Series 15 – Episode 7 – Enabling rapid photonic integrated circuit development

Wave Photonics is a UK-based startup specialising in the rapid development of photonic integrated circuits (PICs) for any wavelength or platform.

James Lee, who co-founded Wave Photonics, shared his journey from a background in physics and photonic systems development to founding a company that stands at the forefront of photonic innovation.

“I started off in physics and then pursued a master’s in photonic systems development between Cambridge and UCL,” James explained. After completing his PhD with Toshiba in Cambridge, where he worked on entangled light sources and quantum dot light sources, James took a brief detour. However, he soon returned to his passion for photonics, leading to the creation of Wave Photonics.

Wave Photonics is an integrated photonics company focusing on applying statistics, modelling, and optimisation to photonics design. “The core motivation behind our work is to lower the barrier to entry in photonics design, which traditionally involves lengthy iterative processes and significant upfront costs,” James noted. By streamlining these processes, Wave Photonics aims to unlock the vast potential of integrated photonics.

James elaborated on the advantages of photonic integrated circuits over conventional electronic circuits. “It’s not about choosing one over the other; rather, it’s about unlocking new capabilities,” he said. Photonic circuits allow for the manipulation of light in a compact form, enabling functionalities such as encoding with different colours, spectroscopy, and non-invasive measurements through the skin. “In communication, photonics tends to win, but it’s an enhancement rather than a competition,” James added.

Wave Photonics offers a process design kit (PDK), a library of components essential for photonic design. “Our PDK is a growing library that will eventually support multiple processes and wavelengths,” James mentioned. Although the current offering is limited, it represents the beginning of a comprehensive toolkit that will simplify and expedite photonic design.

In June, Wave Photonics launched a chip packaging solution stemming from the Innovate UK-funded Quantum Photonic Integrated Circuit PACkaging (QPICPAC) project. This turnkey packaging solution, developed in collaboration with Alta, a packaging company, Sanko, a fibre components company, and various university partners, offers customers a cost-effective and rapid method to package their chips. “This solution significantly reduces lead time from months to a few weeks, making it ideal for prototyping,” James explained.

Wave Photonics plays a pivotal role in advancing quantum computing. “Most quantum technologies use light in some capacity, whether for qubits, control, or data transmission,” James said. Integrated photonics is essential for manipulating and routing light in compact, phase-stable ways.

Beyond quantum computing, Wave Photonics’ solutions have significant potential in diagnostics and consumer healthcare. “Sensing, particularly in diagnostics and healthcare, is a major area where our technology can make a substantial impact,” James highlighted.

Recently, Wave Photonics secured £4.5 million in funding, which will primarily be allocated to expanding the team, acquiring lab equipment, and enhancing fabrication capabilities. “This funding allows us to transition from R&D to deploying our technology in high-quality fabs, creating useful products rather than just cool technology,” James concluded.

To hear more about photonic integrated circuits and much more, you can listen to Electronic Specifier’s interview with James Lee on Spotify or Apple podcasts.