Photonic chips, also known as Photonic Integrated Circuits (PIC), are often considered the future of technology.
Praised for their high computational speeds, relatively low power consumption and low latency, PICs are seen as the future of artificial intelligence (AI) and internet of things (IoT) technologies. And given the increasingly competitive race for control of the most powerful microchips between countries like the United States and China, the European technology sector is also eyeing a slice of the chips market.
According to the European Commission, “Photonics plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of Europe across various domains. Its importance is not only about current advancements but also its potential to drive innovation and economic growth in the years to come.”
One of the most prominent industry events in Europe that focuses on PIC technology will be hosted October 15 and 16 in Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
PIC Summit Europe, hosted by PhotonDelta, calls itself “Europe’s most influential event in the photonic chip industry,” with over 700 visitors from more than 20 countries expected to attend the summit, including start-ups, end-users, investors, and academics.
Created by the Dutch government in 2018, PhotonDelta aims to build an ecosystem dedicated to the design, development and manufacture of photonic technology, and its flagship conference is a cornerstone for bringing industry experts from around the world to Europe.
What to Expect from PIC Summit Europe? Discussions Around Policy-Making and the Future of Chip Design
The summit will feature a comprehensive programme addressing key topics such as technology policy-making, research and development (R&D), heterogeneous integration, and industry applications.
In fact, this year’s theme, “Fading Boundaries,” reflects the industry’s response to significant societal challenges like mobility, energy sustainability, climate change, zero hunger, scientific advancement, and health.
The theme emphasizes the growing interdependence of photonic and electronic technologies and the need for global collaboration across national borders and industry sectors.
PIC Summit Europe will also spotlight how photonic chip technology uses light to enhance the efficiency, speed, and accuracy of microchips.This technology is pivotal for applications such as LiDAR, advanced networking solutions, and various sensing technologies for sectors like agrifood, maintenance, and healthcare.
Speakers at the summit include public sector experts including Tjerk Opmeer, Acting Director-General for Business & Innovation at the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs; Thomas Skordas Deputy Director-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology (DG CONNECT) for the EU Commission; as well as private sector visionaries like Linde Lassche Senior Fund Manager of PhotonVentures; Sytze Kampen, Head of Technology at Airbus Netherlands; Nicolas Fontaine, Department Head, Silicon Photonics at Nokia Bell Labs; Eelko Brinkhoff, CEO of PhotonDelta, and many more.
In addition to the main conference sessions, PIC Summit Europe will host several side events focusing on pressing industry topics such as talent attraction, startup funding, quantum photonics, and roadmapping activities.
As the countdown continues, excitement builds for what promises to be an enlightening and collaborative event at the forefront of photonic chip innovation.
