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Securing photonics investments

Photonics and the Tech Race: Safeguarding National and Corporate Security in the Battle for Dominance

From declining VC interest to billion-dollar funding rounds, the semiconductor industry is witnessing a revival, with investments in AI, energy efficiency, and photonics driving the sector. In the early 2000s, semiconductor and system firms attracted substantial venture capital, with nearly $3.7 billion invested in 2000 alone. However, by 2010, VC investments in electronics, including semiconductors, had declined to 6%, and by 2022, this figure dropped to under 1%.

In particular, new and emerging photonics startups have attracted significant funding due to their potential to revolutionize high-demand computing environments. In October 2024, Lightmatter raised $400 million in a venture capital deal that valued the company at $4.4 billion. Similarly, Xscape Photonics closed a $44 million Series A funding round and Celestial AI secured an additional $250 million in VC to develop photonics in AI chip connectivity. Happy days have returned for chip startups.

Keeping these developments secret is crucial for maintaining a competitive edge, but little attention has been paid to the possibility of theft of photonics data. Unlike legacy CMOS circuits, advanced processes and photonics components are still evolving as companies develop and refine their technology. Foundries and circuit designers have invested huge sums in photonics R&D, and losing this advantage through lax security could be catastrophic. A hostile competitor could gain all the secret sauce if they were to obtain a photonics PDK or circuits that were built using one. From general component layout to design rules, parameter limits and DFM adjustments, losing control of a relatively small number of files could open the door to huge losses.

Cybersecurity in photonics design is essential at both a corporate and national level. Its role in critical infrastructure, including AI, quantum computing and laser-based defense, makes it a prime target for cyber threats, espionage and sabotage as the next generations of technology evolve. Unauthorized access to the files that detail components and circuits can compromise sensitive data, disrupt operations, and weaken national defense. Protecting this data is critical for maintaining competitive advantages, and strengthening security.

New security technology means the steps required to protect a PDK are neither complex nor difficult. Existing parameterized cell (Pcell) code can be updated with license calls, while graphical databases can be converted to secure versions in minutes. The updated files are then automatically linked to security functions that check whether the user has a valid license to open and use the PDK. All of these license and security functions are handled by IN2FAB's Secure PDK software which forms a bridge between the design environment and industry standard licensing products, delivering file security with minimal time and effort.

In addition to safeguarding foundry information, securing the PDK protects circuits that are built using them. Design databases are useless without details of the components inside, and secure PDK locks this data away to protect foundries and fabless companies alike. With such enormous sums being invested in photonics, investors are taking a huge risk in leaving files that contain the products wide open to compromise, copying and outright theft.

In the rapidly evolving field of photonics, protecting sensitive data is more critical than ever. Ensuring robust safeguards around intellectual property, maintains data integrity, and prevents losses of critical research and innovation. By implementing core database security, organizations can fortify their products against cyber threats as competing companies and nations battle for technical dominance. As photonics continues to drive advancements across a wide spectrum of technology, prioritizing file security is not just a best practice, it’s a necessity for sustaining progress and leadership in the industry.

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