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In March 2026, Russia took a significant step to strengthen its role in advanced semiconductor technologies by starting applications for its first contract-based production of photonic integrated circuits (PICs) using the multi-project wafer (MPW) format. This development is a critical juncture in the nation’s quest to establish a domestic ecosystem for integrated photonics, a field that is becoming more and more integral to next-generation computing, telecommunications, and sensing technologies.
Bauman Moscow State Technical University is spearheading the initiative in partnership with the state company VNIIA. Together, they are introducing a platform that allows industrial players, startups, and researchers to design and fabricate photonic chips without the necessity of their own costly fabrication infrastructure.
A Breakthrough Based on Silicon Nitride Technology
The project primarily relies on a silicon nitride (SiN) fabrication process, which is widely recognized as one of the most promising platforms for low-loss photonic circuits. Together, they are introducing a platform that enables researchers, startups, and industrial players to design and fabricate photonic chips without the need for their own expensive fabrication infrastructure.
This ultra-low loss is essential because it enables light signals to travel long distances within a chip without degradation, rendering it ideal for applications such as optical communications, quantum computing, and precision sensing. Additionally, the use of SiN guarantees compatibility with conventional semiconductor manufacturing methodologies while simultaneously facilitating optical functionality of exceptional performance.
The process’s technical parameters serve to emphasize its complexity. The minimum feature size is 70 nanometers, and the minimum spacing is 200 nanometers. The waveguide layer thickness is set at 220 nanometers. These specifications help create photonic devices that are very efficient and small, making them good for both industrial and research uses.
Pilot Run for Scientific Communities with Full Funding
One of the most notable aspects of the initiative is its accessibility. Bauman University is providing complete funding for the pilot MPW program for Russian scientific groups, which enables participants to receive fabricated chips without incurring direct manufacturing costs.
Each external participant is permitted to acquire a maximum of 100 individual dies, each of which has been submitted in GDS format with custom-designed topologies. This significantly reduces the entrance barrier for photonics research and development, particularly for academic institutions and early-stage startups that typically lack access to fabrication facilities.
The program is expected to speed up innovation and experimentation by reducing cost constraints, thereby enabling a broader array of ideas to be tested and validated in actual hardware.
The MPW Model: Democratizing Photonic Manufacturing
The multi-project wafer format is a well-established concept in the semiconductor industry; however, its introduction into Russia’s photonics sector is particularly noteworthy. In an MPW run, a single wafer is used to combine multiple independent chip designs from various users. The wafer is diced after fabrication, and each participant receives their own chip.
The costs of fabrication are significantly reduced by this shared approach, as the expenses are distributed among multiple users. It also enhances efficiency by optimizing wafer use.
MPW services have become a fundamental component of integrated photonics innovation on a global scale. Similar platforms have been offered by organizations in Europe, the United States, and Asia for an extended period of time, allowing researchers and companies to prototype sophisticated photonic devices without the need to invest in full-scale manufacturing facilities.
Russia is effectively participating in this global ecosystem and establishing a domestic alternative that mitigates its dependence on foreign infrastructure by introducing its own MPW service.
Functional Capabilities and Advanced Design Library
The technological platform provides a comprehensive library of standard photonic components, which allows users to design intricate circuits with relative simplicity. Edge couplers, ring resonators, Y-splitters, 50:50 directional couplers, diffraction gratings for optical coupling, and single-mode waveguides comprise these components.
Additionally, the platform allows for the operation of thermo-optic modulators that are capable of switching frequencies exceeding 10 kHz and operate at the commonly used wavelength of 1550 nanometers. This wavelength is of particular significance because it is in accordance with the low-loss window of optical fiber communications, rendering the chips highly pertinent for telecommunications applications.
Additionally, test structures are integrated into each fabricated semiconductor to facilitate optical measurements that are consistent. The results of these measurements are provided to users, ensuring that they can accurately assess the efficacy of their designs following fabrication.
Complete Support from Design to Assembly
The initiative provides comprehensive support through the Quantum Park team at Bauman University, in addition to fabrications. This support covers the entire development lifecycle, including fabrication, characterization, and optoelectronic packaging, in addition to physical modeling and design optimization.
Particularly for teams that are new to photonic design, this end-to-end assistance is essential. It allows them to navigate the intricacies of the technology and bring functional devices closer to real-world deployment.
The potential for the assembly of complete optoelectronic systems is also present for promising projects, which can considerably expedite the transition from prototype to application stage.
Strategic Context: Establishing a National Photonics Infrastructure
The creation of this MPW platform is a component of the “Exascale Hybrid Computing” project, which is a broader strategic initiative within the Priority 2030 program. The objective of this initiative is to consolidate a variety of computation paradigms, such as classical, quantum, and photonic systems, into a unified technological framework.
This vision is anticipated to be significantly influenced by photonic integrated circuits. In contrast to electronic chips, which are dependent on the passage of electrons, photonic chips use light to process and transmit information. This enables the generation of less heat, lower energy consumption, and higher velocities, all of which are essential benefits for the development of future computing systems.
Russia is establishing the foundation for technological sovereignty in a sector that is expected to define the next era of computing by establishing domestic capabilities in photonic manufacturing.
Applications in a Variety of High-Tech Industries
Silicon nitride photonic circuits have a wide range of potential applications. The manipulation and transmission of quantum information with high precision can be achieved through their use in quantum computing. In the field of telecommunications, they facilitate the transmission of data at a faster and more effective pace.
Solid-state lidar systems for autonomous vehicles, industrial and biological sensing, microfluidics, and augmented and virtual reality devices are among the other applications. Additionally, these devices may be employed in defense technologies, environmental monitoring, and medical diagnostics.
Photonic integrated circuits are a foundational technology with implications that span multiple industries due to their versatility.
A Step Towards Global Competitiveness
More than just a technological milestone, the introduction of Russia’s inaugural MPW photonic service is a strategic initiative to enhance global competitiveness. The initiative establishes Russia as a significant player in the field of integrated photonics by providing accessible fabrication services and attaining signal loss levels that are comparable to those of leading international platforms.
Concurrently, it addresses a critical void in the domestic innovation ecosystem by equipping researchers and companies with the necessary resources to develop state-of-the-art technologies on a local scale.
Initiatives such as this will be instrumental in the development of the technological landscape, as the global demand for photonic solutions continues to increase due to the requirements of artificial intelligence, data centers, and advanced sensing systems.
Conclusion: Illuminating the Way Forward
The initiation of applications for Russia’s initial MPW-based photonic chip production signifies the commencement of a new era in the nation’s high-tech advancement. The initiative establishes a robust foundation for innovation by integrating cutting-edge silicon nitride technology, accessible manufacturing models, and comprehensive support systems.
Photonics provides a transformative path forward in a world that is becoming increasingly characterized by the speed and efficacy of information processing. Russia has made a significant stride toward utilizing its potential and establishing a future in which light serves as the foundation of computation and communication, rather than electricity, through this launch.