Core Insights - The establishment of the "8-inch Advanced Silicon Photonic Integration Technology Innovation Platform" marks a significant milestone for the photonics industry in Shaanxi, filling a gap in the region's silicon photonic chip pilot testing capabilities [1][2] - Shaanxi has announced a plan to invest over 1 billion yuan in the construction of a photonics technology laboratory, aiming to attract top international scientists and achieve a provincial photonics industry output value exceeding 50 billion yuan by 2027 [1][3] Investment and Infrastructure - The 8-inch silicon photonic platform has a total investment of 750 million yuan, with construction starting at the end of 2023 and completion expected by September 2025 [2] - The platform incorporates advanced technology from Belgium's IMEC and over 60 key core equipment sets, enabling the development of a self-controlled advanced process system [2] Industry Growth and Development - Since the launch of the "Chasing Light Plan" in 2021, the number of photonics companies in Shaanxi has increased from fewer than 100 to 379 by 2024, with the industry scale growing from 15 billion yuan to 36.5 billion yuan [3][4] - The photonics industry in Shaanxi is projected to grow at an annual rate exceeding 50%, with total output expected to surpass 30 billion yuan in 2024 [4] Ecosystem and Innovation - The photonics technology laboratory aims to create a comprehensive innovation ecosystem, integrating government, industry, and international resources to overcome systemic barriers [5][6] - The laboratory's dual-driven strategy focuses on "source innovation and industry integration," with plans to attract over 100 researchers and achieve breakthroughs in over 30 key photonics technologies by 2027 [6]

Core Insights - The establishment of the "8-inch Advanced Silicon Photonic Integration Technology Innovation Platform" marks a significant milestone for the photonics industry in Shaanxi, filling a gap in the region's silicon photonic chip pilot production capabilities [1][2] - Shaanxi has announced a plan to invest over 1 billion yuan in the construction of a photonics technology laboratory, aiming to attract top international scientists and achieve a photonics industry output value exceeding 50 billion yuan by 2027 [1][6] Investment and Infrastructure - The 8-inch silicon photonic platform has a total investment of 750 million yuan, completed by September 2025, and includes over 60 key core devices [2] - The platform will support the development of high-performance components for applications in AI, optical communication, and smart driving, with an expected completion of active product lines by 2026 [2][3] Industry Growth and Development - Since the launch of the "Chasing Light Plan" in 2021, the number of photonics companies in Shaanxi has increased from fewer than 100 to 379 by 2024, with industry scale growing from 15 billion yuan to 36.5 billion yuan [3] - The photonics industry in Shaanxi is projected to exceed 30 billion yuan in total output by 2024, growing at an annual rate of over 50% [4] Ecosystem and Innovation - The photonics technology laboratory aims to create a comprehensive innovation ecosystem, integrating research, industry, finance, and international resources [5] - The laboratory will focus on both source innovation and industry integration, leveraging advanced scientific facilities and collaborative platforms [5][6] Future Goals - By 2027, the laboratory aims to attract 30 high-end talents and achieve breakthroughs in over 30 key technologies, establishing three pilot production lines and two specialized incubation platforms [6] - Long-term goals include creating a nationally influential photonics technology laboratory and establishing Shaanxi as an international center for photonics technology and industry [6]

Core Insights - The "Chasing Light Plan" in Shaanxi has achieved significant progress, with the establishment of the "8-inch Silicon Photonic Integration Technology Innovation Platform," marking a key milestone in the region's photonics industry development [1][2]. Industry Growth - Since the launch of the "Chasing Light Plan" in 2021, the number of companies in the photonics industry in Shaanxi has increased to over 370, with the industry scale growing from 15 billion to 36.5 billion yuan [2]. - The upgraded "Chasing Light Plan - Leap Action" aims to create a complete industrial chain from "materials - chips - devices - systems" [2]. Technological Advancements - The 8-inch Silicon Photonic Platform is the first of its kind in Northwest China, addressing the gap in silicon photonic chip pilot testing [1][4]. - The platform has a total investment of 750 million yuan and has completed all construction by September 2025, featuring advanced technology and equipment [4]. Support for Startups - The photonics institute has resolved R&D and pilot testing challenges for over 100 startups, facilitating the development of a high-quality industrial cluster [3][4]. Collaborative Ecosystem - The "1+N" flexible engineering platform model allows for resource sharing and collaboration among small and medium-sized enterprises, enhancing innovation and reducing initial investment costs [6][7]. - The 6-inch compound platform has already provided services to over 50 clients, while the newly established 8-inch silicon photonic platform has attracted interest from numerous leading companies [7]. Future Developments - The institute plans to advance the construction of a heterogeneous integration platform, covering the entire chain from material growth to system testing, supporting key areas such as optical communication and artificial intelligence [7].

