Original Title: Notice of the General Office of the People’s Government of Guangdong Province on Issuing the Action Plan for Accelerating the Innovative Development of the Optical Chip Industry in Guangdong Province (2024–2030)
Optical chips are fundamental components for the conversion of optical and electrical signals. Compared to integrated circuits, they exhibit lower transmission loss, wider transmission bandwidth, shorter latency, and stronger resistance to electromagnetic interference. They are expected to drive transformative development in the semiconductor industry and provide strong support for the high-quality development of industries such as next-generation network communications, artificial intelligence, and intelligent connected vehicles.To accelerate the cultivation and development of the optical chip industry, strive to achieve breakthroughs in more than 10 key core technologies in the field of optical chips by 2030, create more than 10 “flagship” products, foster more than 10 world-class leading enterprises with international competitiveness, establish approximately 10 national and provincial innovation platforms, cultivate a new industrial cluster worth hundreds of billions of yuan, and build a globally influential innovation hub for the optical chip industry, this Action Plan is hereby formulated.
I. Key Tasks
(1) Breakthroughs in Key Industrial Technologies.
1. Strengthen basic research and original innovation capabilities in optical chips. Encourage qualified enterprises, universities, and research institutes to conduct basic research on future frontier scientific issues such as monolithic integration, photonic computing, ultra-high-speed photonic networks, flexible photonic chips, and on-chip optical neural networks. Support leading technology enterprises, universities, and research institutes in actively undertaking major national-level research and development tasks related to optical chips to produce a series of cutting-edge achievements.(The Provincial Department of Science and Technology, Development and Reform Commission, Department of Education, and Department of Industry and Information Technology, along with the Provincial Academy of Sciences and the Guangzhou Branch of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and the people’s governments of prefecture-level and above cities, shall be responsible according to their respective duties; hereinafter, the participation of the people’s governments of prefecture-level and above cities is required for all tasks and will not be listed separately)
2. The Provincial Key Areas R&D Program will support research and development efforts in optical chip technology.Increase R&D investment in areas such as high-speed optical communication chips, high-performance optical sensing chips, communication-sensing convergence chips, thin-film lithium niobate materials, indium phosphide substrate materials, organic semiconductor materials, silicon photonics integration technology, flexible integration technology, epitaxial growth and epitaxial processes, and core semiconductor equipment, with a focus on resolving “bottlenecks” and “blockages” in the industrial and supply chains.(Responsibility lies with the Provincial Department of Science and Technology, Development and Reform Commission, Department of Education, Department of Industry and Information Technology, the Provincial Academy of Sciences, and the Guangzhou Branch of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, among others, according to their respective duties)
3. Increase support for optical chips under the “Strong Chip” initiative. Expand the scope of support provided by provincial-level strategic innovation programs and key tasks under the “Manufacturing as the Mainstay” initiative. Extend industrial policies—such as R&D subsidies for foundational algorithms and architectural technologies in the integrated circuit industry, and incentives for the first round of pre-mass-production wafer runs—to areas including optical chip design automation software (PDA tools) and silicon photonics MPW (multi-project wafer) fabrication, thereby strengthening product R&D and industrial applications in the optical chip sector.(Responsibility lies with the Provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology, the Provincial Development and Reform Commission, the Provincial Department of Education, the Provincial Department of Science and Technology, the Guangdong Academy of Sciences, the Guangzhou Branch of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and other relevant entities according to their respective duties)
(2) Accelerate the Pilot Production and Commercialization Process.
4. Accelerate the construction of a number of proof-of-concept centers, R&D pilot lines, and pilot production lines. Support enterprises, universities, and research institutes in establishing proof-of-concept centers, R&D pilot lines, and pilot production lines in fields such as high-speed optical communication chips, high-performance optical sensing chips, infrared optical sensing chips, high-performance communication-sensing integrated chips, thin-film lithium niobate, compound semiconductors, silicon-based (heterogeneous) integration, and optoelectronic hybrid integration, to accelerate the commercialization of scientific and technological achievements.(Responsibility lies with the Provincial Development and Reform Commission, Department of Education, Department of Science and Technology, Department of Industry and Information Technology, and other relevant departments according to their respective duties)
5. Support pilot production platforms in actively fulfilling their functions. Support pilot production platforms in providing a series of services to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the field of optical chips, including prototype manufacturing, quality and performance testing, small-batch trial production, and process scaling and optimization, to accelerate the maturation of new technologies and products. Encourage comprehensive and specialized pilot production platforms to provide verification services for the first-of-a-kind equipment and initial batches of new materials in the optical chip sector; eligible platforms will be granted appropriate policy and financial support in accordance with laws and regulations.(Responsibility lies with the Provincial Development and Reform Commission, Department of Education, Department of Science and Technology, Department of Industry and Information Technology, and other relevant departments according to their respective duties)
6. Encourage pilot production platforms to incubate more innovative enterprises. Encourage pilot production platforms to establish various incubation facilities such as maker spaces, incubators, and accelerators, and to transfer mature technological achievements to enterprises through licensing or sale, or to commercialize certain achievements by establishing subsidiaries, thereby incubating and nurturing more innovative enterprises in the optical chip sector. (Responsibility lies with the Provincial Development and Reform Commission, Department of Education, Department of Science and Technology, Department of Industry and Information Technology, etc., according to their respective duties)
(III) Building an Innovation Platform System.
