By 2028, it is expected that overall datacom capacity will reach 100,000 Petabit/s, corresponding to 1 billion 100-Gbps equivalent SerDes shipments, and several hundred million O-band CW laser wavelength lines (25/50/100 Gbaud PAM4/PAM8). Comb lasers are an ideal technology platform for compact WDM solutions with the high throughput required by growing needs of the datacom industry. Currently, two compact comb-laser technologies stand out as promising platforms for datacom light sources: InAs/GaAs quantum-dot based comb lasers and microresonator-based Kerr combs. The project, facilitated by the fundamental complementarity of both technologies, will strive towards their unification in one versatile chip-scale comb platform, covering full range of WDM spacings (ultra-dense to coarse) and addressing key challenges of the datacenter market - power efficiency, harsh operating environment (85°C) and scalability. The competitive advantage is based on current world-leading technologies of QD comb lasers and microcombs being commercialized by the partners, the results of the originating H2020 CALADAN and PHOENICS projects, as well as the novel features, such as chirped-DBR comb laser, comb SOA and evanescent coupling to SiP. The goals of the project: (i) to develop a novel design and technological process of CW comb laser PIC fabrication with enhanced mode stability and ultra-low noise; (ii) to develop 2 prototypes of GaAs/SiN-on-SiP comb PIC, including 1.3-μm comb laser, evanescent coupling to SiP substrate, and comb-SOA: (1) QD chirped DBR comb for UDWDM/DWDM, and (2) microcomb for DWDM/CWDM. The consortium consists of Innolume (world market leader in InAs/GaAs QD), Dublin City University (high-speed communications), and Enlightra (associated partner, startup established in 2021, world’s first commercial optical comb with large frequency spacing 100-1000 GHz). This consortium combines scientific expertise with experience in translating ideas into products and scaling them.

The rising life expectancy of EU citizens is creating a dramatic increase in age-related degenerative diseases and associated healthcare costs. The MOON Project (Multi-modal Optical Diagnostics for Ocular and Neurodegenerative Disease) meets this societal challenge by applying photonics to diagnose age-related diseases of the eye and central nervous system. Consistent with the ICT-29-2016: Photonics KET 2016 Work Program, MOON will design and build a multi-band, multimodal and functional imaging platform combining label-free molecularly sensitive Raman spectroscopy with high speed and high-resolution Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT), for in-depth diagnostics of ocular and neurodegenerative diseases. MOON will enhance OCT – already the gold standard of retinal imaging - through the development of a disruptive laser technology that enables wide-field structural and functional imaging. MOON will establish a reference database for molecular biomarkers of addressed diseases that enables, for the first time, in-depth molecular-specific diagnosis of retinal diseases and neurodegenerative pathologies based on Raman spectroscopy. The MOON system will be validated in vivo in a clinical setting through close collaboration between clinicians and commercial partners. The clinical validation will establish the diagnostic accuracy of the multi-modal platform, while also verifying the ease-of-use needed for widespread adoption. MOON is driven by unmet medical user needs in diagnostic imaging with a clear business case addressing the highly promising ophthalmic market of early and in-depth molecularly sensitive diagnostics of retinal and neurodegenerative diseases. The three industrial partners cover the complete value/supply chain. MOON aims to bridge the gap between research and product development, thereby expediting the commercialization of the MOON technologies, strengthening the participating companies, and creating a competitive advantage for the European photonics market.

Nanowires (NWs) exhibit unique properties that make them potential building blocks for a variety of next generation NanoElectronics devices. Recent advances have shown that NWs with predefined properties can be grown, offering a new paradigm enabling functional device prototypes including: biosensors, solar cells, transistors, quantum light sources and lasers. The critical mass of scientific knowledge gained now needs to be translated into NW technologies for industry. FP7-MC NanoEmbrace (ITN) and FUNPROB (IRSES), made substantial contributions to NW research, producing excellent scientific and technological results (>100 journal papers published) and delivered outstanding training in nanoscience and transferable skills to ESRs. Despite demonstrable scientific and technological advantages of NWs, NW-based technology concepts have not yet been translated into market-ready products, because industry and academia have not worked hand-in-hand to commercialize the research findings. Thus, it is essential that NW research is now directed towards customer-oriented scientific R&D; whilst applying innovative industrial design techniques to ensure rapid translation of the basic technologies into commercial devices. This ambitious challenge requires close collaboration between academia and the nascent NW industry, combining the efforts of scientists and engineers to address market needs. Building upon our previous achievements, a team of leading scientific experts from top institutions in Europe, strengthened by experts in innovative design and industrial partners with an excellent track record of converting cutting edge scientific ideas into market products has formed the INDEED network to address this challenge. To enhance employability, INDEED will train young ESRs to become experts with a unique skill set that includes interdisciplinary scientific techniques, industrial experience through R&D secondments and innovative design skills.