imec, the world-leading research and innovation hub in nanoelectronics and digital technologies, has unveiled two groundbreaking integrated photonics advancements at SPIE Optics and Photonics 2026. These breakthroughs—a CMOS-compatible platform for Short-Wave Infrared (SWIR) spectral sensing and a photonic integrated circuit for real-time scattering compensation in imaging—are poised to revolutionize advanced sensing, medical diagnostics, and industrial inspection, significantly broadening the application scope of integrated photonics.
Background
The Short-Wave Infrared (SWIR) spectrum offers unique insights, such as distinct water absorption characteristics and chemical composition identification, often inaccessible to visible or long-wave infrared light. Despite its diagnostic and analytical potential, SWIR sensing has historically been hampered by expensive, bulky, and power-intensive sensor technologies. Similarly, in fields like medical imaging, light scattering poses a significant challenge, severely degrading image quality in endoscopic examinations and deep-tissue imaging. Integrated photonics technologies capable of addressing these long-standing limitations are in high demand across a diverse range of sectors, including medical diagnostics, industrial quality control, and security.
Key Findings
At SPIE Optics and Photonics 2026, imec presented two distinct yet synergistic integrated photonics innovations:
- CMOS-Compatible SWIR Spectral Sensing Platform (Gökhan Kara, presented August 25): Gökhan Kara introduced a pioneering photonic-optoelectronic platform that leverages compatibility with existing, high-volume CMOS manufacturing processes. This breakthrough promises to drastically reduce the cost and scale of spectroscopic sensing in the SWIR range. SWIR light is invaluable for revealing information invisible to the human eye, with critical applications spanning material analysis, food quality inspection, non-invasive medical diagnostics, and enhanced surveillance. By enabling low-cost, high-volume production, this CMOS-compatible approach is set to accelerate widespread industrial adoption of SWIR sensing technology, opening new markets in smart agriculture, environmental monitoring, and intelligent factories.
- Photonic Integrated Circuit for Scattering Compensation in Imaging and Endoscopy (Filip Milojković, presented August 27): Filip Milojković unveiled a novel photonic integrated circuit (PIC) specifically designed to counteract the severe image degradation caused by light scattering in highly turbid media, such as biological tissues. When light propagates through such media, the optical signal becomes significantly distorted, limiting the clarity and depth of imaging. This research proposes a real-time compensation mechanism for imaging and endoscopy, enabling the acquisition of clearer, more detailed images. This advancement holds profound implications for improving the accuracy of medical diagnostics, particularly for image-guided procedures, early disease detection, and precision surgery.
- Integrated Photonics Foundation: Both innovations are built upon imec’s extensive, foundational expertise in integrated photonics, encompassing both silicon photonics and Indium Phosphide (InP) platforms. The ability to integrate multiple optical functional components onto a single chip is paramount to these advancements, allowing for unprecedented system miniaturization, higher energy efficiency, and substantial cost reduction. This integrated approach is key to moving these complex optical technologies from specialized labs into practical, widespread applications.
imec’s continuous research leadership demonstrates that integrated photonics will be an indispensable technology for next-generation smart devices, advanced medical equipment, and sophisticated industrial systems. By lowering barriers to entry for advanced SWIR sensing and fundamentally improving imaging capabilities in scattering environments, these developments pave the way for broader consumer applications and critical advancements in fields ranging from autonomous systems to personalized medicine. These presentations at SPIE Optics and Photonics 2026 affirm imec’s pivotal role in shaping the future of optical technology and its practical applications.
Source: https://www.imec-int.com/en/events/spie-optics-and-photonics
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