Photonics: The technology transforming communications, medicine and industry
Imagine a remote surgery where a doctor in New York operates with millimetric precision on a patient in Tokyo through an augmented reality and assisted robotics system. Picture autonomous vehicles communicating with each other in real time to prevent accidents and optimize traffic in cities. Or think of rescue teams using drones equipped with thermal cameras and instant communication to locate people trapped in disaster zones and coordinate their evacuation with unprecedented accuracy. All of this is possible—or will soon be—thanks to a key enabling technology: photonics.
Faster communications, medical diagnostics performed in seconds with pinpoint accuracy, and computing power thousands of times greater than current systems—all this is becoming increasingly feasible thanks to photonics, a technology that is revolutionizing multiple sectors by enabling the manipulation and control of light. From photonic chips to advanced optical sensors, photonics applications are transforming how we interact with the world. But what exactly is photonics, and why is it marking a turning point in technological development?
What is photonics?
Photonics is the scientific and technological discipline focused on the generation, detection and manipulation of photons; the elementary particles of light. Its scope is vast, ranging from optical telecommunications to the development of laser devices and advanced sensors. Its impact spans sectors such as medicine, industry, and scientific research, opening up new possibilities for technological innovation.
The photonic revolution: advantages and applications
Photonics represents a technological revolution for several fundamental reasons. First, it enables data transmission speeds three orders of magnitude greater than those of conventional electronics and allows parallel processing (e.g., through multiple wavelengths), by using light instead of electrons to carry information. This results in ultra-fast internet connections and high-speed computing.
Another key benefit is its energy efficiency. Photonic devices consume less electricity and generate less heat than their electronic counterparts, making them more sustainable and suitable for large-scale applications. Furthermore, photonics is less susceptible to electromagnetic interference, improving reliability in industrial and telecommunications environments. This is because data transmission in photonic systems relies on light rather than electrical signals, eliminating vulnerability to disturbances from motors, antennas, or other electronic equipment.
Photonics is revolutionizing multiple sectors, including:
Telecommunications: Optical fibers enable more stable data transmission with lower noise, ensuring greater signal integrity over long distances, as seen in current fiber-optic networks. In addition, the interdisciplinary field of radio-frequency photonics (RF photonics) combines optical technologies with radio-frequency systems to optimize performance in wireless communications, allowing for faster, more accurate and efficient signal processing, as well as advanced filtering and increased bandwidth.
Medicine: From laser surgeries to advanced imaging techniques, photonics plays a key role in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases.
Imaging and visualization: Display technologies such as LED and OLED screens, as well as digital cameras and advanced microscopes, are all based on photonic principles.
Industry: In industrial environments, where machinery generates strong electromagnetic fields, photonics enables the development of more precise and reliable optical sensors and control systems, without the risk of signal degradation.
Energy: The conversion of light into electricity through photovoltaic panels is one of its most promising applications.
Computing: The development of photonic chips exponentially increases data processing capacity.
Defense and security: It is used in detection and surveillance systems, such as radars and secure communication networks.
Challenges facing photonics
Despite its vast potential, widespread adoption of photonics still faces significant challenges. One of the main barriers is material compatibility: integrating advanced semiconductors such as those from group III-V into photonic devices remains complex. Manufacturing also poses a challenge, as producing photonic components requires more sophisticated techniques than conventional electronic chips, which increases costs and complicates standardization.
Another major hurdle is the miniaturization and scalability of photonic components. As demand grows for more compact and efficient devices, it is crucial to develop solutions that reduce size without sacrificing performance. Large-scale production is also a challenge, as photonic technology has not yet reached the industrialization level of traditional electronics.
Cost remains a decisive factor. While photonics offers significant advantages, its production is still more expensive than electronic technologies due to the lack of standardized materials and manufacturing processes. Reducing these costs will be essential to encourage mass adoption.
Lastly, continued innovation is vital. Photonics is a rapidly evolving field, and its success will depend on sustained investment in research and development to overcome current limitations and expand its applications across sectors.
Europe’s push for photonics: Vigo’s key role
Europe is actively promoting photonics as a key technology for its industrial and digital transformation. The European Commission has identified photonics as strategic within its Industrial Strategy, with a focus on sectors like automotive, healthcare, and Industry 4.0. Programs such as the Chips Act have launched initiatives to boost Europe’s photonic chip production capabilities—such as the “PIXEurope” pilot line in Catalonia.
In this context, Vigo has emerged as a leading photonics technology hub. The city will host SPARC Foundry, the first photonic semiconductor manufacturing center in Southern Europe, with an estimated capacity of 90,000 chips annually by early 2027. This facility will not only attract investment and talent, but also solidify Galicia’s role as a major player in the sector.
Within this technology ecosystem, Gradiant plays a key role by contributing its expertise in photonic technologies to the development of advanced solutions in communications, defense, aerospace, and security. Its work spans the design of integrated photonics components and circuits, micro-nanoelectronics, and electromagnetic simulation for theoretical validation of systems. Gradiant also works on emerging technologies such as RF photonics, photonic-based AI computing and inference, and integration with quantum systems. The center is equipped with specialized photonics and quantum labs, along with platforms for developing high-precision sensors and photonic signal processing—including functional prototyping in lab environments.
Gradiant’s collaboration with the University of Vigo is also driving photonics research forward, with innovative project proposals focusing on new applications of this technology. Through its capacity to transfer knowledge and develop cutting-edge solutions, Gradiant is actively helping position Galicia as a European benchmark in the photonics sector.
Author: Marta Castro López, Head of Micro-Nanoelectronics and Photonics · Advanced Communications Department