Core Insights - The article discusses the progress of Shaanxi's "Chasing Light Plan," highlighting the launch of the "8-inch Silicon Photonic Integration Technology Innovation Platform," which aims to bolster the region's photonics industry and support the development of a trillion-level photonics industry cluster [2][6][12]. Group 1: Progress of the "Chasing Light Plan" - Since its initiation in 2021, the "Chasing Light Plan" has led to significant growth in the photonics industry in Shaanxi, with the number of enterprises increasing to over 370 and the industry scale rising from 15 billion to 36.5 billion [6][7]. - The upgraded "Chasing Light Plan - Leap Action" outlines a development path with a layout of "one core, two wings + one park, three areas," positioning Xi'an High-tech Zone as the core area for photonics development [6][12]. Group 2: Establishment of the 8-inch Silicon Photonic Platform - The 8-inch Silicon Photonic Platform, with a total investment of 7.5 billion, officially commenced operations in September 2025, addressing the gap in silicon photonic chip pilot testing in the northwest region [12][14]. - The platform has introduced over 60 key core devices and is based on the 130nm silicon photonic chip process package from Belgium's IMEC, with plans to develop advanced processes above 90nm [12][14]. Group 3: Industry Challenges and Solutions - The silicon photonic technology is crucial for AI computing, smart driving, and quantum communication, but its development has been hampered by the concentration of pilot testing resources in Europe and the U.S., leading to high costs and long lead times for domestic companies [11][12]. - The establishment of the 8-inch Silicon Photonic Platform is seen as a "hardcore solution" to these challenges, enabling local companies to reduce R&D costs and shorten the time to market for new products [12][14]. Group 4: Ecosystem Development and Collaboration - The platform operates under a "1+N" flexible engineering model, where 80% of resources are allocated to support small and medium-sized enterprises, while 20% are reserved for cutting-edge innovation [14][17]. - The 6-inch compound platform has already released over 20 process design kits (PDKs) and served more than 50 clients, while the 8-inch platform has established cooperation agreements with over ten leading companies [17].

Group 1: Photon Industry - The "Chasing Light Plan" aims to illuminate new industrial tracks, with the first silicon photonics pilot line in Northwest China set to open in November, providing R&D and pilot services for various photonic innovations [3] - Since 2021, the photon industry has been recognized as a key industrial chain in Shaanxi, with the number of photon enterprises increasing from under 100 in early 2021 to 379 by 2024, and the industry scale growing from 15 billion to 36.5 billion [4] - The establishment of the Qin Chuang Yuan Photon Industry Innovation Cluster in 2024 aims to connect high-growth tech companies with resources and funding, enhancing the innovation ecosystem [4][5] - The application scenarios for the photon industry are expanding, including laser radar for vehicles, 3D sensing for smartphones, satellite communication, and precision manufacturing [4] Group 2: New Energy Vehicles - In the first three quarters of this year, Shaanxi's new energy vehicle exports reached 207,000 units, with an export value of 28.02 billion, marking year-on-year increases of 73.3% and 79.7% respectively [6] - The annual production of new energy vehicles in Shaanxi is projected to grow from 59,500 units in 2020 to 1.198 million units by 2024, representing a nearly 20-fold increase [6] - The automotive industry in Shaanxi has seen a rise in domestic supply rate from 32% in 2020 to 57% currently, with plans to exceed 1.5 million units in annual production by 2027 [9] Group 3: Solar Energy - Longi Green Energy ranked first in China's photovoltaic industry for R&D investment, reflecting the transformation of Shaanxi's photovoltaic sector from manufacturing to intelligent manufacturing [10] - The photovoltaic industry in Shaanxi has maintained the world's leading position in silicon wafer shipments for nine consecutive years, with a market share in photovoltaic modules also ranking first globally [11] - By 2025, the photovoltaic industry in Shaanxi is expected to achieve an annual output value exceeding 350 billion, contributing significantly to the energy revolution [11]

Group 1: Technology Innovation and Transformation - The transformation of scientific achievements from the laboratory to production lines is significantly supported by investment and technology platforms, leading to faster commercialization of technology [1][2] - As of mid-June, 554 hard technology companies have been incubated with a total market valuation of 679.6 billion yuan, indicating a robust growth in the hard technology sector [2] - The establishment of a market-oriented common technology pilot platform has provided comprehensive technical services to over 100 companies, facilitating the conversion of multiple technological achievements [2] Group 2: Industry Upgrading and Development - Various regions in Shaanxi are experiencing accelerated industrial upgrades, showcasing unprecedented vitality and potential [5] - Companies like Shaanxi Beiren Printing Machinery Co., Ltd. have shifted from traditional printing to modern manufacturing, investing 6% of their revenue annually in R&D, resulting in over 80% market share in high-end flexographic printing machines [6] - The establishment of the Xuanyuan Technology Innovation Center has enabled local e-commerce companies to diversify their product offerings, leading to significant sales growth [7] Group 3: Ecological Optimization and Industrial Chain Development - Shaanxi is leveraging the "chain leader system" to advance its energy and chemical industries towards high-value chains, with new industrial chains rapidly forming [8] - The optical electronics industry has emerged as a promising sector, with the implementation of the "Chasing Light Plan" leading to the establishment of a comprehensive industrial chain in Cuiping [8] - The collaboration between Yulin Zhongke Environmental Technology Group and the Chinese Academy of Sciences aims to address the utilization of coal gangue, converting it into eco-friendly products [9]