Chips of the Future – Now Made in Russia
Russia has launched the world’s first photonics center built on a triple technology platform, marking a major step toward next-generation chips and digital infrastructure.
Next-Generation Photonics
The Moscow Center for Photonics has opened at the Technopolis Moscow Special Economic Zone. The new facility is positioned as the only scientific and industrial center in the world that combines expertise across three core technologies – manufacturing base components using indium phosphide, silicon–germanium, and silicon-on-insulator. This integration creates unique conditions for the development and mass production of photonic integrated circuits (PICs), a foundational element of future digital infrastructure.
The Center’s core products are photonic integrated circuits that offer a set of transformative advantages. Above all, they deliver extremely high speeds for data transmission and processing. PICs can operate at frequencies beyond the limits of conventional electronics, enabling data transfer rates exceeding 100 gigabits per second and, over time, up to 3.2 terabits per second. Such capabilities are critical for the evolution of 5G networks, quantum computing, artificial intelligence, autonomous transport, and next-generation data centers.
Thanks to their compact design and the integration of multiple functions on a single chip, energy consumption is reduced severalfold. Equally important, the production cost of Russian-made PICs is expected to be 30–50 percent lower than that of foreign equivalents, making them competitive not only domestically but also on global markets.
Laser, Circuit, and Heater on a Single Chip
The Center has already implemented a first-of-its-kind technology that enables monolithic integration of the core elements of a photonic integrated circuit, an on-chip heater to accelerate operations, and a laser on a single substrate. This approach eliminates the need for hybrid assembly and opens new possibilities for advanced optical systems. The development of such technologies is part of a broader plan for a technological breakthrough based on solutions that are unique by global standards, particularly in the processing and transmission of data at speeds of up to 3.2 terabits per second. To date, no other country has fully implemented these technologies at scale.
Half a Million Chips a Year
At its initial stage, the Center’s production capacity is designed to reach up to 500,000 units per year, with further growth expected over time. During its first six months, the facility will operate in test mode, refining an exceptionally complex manufacturing route that includes more than 250 technological operations. Full-scale industrial production is scheduled to begin on June 1, 2026.
The plant is equipped with advanced tools that support a complete production cycle, from photoresist application to thermal annealing and final parameter control of finished circuits.
Looking ahead, the Center plans to manufacture optical modules – compact electronic devices designed for high-speed data transmission over fiber-optic lines. Their size and advanced design simplify the connection of network equipment, including servers, switches, and routers, to fiber-optic communication infrastructure.
Sovereignty in the Details
At the same time, the Moscow Center for Microelectronics Testing is being established on the same site. Once operational, it is expected to replace up to 70 percent of the services currently provided by foreign laboratories that are essential for the development of most high-tech industries.
In addition, a separate project is underway in Zelenograd to build a photomask production center, a critical element in microchip manufacturing. Starting in 2026, the facility is expected to produce up to 5,500 photomasks annually.
From Space to AI
Products from the Moscow Center for Photonics are expected to find applications in telecommunications, space communications, biomedicine, and artificial intelligence. Russian-made photonic integrated circuits are also set to become a core component of next-generation data centers. This shift will enable a transition to a domestic component base, strengthening technological sovereignty while improving the security and resilience of critical information infrastructure.
Establishing domestic production of photonic integrated circuits allows Russia to replace critical imports of foreign components used in high-speed data transmission and processing. It will also support the development of modern telecommunications and computing infrastructure, as well as advanced sensor technologies.In practical terms, this represents the emergence of a new industrial niche that is widely regarded worldwide as one of the pillars of the future digital economy.
The unique solutions developed in Russia carry strong potential on the global market, particularly amid the ongoing transformation of digital infrastructure. The Moscow Center for Photonics is not merely a manufacturing facility but an innovation hub shaping a new technological era for the country.
