16 January 2025 – CORNERSTONE, a rapid prototyping foundry specialising in silicon photonics (SiPh), formally opens the doors of its new Photonics Innovation Centre (C-PIC). Serving as the UK’s primary technology hub for SiPh, it will facilitate the translation of exceptional SiPh research into scalable, industry-ready solutions capable of supporting a variety of existing and emerging applications.
Founded in 2014 through an Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) grant, CORNERSTONE is affiliated with the University of Southampton and the University of Glasgow, as well as the UK government’s Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC). It provides a wide range of open-source, licence-free technology platforms, as well as state-of-the-art prototyping services that help to foster the development and application of SiPh technologies. Since the initial funding, a series of subsequent grants have helped to establish it as a recognised name in the fast-moving SiPh environment, leading to a wide range of research projects and industrial partners alike working with CORNERSTONE as their cutting-edge technology foundry of choice.
Building on the achievements of CORNERSTONE, C-PIC is designed to catalyse the commercialisation of SiPh technologies by creating an effective pipeline capable of driving the development and large-scale adoption of SiPh technologies. Furthermore, it seeks to strengthen the SiPh community by establishing a network for innovation, supporting cross-sector engagement, and promoting the integration of research and business interests.
SiPh’s ability to handle extensive data volumes with enhanced bandwidth and energy efficiency positions it as a prominent technology capable of advancing performance across data centres, telecommunications, and emerging sectors, including LiDAR for autonomous vehicles and robotics, as well as biosensing, and quantum computing.
By offering a comprehensive ecosystem of services, including flexible prototyping, design consultancy, funding opportunities for researchers, standard component libraries, start-up support, networking events and an online platform to connect users in development, C-PIC will help to lower entry barriers and cultivate a new generation of innovative solutions that meet the demands of the industry.
“The launch of the CORNERSTONE Photonics Innovation Centre marks a significant milestone in furthering the UK’s position as a global leader in silicon photonics innovation,” Professor Graham Reed, Head of School for the University of Southampton says. “By fostering a collaborative environment between academia and industry, we will accelerate the translation of cutting-edge research into transformative commercial technologies. This initiative will not only enhance our high-tech economy but also pave the way for advancements in critical sectors such as telecommunications, healthcare, and environmental monitoring.”
CORNERSTONE will be celebrating the formal launch of the new programme at an upcoming event on 12 February at the House of Lords, including a keynote speech from Dr Dave Smith, the UK National Technology Advisor.
