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China has launched a new research laboratory focused on photonic computing, a technology that uses light rather than electricity to process information and is widely viewed as a potential solution to the growing computing and energy demands of artificial intelligence.
The Shanghai Key Laboratory of Integrated Photonic Computing Chips and Systems officially opened this week in Shanghai. Based at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, the facility is being positioned as the country’s first industry-academia platform dedicated to photonic computing research and development. The initiative will bring together academic researchers and industry partners to develop photonic chips, optical devices, computing architectures, and software systems needed to support the emerging technology.
The move comes as governments and technology companies worldwide seek new ways to meet the rapidly increasing demand for AI computing power. Traditional semiconductor technologies are facing physical and thermal limitations, while data centers continue to consume growing amounts of electricity.
Photonic computing offers a different approach. Instead of relying on electrons moving through silicon circuits, photonic chips use photons, or particles of light, to transmit and process information. Because light can travel faster and generate less heat than electrical signals, researchers believe photonic systems could significantly improve computing speed, bandwidth, and energy efficiency.
Zou Weiwen, director of the new laboratory and a professor at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, described photonic computing as a promising path toward future breakthroughs in computing performance. The lab will focus on areas including chip architecture, silicon-photonics integration, optical components, supporting algorithms, and commercial applications.
China has increasingly identified photonic computing as a strategic technology as it seeks alternatives to advanced semiconductor technologies that remain difficult to access amid export controls and supply chain constraints. Shanghai authorities have supported related research through science and technology programs while investing in industrial development efforts.
The laboratory is a joint initiative between Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Lightelligence, a Shanghai-based startup specializing in photonic computing. The company has emerged as one of China’s leading players in the field and has previously claimed progress in deploying hybrid optical-electronic computing systems.
Despite the optimism surrounding the technology, significant challenges remain. Researchers must build a mature software ecosystem and solve key engineering hurdles before photonic computing can achieve widespread commercial adoption. Still, the new laboratory underscores China’s growing commitment to developing next-generation computing technologies as global demand for AI infrastructure continues to accelerate.
