Ensuring a steady stream of photonics students in a $4.3 billion industry

We’re training next-gen photonics design students to keep up with the rate industry is requesting them.

The challenge

Needing more high-quality photonics graduates to keep up with a booming industry 

From smart TV’s and the internet to the LEDs that light our homes, many industries are powered by photonics that make it a booming industry. In Australia alone, the photonics industry contributes $4.3 billion to the economy and employs more than 9,500 people in high-tech, high-productivity jobs.

With an industry growing so rapidly, we currently do not have enough photonic chip design, simulation and fabrication graduates to keep up with the rate at which industry is requesting them. 

Three people in white protective clothing work on a computer

Our response

Creating a library of verified integrated photonic components for rapid chip turnaround time

We collaborated with Professor Wim Bogaerts at Ghent University to help specialist silicon photonics design students learn skills in translating a photonic circuit idea into a working chip. 

To reduce the chip turnaround time for students – which often took up to six months – we adapted the software we use at InPAC and made it compatible with the software used at Ghent University (powered by Luceda Photonics). 

We created a library of components compatible with our manufacturing process at InPAC. Then, with each verified ‘lego block’, the students could design with these components to build their own circuits. 

 

The results

Making high quality photonic chips in two weeks instead of six months

With our library of verified components compatible with our InPAC fabrication process, we can now offer a rapid turnaround time of six weeks for printing silicon photonic chips. 

This rapid turnaround time means that students are now learning skills in iterative design and fabrication and end up with a thoroughly tested high-quality end-product. This means they are more likely to publish their work, making them more competitive for the job market.

Industry and academics can also take advantage of this library of certified components to design and fabricate their own chips, knowing that it will be fully compatible with mass manufacturing processes. 

Read more on the Key research areas page about how to work with us.

Photonics is a booming industry and we are constantly in need of new photonics graduates with hands-on experience – we are very pleased with the quality of graduates from InPAC so far.

                    Robert Scholten
                    Co-Founder MOGLabs

 

Timeline of how the project worked

Weeks 1 & 2 
Get contact with us for the quick prototype fabrication service for us to learn about your needs.

Discuss your requirements and we will supply different solutions.

Week 3 
Sign contract and NDA

Week 4 
Prepare the design based on InPAC's rules and process design kit

Week 5 
Validate the designed layout 
 
Week 6-10  
Begin fabrication

Week 11 
We will measure the performance of the chip (optional) 
 
Week 12 
Show you the first iteration of the prototype

Rework based on feedback, or send the fabricated chips to customers

Read more on the Key research areas page about how to work with us.

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Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Sentient' by Hollie Johnson, Gunaikurnai and Monero Ngarigo.

aboriginal flag
torres strait flag

Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business.