Interconnects development aided by H2020

A fabless developer and producer of optical engines for data transmission in Germany has received funding under Horizon 2020’s SME Instrument.

The Berlin-based firm VI Systems has been selected by the European Commission to receive funding under the scheme’s phase two funding. The company has developed a technology that uses ultra-high-speed optical semiconductor chips in combination with integrated circuits for the next generation of interconnects in data centres and supercomputers, as well as consumer products such as displays and mobile devices.

The vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) and photo detector technology is thought to be ideally suited for energy efficient interconnects at distances up to few hundred metres. Advanced VCSELs developed by the company, with bit data rates well beyond 40Gb/s, enable error-free data transmission over 100m of standard multimode fibre. Future markets, such as ethernet transceivers at 400Gb/s, and customised products, such as active optical cables and mid-board assemblies, are being targeted.

The SME Instrument funding will be used to further develop the company’s innovation and pre-production activities such as demonstration, testing, piloting, scaling up, and miniaturisation of their advanced VCSEL-based optical interconnect technology.

The Horizon 2020 SME Instrument is designed to support highly innovative small and medium-sized enterprises with international ambitions, determined to turn highly innovative business ideas into commercial success.