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Collaboration will enable new types of optical products that benefit from the advantages of both material platforms for AI, data centers, LiDAR and other applications.
Eindhoven, The Netherlands — 21 September 2026 — SMART Photonics B.V. today announced its partnership with GlobalFoundries (GF) to offer a new open access foundry service combining GF’s scalable and production-proven silicon platform with SMART Photonics’ high-volume indium phosphide photonic integrated circuits (PICs), including lasers and modulators. This first-of-its-kind commercial offering will enable designers to take advantage of these two leading photonics platforms to address scaling challenges for AI data centers and to provide an efficient production process for today’s pluggable optical transceivers.
GlobalFoundries provides an industry-proven, silicon-based cavity in which SMART Photonics’ lasers and semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) are integrated using flip-chip technology. For more than a year, the companies have done extensive co-engineering and development to meet the technical requirements of dimensional fit and efficient optical coupling. The resulting innovations in manufacturing techniques will enable product designers to reduce the footprint and costs of their chiplet products, as well as achieve faster time to market.
“GlobalFoundries is a leader in silicon photonics with global reach and an extensive track record of manufacturing innovation,” said Johan Feenstra, CEO of SMART Photonics. “The combination of their technology with SMART Photonics’ leading indium phosphide-based PICs marks a significant milestone toward meeting the explosive market demand for power- and cost-efficient photonics products.”
“Our customers seek active components seamlessly integrated into our silicon photonics platform,” said Vikas Gupta, senior fellow, silicon photonics business at GF. “By partnering with SMART Photonics to deliver this new open access foundry service, we have created a highly efficient production process to accelerate the availability of high-performance integrated optical products.”
General availability for the joint foundry service is targeted for the second half of 2027.
About GF
GlobalFoundries(GF) is a leading manufacturer of essential semiconductors, enabling AI at scale from the cloud to the physical world. Through deep partnerships with customers, GF delivers differentiated, power-efficient and high-performance solutions for automotive, aerospace and defense, data center, smart mobile devices, internet of things and other high-growth markets. With global manufacturing operations across the U.S., Europe and Asia, GF is a trusted and holistic technology partner for customers around the world. GF’s talented, global team remains focused every day on security, longevity and sustainability. For more information, visit www.gf.com.
About SMART Photonics
Integrated photonics uses the power of light to create energy-efficient, faster, and more accurate chips. The technology is set to play an essential role in creating and developing solutions for the world’s challenges, such as reducing energy consumption, improving healthcare, fighting food waste and addressing our continuous hunger for information. As a foundry for integrated photonic circuits, SMART Photonics offers solutions for data and telecommunication, as well as for sensing – such as LiDAR – and medical applications. SMART Photonics is the leading foundry for integrated photonics, and together with our customers, we create innovative products that improve people’s lives. For more information, visit www.smartphotonics.nl
PressContacts
Dan Album
SMART Photonics
Stephanie Gonzalez
GF
