We support customers from proof of concept to high volume production.

SMART Photonics builds chips that use light instead of electrons, so information can move faster and with far less power.

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Step 1

Design with Process Design Kit

Step 2

Alpha  
Production

Step 3

Volume
Production

As a pure-play manufacturer we offer the complete production process of Photonic Integrated Circuits from epitaxial growth and re-growth, processing, polishing and more.

01

Design with PDK

How to build your chip

Contact details and NDA

Design with PDK for your intended platform or application

Order and reserve

Submit design

Design rule checks

Production and delivery

Utilise our design manual

The design manual is included in the PDK. Upon request we share our latest design manual for review.

Request the Process Design Kit (PDK)

Request the PDK from the software supplier of your choice.  Currently the SMART Photonics PDK is implemented in the following software packages:

Synopsys

Optsim circuit and Optocompiler

website

VPIphotonics

VPIComponentMaker circuit and layout via OptoDesigner, IPKISS and Nazca

website

Luceda

IPKISS layout and circuit

Website

Ansys

Interconnect circuit

website

Nazca Design

website

PhotonDesign

PICWave circuit

website

02

Alpha Production

about

SMART Photonics offers customers access to our technology through our Alpha Production services. By building on a mature manufacturing process and a library of proven components, customers can reduce development costs and minimize the number of design cycles required to validate a design.

Because the process is mature and designers can leverage proven building blocks through our Process Design Kit (PDK), the path from concept to first wafer becomes faster and more predictable.

Further, scaling to larger volumes is straightforward, because the prototype has been developed on the same industrial platform used for production. This significantly lowers the barrier to entry for new PIC users and brings photonic integration within reach.

There are no further alpha runs open for subscription. For inquiries about 2027, please contact us

03

Volume Production

about

When your design is ready to scale, SMART Photonics provides ISO 9001-certified manufacturing on a proven Indium Phosphide platform. Because alpha production and volume production are built on the same manufacturing foundation, customers can move smoothly from validation to commercial deployment.

We currently offer a production capacity of 5,000 4" wafers per year. In partnership with TNO, our 6" production capacity is scheduled to become operational in 2028.

Contact sales

SMART Photonics is investing in new 6-inch Indium Phosphide wafer production capacity to fulfill the accelerating market demands of AI network scaling and next-generation telecom networks.

When fully activated in 2028, SMART Photonics’ new 6-inch production is expected to manufacture more than 12,000 wafers per year, corresponding to millions of photonic chips.

Read the news article

Frequently asked questions

Can't find the answer to your question?  Reach out and let us find the answer for you.

Ask us your question

What is the delivered chip thickness for the MPW chips?

The chips will have a thickness of 200μm +/- 20 μm.

How does the recruitment process work?

Apply via the website to the vacancy that matches your skills and interests the most, by selecting the job and clicking “Apply”. Make sure to add all the necessary information. The Recruitment team will screen it - this might take around 10 days. If you are selected, the team will contact you with further information.

Do you have an O-band MPW platform?

SMART Photonics is expanding its platform as well to the O band and aluminum containing epitaxial structures. If you have any demand here, please check with one of our representatives where we stand.

Which other wavelengths are supported?

The wavelength span offered now is the one which is optimal for telecommunications, however even with the standard epitaxial structure the photodiodes will provide some signal above and below this range. If you want to make lasers in a different wavelength, please check what we can offer. In some occasions it is very attractive to use the MPW platform to share some of the costs for processing while using a different epitaxial structure to start with.

Are the the building blocks available that are not in the PDK?

The blocks that are in the SMART Photonics Process Design Kit (PDK) and design manual (DM) are the building blocks that went through a validation procedure. However in order to launch new building blocks safely, SMART Photonics processes parallel wafers to allow for prototyping this new functionality. If the integration does work smoothly and building blocks are characterized, it will be offered after two validation runs. Though the building blocks are not offered commercially, it might be interesting for you as well to participate here with an invalidated experimental design in order to stay ahead of competition.

Do you have a high-speed platform?

The standard MPW platform is demonstrated up to 20 GHz, however to keep up with the never ending need for higher speed, SMART Photonics offers a Semi insulating platform that demonstrated its capabilities up to 35GHz. Currently this is only offered through direct custom runs, and we are looking to launch a separate MPW run for this later. If there are multiple customers that want to share the cost of a run, we are happy to connect you and make it happen. Please let us know your needs.