With artificial intelligence, high-performance computing and global connectivity defining technological, industrial and social progress, speed and efficiency in data transmission have become a strategic necessity. It is in this context that Alcyon Photonics was born, a Spanish technology-based company that develops photonic integrated circuits (PICs) to enable more robust, efficient and scalable optical communications, computing and sensing.
A vision born in the lab
Alcyon was created in 2018 as a spin-off of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), the result of years of research in integrated photonics by a multidisciplinary team with experience in integrated photonics and technology transfer.
Since its inception, Alcyon has been committed to a model based on proprietary intellectual property development, with the aim of enabling the adoption of photonics by mass industries. Alcyon has therefore sought the active collaboration of international semiconductor foundries, and has established an ecosystem of validation or packaging partners with extensive experience in development and volume production. The company specialises in the design of photonic building blocks and combinable circuits. The availability of Alcyon’s validated portfolio accelerates the development of complex applications that find in photonics the enabling technology for demanding functionalities and performance requirements: speed, power consumption, robustness,…
From research to industrial impact
Alcyon has demonstrated the robustness and scalability of its technology in various manufacturing processes and materials, ensuring the feasibility of its integration into industrial developments for currently massive applications such as data communication or interconnect. Additionally, Alcyon’s proven ability to transfer its design capabilities to new materials, thus extracting the best combination of functionality and performance, also opens the door for Alcyon’s portfolio to serve the development of applications in emerging markets such as Quantum, Lidar, Space or Defence.
Alcyon has also built an ecosystem of technology partners that support its mission to accelerate the arrival of photonics to the industry, ensuring the reliability of its transfer with full integration with commercial software, test packaging tools.
Alcyon is currently approaching commercialisation by interacting with key players in the data devices market. Without neglecting its vocation to massify photonics, for which it continues to participate in strategic R&D projects at both national and European level, paving the way for future applications.
The company’s projection has been recognised by the European Union with the award of the EIC Accelerator programme and at national level by ENISA, being named Top 101 Spain startup. Alcyon is also backed by public and private funds committed to the growth of deep tech in Spain.
Photonics with purpose
Beyond the technology component, Alcyon promotes a form of innovation aligned with talent development and open innovation. Its company culture connects with is to turn integrated photonics into an enabling tool that drives key breakthroughs in energy efficiency, processing power and global connectivity. Alcyon’s vision of making photonics technology accessible to new companies and applications contributes to the creation of quality jobs and the democratisation of access to technology.