OpenLight and Tower Semiconductor Enable Photonic IC Design on InP-on-Silicon Platform - thequantuminsider.com

OpenLight and Tower Semiconductor have collaborated to enable photonic IC design on InP-on-Silicon platforms by integrating OpenLight’s Process Design Kit (PDK) into Cadence’s electronic design automa... Read original →

The collaboration between OpenLight and Tower Semiconductor to integrate the InP-on-Silicon platform represents a pivotal shift from proof-of-concept to scalable deployment in silicon photonics. By embedding OpenLight’s PDK into Cadence’s EDA ecosystem, the move standardizes electro-optical co-design workflows, significantly reducing time-to-market for photonic chips. This advancement not only strengthens the semiconductor manufacturing ecosystem’s support for optical interconnects but also pressures upstream EDA vendors to adapt. From a geopolitical standpoint, this development mitigates risks associated with technology restrictions, especially in AI infrastructure and data center applications, enhancing supply chain resilience. Competitors like Intel, IBM, and Broadcom may respond by accelerating in-house photonic R&D or forging strategic alliances with local foundries. Within the next 12 months, silicon photonics is expected to gain traction in CPO and NPO markets, spurring further IP licensing and process refinement, thereby establishing new competitive barriers.