7. Focus on cutting-edge technology fields to build a number of strategic platforms. Relying on various innovation entities such as enterprises, universities, research institutes, and new-type R&D institutions, we will plan and construct a number of common technology R&D platforms in the optical chip field. These platforms will primarily focus on fundamental theoretical research and the development of emerging and disruptive technologies, accelerating the creation of original results in cutting-edge, interdisciplinary, and disruptive technologies to achieve more “zero-to-one” breakthroughs.(Responsibility lies with the Provincial Department of Science and Technology, the Provincial Development and Reform Commission, the Provincial Department of Education, the Provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology, the Provincial Academy of Sciences, and the Guangzhou Branch of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, among others, in accordance with their respective duties)
8. Cultivate a group of specialized platforms focused on industrial innovation. By attracting strategic scientific and technological resources from both domestic and international sources, we will foster a range of innovation platforms, including industrial innovation centers, technology innovation centers, manufacturing innovation centers, enterprise technology centers, engineering research centers, and key laboratories. These platforms will primarily target critical segments of the optical chip industry, accelerate technological innovation and industrial incubation, and continuously enhance the sector’s competitive edge in these specialized fields.(Responsibility lies with the Provincial Development and Reform Commission, Department of Education, Department of Science and Technology, Department of Industry and Information Technology, the Provincial Academy of Sciences, and the Guangzhou Branch of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, among others, according to their respective duties)
9. Focus on specialized service sectors to build a number of service platforms. Centered on specialized service areas such as R&D and design, proof of concept, small-scale trials, pilot production, testing and inspection, intellectual property, and talent development, we will establish a series of public service platforms to promote the innovative development of the optical chip industry, thereby enhancing the level of innovation commercialization and specialized service capabilities. (Responsibility lies with the Provincial Development and Reform Commission, Department of Education, Department of Science and Technology, Department of Industry and Information Technology, the Provincial Academy of Sciences, and the Guangzhou Branch of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, among others, according to their respective duties)
(IV) Promote Industrial Cluster Development.
10. Strengthen the systematic layout of the optical chip industry. Enhance the overall development layout of the province’s optical chip industry; support eligible cities and prefectures in formulating and implementing specialized plans for the development of the optical chip industry; accelerate the introduction of high-end innovative resources in the optical chip field from both domestic and international sources; and foster a differentiated industrial layout. (Responsibility lies with the Provincial Development and Reform Commission, Department of Science and Technology, Department of Industry and Information Technology, etc., in accordance with their respective duties)
11. Focus on distinctive and advantageous fields to build industrial clusters. Support cities such as Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, and Dongguan in leveraging their foundational strengths in the semiconductor and integrated circuit industry chains. Aligning with local needs for the development of artificial intelligence, large-scale models, next-generation network communications, intelligent connected vehicles, and data centers, accelerate the cultivation of industrial clusters for optical communication chips and optical sensing chips. Establish a full optical chip industry chain covering design, manufacturing, packaging, and testing, and actively foster future industries such as optical computing chips.(Responsibility lies with the Provincial Development and Reform Commission, Department of Science and Technology, Department of Industry and Information Technology, and other relevant departments according to their respective duties)
12. Support the planning and construction of specialized optical chip parks in various regions. Support Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Dongguan, and other cities in planning and constructing specialized optical chip parks with distinct characteristics, leveraging existing semiconductor and integrated circuit industrial clusters. (Responsibility lies with the Provincial Development and Reform Commission, Department of Science and Technology, Department of Industry and Information Technology, and other relevant departments according to their respective duties)
(V) Vigorously Cultivate Leading Enterprises.
