izmo and IIT Madras launch Rs 99.94 crore silicon photonics plan

A new chip research programme is starting in Chennai. izmo Microsystems has signed an agreement with IIT Madras for Phase II of the Centre for Programmable Photonic Integrated Circuits and Systems.
The programme is called SPECTRA. It stands for Silicon Photonics Enabled Cutting-edge Technology Research and Applications. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has sanctioned it.
The total outlay is Rs 99.94 crore over five years. MeitY will give Rs 97.54 crore. izmo Microsystems will add Rs 2.40 crore in cash and kind.
The work covers the full chain. It includes chip design, fabrication, testing, advanced packaging and system integration. The target is 1.6 Tbps optical transceivers, co-packaged optics, quantum communications and photonic AI.
The timing matters. As AI data centres grow, they need faster links between chips. Optical links carry more data with less power than copper wires.
izmo Limited is listed on the NSE and BSE. Its subsidiary, izmo Microsystems, will work with the IIT Madras team on the project.
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