STARLight Consortium Selected by EU to Pioneer 300mm Silicon Photonics for AI, Datacenters, and Telecom Applications

The STARLight project, led by STMicroelectronics, was chosen by the European Commission under the EU CHIPS Joint Undertaking initiative as the consortium to advance 300mm silicon photonics (SiPho) technology. The effort involves 24 technology companies and universities from 11 EU countries aiming to establish a high-volume manufacturing line, develop optical modules, and build a complete value chain through 2028.

The project focuses on application-driven solutions for datacenters, AI clusters, telecommunications, and automotive markets. Silicon photonics integrates CMOS silicon manufacturing with photonic data transmission via light to support optical interconnects, LIDAR, space applications, and AI photonic processors for energy-efficient data transfer.

Remi El-Ouazzane, President of Microcontrollers, Digital ICs and RF Products Group at STMicroelectronics, stated, “Silicon Photonics technology is critical to put Europe at the crossroads to the AI factory of the future and the STARLight project represents a significant step for the entire value chain in Europe, driving innovation and collaboration among leading technology companies. By focusing on application-based results, the project aims to deliver cutting-edge solutions for datacenters, AI clusters, telecommunications, and automotive markets. With well-recognized pan-European partners, the STARLight ...