The Institute of Microelectronics (IME) has signed a research collaboration agreement with Bell Labs, a research arm of Alcatel-Lucent to jointly develop photonics technology for high data-rate communication networks.
The companies said that the move comes as a result of the need for service providers to meet the increase in demand for new multi-media consumer content services.
According to IME, optical communications offers number of benefits to meet the demand but comes at a higher cost. Tha company claims that the new collaborative research programme with Alcatel-Lucent would work on addressing the challenges by delivering increased performance at reduced cost.
Dim-Lee Kwong, executive director of IME, said “We are very pleased to collaborate with Bell Labs in developing core technology for next generation high data-rate communications. Our collaboration will build upon developed modules with new generation of low cost integrated silicon-based photonic devices and improved processes. This partnership demonstrates our commitment in bringing impactful research to the industry.”
Dr Rod Alferness, chief scientist at Alcatel-Lucent Bell Labs, said: “This collaborative agreement with IME is important because it represents the next step in a series of programmes we have undertaken over the years with customers, government agencies, and academic institutions in Singapore.”
IME is a research institute of the Science and Engineering Research Council of the Agency for Science, Technology and Research. Its key research areas are integrated circuits design, packaging, bioelectronics, MEMS, nanoelectronics and photonics.
