Instituto Superior Técnico, through the INESC MN-Interface Center, established a partnership with PICadvanced to strengthen competencies in the area of photonic chip encapsulation in Oeiras. This partnership, aligned with the National Strategy for Semiconductors, will strengthen existing competencies and drive research in emerging technologies.

Both partners in the Microelectronics Agenda, the INESC-MN Interface Center and PICadvanced – a startup in the field of photonics, integrated optical circuits, and advanced optical encapsulation – have identified the strategic objective of increasing advanced training activities in the areas of microfabrication and photonic chip encapsulation, and exploring new technologies in the field of integrated photonics.

“PICadvanced has played a very important role at national level in the context of photonics initiatives, with a major impact on European funding for the semiconductor industry”, says Susana Cardoso, a professor at Técnico and a researcher at INESC-MN. “We intend to continue working together to create technical competencies and train students and engineers in the INESC-MN’s and the company’s core areas”, she adds.

This partnership will promote the following initiatives:

• Joint participation in projects in the areas of microfabrication, integrated photonics, and PIC encapsulation;
• Promotion and dissemination of the activities of both institutions in these areas;
• Capacity building of human resources through internships, training academies, master’s theses, and joint doctorates;
• Coordination of efforts for reequipping and strengthening competencies in microfabrication and photonic chip encapsulation (e.g., Competence Centers, Training Academies, and Pilot Lines).

*This text was written in collaboration with Instituto de Engenharia de Sistemas e Computadores – Microssistemas e Nanotecnologias (INESC-MN).