Successful kick-off of the pilot line for photonic AI chips at IMS CHIPS
Blueprint for the future: Successful kick-off of the pilot line for photonic AI chips at IMS CHIPS
We look back with great enthusiasm on the successful kick-off of the pilot line for photonic AI chips at IMS CHIPS! Together with our partner Q.ANT, we have reached a significant milestone and demonstrated in a striking matter how existing semiconductor production facilities can be used sustainably for the future in computing. The event on February 24, 2025, was more than a festive kick-off, but rather a strong signal for innovation, technological sovereignty and sustainable use of resources in the chip industry.
The kick-off was attended by high-caliber guests from politics, science and business. Particularly noteworthy was the attendance of Dr. Nicole Hoffmeister-Kraut, Minister for Economic Affairs, Labor and Tourism of Baden-Württemberg, who emphasized the importance of this initiative for the German and European chip ecosystem. Among the guests were also members of the Ministry of State, the Ministry of Economic Affairs, the L-Bank and well-known business representatives. This high-level participation illustrates the scope of our project and the great confidence in our expertise.
Our collective goal is it to create a sustainable and powerful alternative to conventional semiconductor technologies. The Q.ANT photonic chips, which use light instead of electrons for calculations, provide a revolutionary potential: using 30 times less energy at a 50-fold increase in computing power for AI applications. With the new pilot line at IMS CHIPS, we are sending out a strong signal for Europe as a competitive tech site while demonstrating that innovation and sustainability can go hand in hand.
Our gratitude goes out to everyone who made this possible. Our close and dedicated cooperation with Q.ANT and the relentless commitment of our team at IMS CHIPS were the key to this success. Michael Förtsch, CEO at Q.ANT, gave a perfect outline: “What inspires me to this day about our partnership is our mutual appreciation and trust – from the very first moment on. I am grateful for that.”
However, the launch of the pilot line is just the beginning. With our joint vision of establishing photonic AI chips as the crucial technology of the future, we are providing the foundations for a new era of energy-efficient computing. We are looking forward to the next steps and to continue to write this success story.
A special thank you to everyone involved – this milestone is your success!