PICsTech, a Skoltech-born startup, has developed and successfully tested Russia’s first photonic integrated circuits capable of transmitting high-frequency signals with a bandwidth of up to 22 GHz. The project, supported by the Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade, Skoltech, and the Skolkovo Foundation, aims to provide Russian manufacturers with telecom solutions based on locally produced PICs.

A Skolkovo resident, PICsTech develops and markets Russian PIC-based modules for custom optical communication systems. These PICs can be used in coherent optical communication systems with a bandwidth up to 100 Gbps per wavelength and DP-QPSK modulation. The functionality of the PICs has been verified on locally manufactured test boards supporting high signal frequencies above 40 GHz.

PICsTech integrated the PICs into the test boards in cooperation with the Zelenograd NanoTechnological Center (ZNTC) and tested them with the support of the Kurchatov Institute’s Core Facility, the Moscow Engineering Physics Institute, T8 LLC, and the Skoltech Photonic Integration Research Laboratory.

The frequency response shows a bandwidth of 22 GHz, which is more than sufficient for digital data transmission at 25 Gbaud/s.

Currently, the team is completing the second phase of testing to verify the IQ modulator, which supports the QPSK format, and the coherent receiver. These modules are integrated with modulator drivers and transimpedance amplifiers, which will help improve eye diagram quality and transmission stability. Testing is expected to be completed in early June 2025.

“This technological breakthrough was brought to life through the synergy of academia, industry, and the public sector. The products comply with international standards and the ‘Integral Photonics’ chapter of the national program for ensuring the technological sovereignty of the Russian Federation. The project opens new avenues for the development of integrated photonics in Russia,” says Arkady Shipulin, who heads the Photonic Integration Research Laboratory at Skoltech (VEB.RF Group).

“The telecom segment of the global integrated photonics market is growing at a CAGR of 22%, which is higher than for any other PIC segment. Currently, the Russian market for optical transceivers, which is estimated at 30-35 billion rubles, is completely dominated by imported products and components. It is important that PICsTech’s high-speed data transmission products can be developed and manufactured locally, for example, at the Moscow Photonics Center. The project is an important step in localizing critical technologies in Russia,” says Kirill Kaem, the deputy chairman of the board for priority areas of technological development and the CEO of the Skolkovo Foundation (VEB.RF Group).

PICsTech is prepared to launch mass production of modules and PICs for Russian manufacturers of:

• hardware for fiber-optic links,

• systems based on quantum key distribution,

• backbone and regional networks,

• optical transceivers,

• media converters,

• multiplexers,

• OTN cross-switches for DWDM networks,

• interrogators for fiber optic sensors.

PICsTech’s products fall within one of the priority areas of “Development of Photonics for the Period up to 2030” (“Photonics-2030”) — a comprehensive analytical program for ensuring Russia’s technological sovereignty in photonics. The program was adopted by the order of the Minister of Industry and Trade Anton Alikhanov on October 14, 2024.

PICsTech’s products, which comply with international industry standards, will be included in the Unified Register of Russian Radioelectronic Products of the Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade. This is an important step in the implementation of the import substitution program and the advancement of Russian microelectronics and photonics.

About PICsTech

PICsTech was founded in 2020. As a Skolkovo resident, the company focuses on commercializing the solutions of Skoltech’s Photonic Integration Research Laboratory.

PICsTech performs a full cycle of PIC development, from design and production support to packaging and testing. The team has more than 20 years of experience with universities and companies in Germany and the United States and five years in the Russian market.

The company operates on a fabless basis, using both Russian factories, such as ZNTC, and foreign producers, including CUMEC in China, and works closely with manufacturers and vendors.

PICsTech is the only Russian company that has gone all the way from design to packaging and testing of PICs, and has successfully validated its products in:

• telecommunications,

• optical sensors,

• quantum technologies,

• lidars,

• optical computing.

About Microelectronics Accelerator Program

In 2022-2023, the Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Skolkovo Foundation launched the Microelectronics Accelerator Program (RF Government Decree No. 1827) to support small and medium-sized electronics design centers and to facilitate the design, manufacturing, and commercialization of microelectronic devices and electronic components. The Skolkovo Foundation provided grants and support to program participants at the advanced stages, including prototype manufacturing, logistics, customs clearance of materials and samples, product testing, intellectual property registration, and contacts with potential customers. The program provided funding to 26 projects in the amount of 960 million rubles.