Group 1: Technological Advancements - The first L4 level autonomous driving technology boat has been launched by Shaanxi Ouka Electronic Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd, which can autonomously complete cruising and obstacle avoidance operations [1] - The production of solar cells in Shaanxi is expected to grow by 57.2% in 2024, with a 9.4% increase in the first ten months of this year [4] - The organic liquid hydrogen storage technology developed by Xi'an Jiaotong University can reduce production costs by over 40% and transportation costs by 60% compared to traditional high-pressure gas storage methods [5][6] Group 2: Industrial Growth and Economic Impact - In 2024, Shaanxi's industrial output from 34 key industrial chains is projected to reach 2.25 trillion yuan, accounting for 75.3% of the province's total industrial output [1] - The automotive industry in Shaanxi, driven by leading companies like Geely and BYD, is expected to produce 1.198 million new energy vehicles in 2024, a 19-fold increase since 2020 [3] - The photon industry in Shaanxi has grown significantly, with the number of companies increasing to over 370 and the industry scale rising from 15 billion yuan to 36.5 billion yuan [10] Group 3: Policy and Strategic Initiatives - Shaanxi has implemented a "chain leader system" to enhance the automotive industry, with provincial leaders overseeing key industrial chains to ensure resource allocation and support [3][8] - The province has introduced several plans for hydrogen energy development, including a three-year action plan (2022-2024) to build a complete hydrogen energy industry chain [7] - The establishment of the 8-inch advanced silicon photonic integration technology innovation platform aims to address the challenges faced by domestic companies in the silicon photonic chip trial production [9][10]

Core Insights - The 8-inch advanced silicon photonic integration technology innovation platform in Shaanxi has officially commenced operations, marking the first silicon photonic pilot line in the Northwest region, which will support various innovative entities in the domestic photonics industry [1][2] - The photonics technology is a leading technology in the new round of technological revolution, with Shaanxi's photonics industry growing significantly over the past four years, increasing from 15 billion to 36.5 billion yuan and the number of enterprises rising to over 370 [1] - The platform aims to address the challenges faced by domestic companies in accessing silicon photonic pilot resources, which are predominantly controlled by European and American firms, by providing a more efficient and cost-effective solution for chip development [1][2] Industry Development - The establishment of the platform is expected to accelerate product iteration in fields such as artificial intelligence, optical communication, optical computing, low-altitude flight, and healthcare [2] - The platform has already secured intention agreements for cooperation with over 10 leading enterprises and is attracting multiple external companies to Shaanxi [2] - The goal is to create a comprehensive platform architecture that integrates compound semiconductors, silicon photonics, and heterogeneous integration, covering the entire chain from material growth to system testing [2]

Core Insights - The rapid development of cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence, autonomous driving, and quantum communication has made photonic technology a strategic high ground in global tech competition. In this context, Shaanxi launched the "Light Chasing Plan" in 2021 [1] Group 1: Development of Photonic Technology - The Shaanxi Photonic Institute announced the official launch of the first 8-inch advanced silicon photonic integrated technology innovation platform in Northwest China, which fills a gap in the regional industrial chain and serves as a core support for building a trillion-level photonic industry cluster in Shaanxi [1][4] - The total investment for the 8-inch silicon photonic platform is 750 million yuan, incorporating the "130nm silicon photonic chip process package" from Belgium's IMEC and equipped with over 60 key devices [4] - The platform adopts a "1+N" flexible engineering model, with 80% of resources allocated for trial production services to small and medium-sized enterprises, and 20% for supporting cutting-edge research and development [4] Group 2: Market Trends and Applications - The explosion of artificial intelligence has raised demands for computing power and data transmission, with silicon photonics expected to replace electrical signals in data centers over short distances, requiring a large number of optical chips for electro-optical conversion [5] - The market for photonic sensing is also growing rapidly, with laser radar widely used in autonomous vehicles and increasing demand in consumer electronics and industrial automation [5] Group 3: Industry Growth and Future Plans - Since the launch of the "Light Chasing Plan," the number of photonic enterprises in Shaanxi has increased to 379, and the industry scale has grown from 15 billion yuan to 36.5 billion yuan, establishing a complete industrial chain from materials to systems [5] - A new "Photon Technology Laboratory" is being established, with a total investment exceeding 1 billion yuan, aiming to attract top international scientists and tackle over 30 key core technologies in the photonic field within two years [6]

Core Viewpoint - The domestic silicon photonics innovation industry faces common challenges such as high production line costs, product validation issues, limited capacity, and high market risks. The establishment of the "8-inch Advanced Silicon Photonic Integration Technology Innovation Platform" by the Shaanxi Optoelectronic Pilot Institute aims to address these challenges and support the growth of the photonics industry in China [2][3][4]. Group 1: Industry Challenges - The industry has long struggled with the inability to build production lines, difficulties in product validation, limited capacity, and high market risks [2][3]. - Domestic companies rely on foreign platforms for wafer processing, incurring high costs and facing long processing cycles and supply limitations [2]. Group 2: Platform Development - The "8-inch Silicon Photonic Platform" was officially launched with a total investment of 750 million yuan, marking a significant milestone for the region and the industry [3]. - The platform aims to fill the gap in the silicon photonic chip pilot testing field in the Northwest region and is a key component of the "Chasing Light Plan" to develop a trillion-yuan photonics industry cluster in Shaanxi [3][4]. Group 3: Financial Support and Future Plans - The Shaanxi Optoelectronic Pilot Institute has invested approximately 1.5 billion yuan to establish dual pilot platforms for 6-inch compound chips and 8-inch silicon photonic chips, serving over 100 startups [4]. - The institute is initiating a new round of financing to upgrade existing platforms and prepare for future expansion, with a recent 500 million yuan loan agreement with the National Development Bank [6][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].