The recently concluded SEMICON conference showcased the progress of silicon photonics and its potential in addressing energy efficiency and AI computing challenges, sparking interest from industry leaders like TSMC, Broadcom, and NVIDIA. TSMC has reportedly partnered with Broadcom and NVIDIA to develop products based on silicon photonics technology, with plans for mass production as early as 2025.
Silicon photonics technology combines silicon integrated circuits and semiconductor lasers and has been pursued by companies like IBM and Intel for over a decade. It has also gained recognition in national science and technology development plans of countries like China and Israel. Giants like Apple, NVIDIA, and TSMC have invested heavily in the research and development of this technology.
Market research agency Yole predicts that the silicon photonics market will grow from $152 million in 2021 to $927 million in 2027, with an annual compound growth rate of 36%. The increasing demand for optical communications, driven by the need for data transmission efficiency and computing performance, is a significant factor behind this rapid growth. Silicon photonics technology improves component density, operating efficiency, energy consumption, and cost-effectiveness by integrating optoelectronic components through the semiconductor manufacturing process.
While transceivers used in ultra-large-scale data centers currently dominate the silicon photonics market, the technology has applications beyond data centers. Experts anticipate breakthroughs in accurate and sensitive biological analysis and detection, with non-invasive blood glucose detection being a highly anticipated application. Silicon photonics also holds promise for areas like self-driving cars and drones, where it can reduce costs and size in high-precision LiDAR sensors and enable the use of fiber optic gyroscopes in commercial drones.
The development of silicon photonics is also expected to advance quantum computing and communications. Photonic processing, currently a small presence, is projected to become the second-largest application area for silicon photonics by 2027. Other areas with growth potential include consumer health, co-packaged engines, immunoassays, and optical interconnects.
IBM and Intel are currently leading the market in silicon photonics, with significant investments from research institutions, academia, and companies like Mellanox, Luxtera, Acacia, Finisar, and Avago. TSMC, in collaboration with Luxtera, is also investing in the development of a new generation of silicon photonics technology. China's investments in this field should not be underestimated, as their competitive advantage lies in their compatibility between silicon photonics chip manufacturing and mature CMOS processes. Taiwan, with its strong semiconductor manufacturing industry, is also recognizing the potential of silicon photonics and has dedicated several manufacturers to research and development in this area.
Silicon photonics technology has revolutionized various industries with its energy efficiency, computing performance, and cost-effective solutions. As the market continues to grow rapidly, key players worldwide are positioning themselves to take advantage of the emerging opportunities.
