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Co-Integration of Microelectronics and Photonics for Air and Water Sensors (COMPAS)

The main objective of COMPAS is to develop a compact, inexpensive, and ultrasensitive PIC sensing platform (PSP) for air and water monitoring, relying on the co-integration of light source, detectors, and electronic IC for on-chip signal processing.

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Photonic Integrated Circuits

To make photonic sensors as ubiquitous as electronic sensors, several constraints on size, cost and weight must be overcome. In this context, wafer-level silicon photonics is disruptive in offering photonics in a miniature package and at low cost, of which Photonic Integrated Circuits (PIC) is emerging as a particularly promising and versatile platform for light manipulation.

New photonic-enabled sensing functions

Guiding light through waveguide structures on a chip with micron and nanometre features, PIC has the potential to offer new photonic-enabled sensing functions rivalling the performance of larger, heavier, and more expensive photonic systems. In addition to the general importance of sensors towards the twin green and digital transition, intensified efforts specifically directed towards chip-based technologies such as PIC are of significantly importance towards European Technological Sovereignty in relation to the ambitions of the European Chips-Act Initiative.

Research and upscaling of silicon photonics 

In response to the recent supply-shocks in semiconductor components caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the EU commission set the ambitious target of doubling the EU market share in the rapidly growing semiconductor sector, aiming for 20 per cent by 2030. This ambition includes research into and upscaling of silicon photonics and has only grown in importance with the new geopolitical situation following the war in Ukraine and tensions between the west and China.

Demonstrating multi-analyte PIC sensor platform utilizing a chiplet approach

COMPAS seeks to take a significant step towards full co-integration of photonics and microelectronics by demonstrating a first-of-a-kind, wafer-level-integrated multi-analyte PIC sensor platform (PSP) utilizing a chiplet approach.

Key facts

Project duration

2024 - 2027

The project's homepage

https://eucompas.net/ 

Funding

Horizon Europe, grant #101135796

Partners

SINTEF (NO), Fraunhofer IAP (DE), FlowPhys (NO), Oliveris (IE), ICMPP (RO), FBK (IT), PHIX (NE), Lancaster University (UK), Dublin University (IE), Airmotec (FR), NILU (NO)

Project co-workers

Firehun Tsige Dullo

Firehun Tsige Dullo

Research Scientist
Marco Povoli

Marco Povoli

Senior Research Scientist
Ozhan Koybasi

Ozhan Koybasi

Senior Research Scientist
Christopher Andrew Dirdal

Christopher Andrew Dirdal

Research Manager
Paul Conrad Vaagen Thrane

Paul Conrad Vaagen Thrane

Research Scientist
Knut Thorshaug

Knut Thorshaug

Senior Research Scientist
Martin Fleissner Sunding

Martin Fleissner Sunding

Research Scientist