specification and design of the photonic demonstrator chip and the coordination of the photonic-electronic chip co-design and integration.
EFFECT Photonics UK provides design and test support for the photonic integrated circuits developed for the demonstrator. They perform floor-planning and architectural specifications for the demonstrators, and implement athermalisation through photonic on-chip monitoring and close coupled electronics control loops. EFFECT also contributes to package testing with stress testing and damp heat testing.
Berenschot (Utrecht, the Netherlands) is an independent management consulting firm with 350 employees worldwide. Berenschot is leading in organising innovation processes and consortia in sectors like high tech systems, health care, datacom, safety&security, climate, mobility and energy & sustainability. Berenschot initiates and organises ecosystems (triple helix partnerships (cooperation programs between companies, knowledge institutes and governments).
Role of Berenschot in WIPE
Berenschot main activities in WIPE concern the project management in support of the project manager (project office). Management issues like budget control, time scheduling and quality assurance are monitored by setting up an information system, organising the appropriate structure and communication schedule. Berenschot has established appropriate relationships and communication channels as well as the administration of project resources and monitoring the overall project performance.
