Semiconductor Industry Monthly chip graphic illustrating the proposed GlobalFoundries silicon photonics and advanced packaging R&D program.

GlobalFoundries Signs $300 Million Silicon Photonics LOI

August 2026 Molly Bakewell Chamberlin

GlobalFoundries has signed a letter of intent with the U.S. Department of Commerce for an expected $300 million CHIPS Research and Development award supporting next-generation silicon photonics. The proposed funding would advance the company’s development of optical materials, silicon photonics wafer technologies and advanced packaging for artificial intelligence and high-performance computing infrastructure. The letter of […]

alt="La Luce Cristallina 200 mm BaTiO₃ crystal-on-glass wafer for silicon photonics, available beginning in 2026"

La Luce Cristallina Unveils 200MM BaTiO₃ Wafer

October 2025October 8, 2025 Molly Bakewell Chamberlin

La Luce Cristallina, a U.S.-based innovator in silicon photonics materials and barium titanate (BaTiO₃) electro-optic platforms, has launched a new 200 mm (8-inch) barium titanate (BaTiO₃) wafer and opened a state-of-the-art fabrication facility in Austin, Texas. The facility expands capacity for wafer-scale crystal-on-glass BaTiO₃ substrates to support growing demand from data centers, telecommunications, sensing, computing, […]

Sandia and Maxwell Labs Explore Photonic Laser Cooling for Data Center Chips

April 2025June 5, 2025 Molly Bakewell Chamberlin

Maxwell Labs, a Minnesota-based startup, has entered a collaborative research agreement with Sandia National Laboratories and the University of New Mexico to test laser-based photonic cooling for computer chips. The project aims to regulate chip temperatures using light rather than conventional air or water-based systems, potentially reducing energy usage and improving overall efficiency. “About 30 […]