The PIC International Conference will be held from the 26^th to the 27^th March 2019 in Brussels, Belgium. The event will provide timely and comprehensive coverage of every important sector within the photonics integrated circuits industry.

Our colleagues Iñigo and Louis-Olivier will be attending, in case you want to schedule a meeting with them.

Additionally, we are really honored to be nominated for the 2019 PIC Awards in the “Best Achievement in PIC Development”category for our efforts providing services that enable the production of Photonic Integrated Circuits, as well as promoting innovative applications to the field on photonic integration.

We have been recognized as a honoree in the 2019 Lightwave Innovation Reviews program.

Presented annually by Lightwave, the Lightwave Innovation Reviews program distinguishes as determined by a stellar panel of third-party judges. Judges include industry executives and analysts from a wide variety of service providers, technology developers, industry analysts, and journalists. “On behalf of the Lightwave Innovation Reviews, I would like to congratulate our honorees,” said Lightwave Group Publisher Alan Bergstein. “This prestigious program allows Lightwave to celebrate and recognize the most innovative products and solutions in the optical networking industry. Our 2019 Honorees are an outstanding example of companies who are making an impact.”
We are proud to be nominated in “Communications Semiconductors and Electrical ICs” category.

Judge’s comment: “I do think this idea has merit and is how the industry needs to move forward.”

The Innovation Reviews are judged based on the following criteria:
• Originality
• Innovation
• Positive impact on the customer
• How well it addresses a new or existing requirement
• Novelty of approach
• Cost-effectiveness

The winners will be announced on March 4 at the 2019 Lightwave Awards Reception during OFC 2019 (San Diego, California, USA).

About Lightwave
For more than 30 years, Lightwave (www.lightwaveonline.com) has delivered trusted technical, application and business insights to senior-level decision makers for optical communications worldwide. Lightwave serves technology vendors, communications carriers and major enterprises with a complete and nuanced picture of the optical communications business environment. Lightwave is a valued information source for information related to FTTx, networking, equipment design, MSO optics, and test and measurement for corporate executives, department heads, project managers, network engineers and others making strategic decisions that are critical to the success of their businesses. Lightwave is a unit of PennWell Corporation.

About The 2019 Lightwave Innovation Reviews program
The Lightwave Innovation Reviews is in its fourth year of recognizing and celebrating the industry’s most unique products and solutions that help optical communications professionals worldwide drive improvements and innovation in optical technology. Executives at Ciena, Intel, Lumentum, LightCounting Market Research, and Adva were among the third-party judges for the 2019 Innovation Reviews. Criteria used in the Innovation Reviews rankings include, first and foremost, unique technology or application thereof, innovation, ease of use, efficiency, reliability and contribution to profitability.

From the 3^rd to 7^th of March, The Optical Networking and Communication Conference & Exhibition is being held in San Diego Convention Center, San Diego.

This trade show is the largest global conference and exhibition for optical communications and networking professionals.

Pass by our booth #5424 where our team will be delighted to meet you and discuss about any photonic integration needs you might have.

In the framework of OFC, VLC Photonics will be participating in two main events:

• The OIDA Workshop on Manufacturing and Building the Supply Chain for Integrated Photonics brings together many of the main stakeholders of the photonic integration industry. The workshop will take place the 3^rd of March at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront Hotel. It consists of 5 sessions focusing on the supply chain to manufacture integrated photonics. Our CEO, Iñigo Artundo will participate on the session #2 at 10:30 talking about the Integrated photonics supply chain.
• The PIC Workshop OFC 2019 will take place the 6^th of March. The workshop aims to create a one-stop-shop for everyone interested in photonic integration, as it brings together all the key players offering solutions: foundries, simulation software, design houses, packaging, test & measurement, and turn-key solutions. As in previous editions, Iñigo Artundo will be giving a presentation on Friday about PIC Design Houses, introducing their evolution and trends, advantages and need for test houses too.

Like every year, SPIE Photonics West, one of the world´s largest photonics technologies events, will take place in San Francisco from 2^nd to 7^th February at the Moscone Center.

A place, where the industry comes to learn and network with leaders, researchers, and engineers creating new possibilities for collaboration and generating business. Except for the exhibition itself, this week is full of appealing conferences, workshops and courses covering many relevant topics.

We would love to see you at our booth #4679!

Also, make sure you don’t miss any of the following PIC-related sessions and events:

OPTO conference, specially the Photonic Integration session

Photonic Integration courses

Silicon Photonics and Photonic Integrated Circuits: 2019 Industry Perspective

During this week is taking place in Valencia the International Workshop on Sound-enabled Nanotechnologies. This workshop focuses on the emerging field of high frequency vibrations in semiconductor and related materials and their applications.

VLC Photonics will be giving a talk on the 29th of November. If you are interested, please register here.

We are excited to announce that in March 2018 we became members of the PDAFlow Foundation. The non-profit organization aims to boost the development, support and licensing of software standards for photonic design automation (PDA).

Since its creation in 2013 the Foundations’ goals are to further develop, support and (sub-)license the PDAFlow API to automate photonic design flows and create sustainable standards in order to enhance research, process and product development by improving interoperability of (PDA) software tools and provide access to Process Design Kits (PDKs).

For more information or to get in contact go to http://www.pdaflow.org/ or send an email to info(at)pdaflow.org.

One more year VLC Photonics has the support of the Valencian Institute of Business Competitiveness (IVACE) for the development of its Internationalization Plan. With its help to the 2018 Internationalization Plan of VLC Photonics, IVACE aims to increase the internationalization of the companies and economy of the Valencian region, making its products more recognizable and boosting its competitiveness.

In this sense, VLC Photonics has developed in 2018 activities in all the major photonic markets in Europe, America and Asia. As well as, implemented a vast online marketing campaign targeting the booming photonic industry and R&D institutions.

This project has been co-financed with ERDF funds.

Are you passionate about integrated photonics? Do you think you have a great design idea for a photonic integrated circuit? Then this is you lucky day! Participate for free on the first VLC Photonics PIC design contest and get the chance to win a great prize. The participants will be able to fabricate their submitted designs with a substantial discount if they decide to do so.

Reconfigurable integrated waveguide mesh design. 
Photo courtesy of Daniel Perez @ Photonics Research Labs (PRL).

The prize for the winner will consist of:

• A recognition award.
• Either a cash prize of 1.000€ or get the design fabricated for free at the CNM Foundry, your choice!
• Bonus: Fees reimbursement of a previous VLC Photonics PIC design training organized in 2019.

How to participate? Submit your 5.5×5.5 mm design according to the latest version of the design manual (and Process Design Kit if needed) and fill out the application form before January 25^th January 28^th, 2019 (deadline extended).

For more information you can go to the terms and conditions of the contest or you can contact us at info(at)vlcphotonics.com.