Taiwan eyes silicon photonics as next big tech leap (www.taipeitimes.com)

Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs has announced its ambitious plans to spearhead the development of silicon photonics technology, which is considered pivotal for addressing limitations in AI computing power. As the world's leading semiconductor assembly and testing hub, Taiwan aims to leverage its extensive ecosystem, complemented by an investment from Nvidia Corp in silicon photonics, to create a self-sustaining supply chain. This initiative is part of the government's New 10 Major AI Infrastructure Projects, uniting efforts from industry, academia, and research to overcome the technological barriers associated with copackaged optics (CPO). Silicon photonics, which utilizes optical signals instead of traditional copper wiring, promises significant improvements in data transmission efficiency, potentially reducing power consumption by 30 to 50%. This advancement allows devices to handle high-definition content and accelerate AI-generated outputs. Taiwan's strategy includes establishing the Silicon Photonics Industry Alliance, which brings together over 30 leading companies to drive development in this sector and maintain control over the silicon photonics supply chain. With more than 90% of the world’s advanced semiconductor manufacturing capacity for sub-7nm chips, Taiwan is well-positioned to lead this critical technological evolution in the AI landscape.