13. Support the introduction and cultivation of a group of leading enterprises. Focusing on key sub-sectors of optical chips and critical links in the industrial chain, attract a group of leading enterprises and disruptive innovators that aggregate global resources and hold leading positions in their respective sub-sectors. Support qualified optical chip enterprises in conducting mergers and acquisitions around key links in the industrial chain to accelerate the expansion of their business scale. (Responsibility lies with the Provincial Development and Reform Commission, Department of Education, Department of Science and Technology, Department of Industry and Information Technology, Department of Commerce, and other relevant departments according to their respective duties)
14. Support the incubation and cultivation of a group of technology-based start-ups. Support leading enterprises in collaborating with domestic and international companies, universities, and research institutions to establish future industry innovation consortia, explore collaborative research and development among industry, academia, and research institutions, as well as joint efforts across the industrial chain, to incubate and cultivate a group of technology-based start-ups. Encourage leading semiconductor and integrated circuit enterprises to leverage their industrial foundation advantages to expand into optical chip-related fields.(Responsibility lies with the Provincial Development and Reform Commission, Department of Education, Department of Science and Technology, Department of Industry and Information Technology, and other relevant departments according to their respective duties)
15. Support leading enterprises in strengthening their presence in Guangdong. Support leading optical chip enterprises in expanding their R&D and production line footprint in Guangdong to accelerate the formation of an optical chip industrial cluster. Support foreign-invested optical chip enterprises in establishing various platforms such as enterprise technology centers, engineering research centers, and engineering technology research centers to further enhance technological innovation capabilities in the optical chip sector. (Responsibility lies with the Provincial Development and Reform Commission, Department of Education, Department of Science and Technology, Department of Industry and Information Technology, Department of Commerce, and other relevant departments according to their respective duties)
(VI) Strengthen Collaborative Innovation.
16. Actively seek national-level projects. Actively align with the national strategic layout for integrated circuits and strive to attract a number of national-level optical chip projects to be implemented in Guangdong. (The Provincial Development and Reform Commission, Department of Education, Department of Science and Technology, Department of Industry and Information Technology, Department of Commerce, and other relevant departments shall be responsible according to their respective duties)
17. Actively leverage innovation resources from Hong Kong and Macao. Strengthen collaborative innovation with universities and research institutions in Hong Kong and Macao, tap into high-quality scientific and technological achievements, innovative talent, and financial capital, and accelerate the introduction and development of a range of technological and industrial innovation outcomes. (The Provincial Development and Reform Commission, Department of Education, Department of Science and Technology, Department of Industry and Information Technology, Department of Commerce, and other relevant departments shall be responsible according to their respective duties)
18. Actively connect with innovation resources from other domestic and international regions. Strengthen exchanges and cooperation with enterprises and institutions in advanced domestic regions such as the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region and the Yangtze River Delta, explore cross-regional collaborative initiatives, and enhance the introduction of high-quality R&D and industrial resources. Establish mechanisms for exchange and cooperation with various innovation entities, including internationally renowned universities, R&D institutions, and technology transfer organizations, to strengthen the exchange of technology and personnel, and continuously enhance the region’s influence and industry impact.(Responsibility lies with the Provincial Development and Reform Commission, Department of Education, Department of Science and Technology, Department of Industry and Information Technology, and Department of Commerce, in accordance with their respective duties)
II. Key Projects
(1) Key Materials and Equipment R&D Project.
19. Accelerate research and development efforts on key materials for optical chips. Vigorously support the R&D and manufacturing of key optical chip materials, including silicon photonics materials, compound semiconductors, thin-film lithium niobate, gallium oxide thin films, electro-optic polymers, flexible substrate materials, metasurface materials, optical sensing materials, electro-optic topological phase-change materials, photoresists, and quartz crystals.(Responsibility lies with the Provincial Department of Science and Technology, the Provincial Development and Reform Commission, the Provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology, and other relevant departments according to their respective duties)
20. Promote the R&D and manufacturing of key optical chip equipment. Vigorously promote the R&D and domestic substitution of key optical chip equipment, including etchers, bonders, epitaxial growth equipment, and optical vector parameter network testers. Implement policies for the renewal and upgrading of industrial equipment to accelerate the modernization of key optical chip equipment. (Responsibility lies with the Provincial Department of Science and Technology, Development and Reform Commission, Department of Industry and Information Technology, and other relevant departments according to their respective duties)
21. Support the R&D and optimization of optical chip-related components and processes. Vigorously support the R&D and industrialization of optical components and core components of optical modules, including transceiver modules, modulators, reconfigurable optical neural network inference units, PLC splitters, and AWG gratings. Support the R&D and continuous optimization of optical chip-related manufacturing processes, such as silicon photonics integration, heterogeneous integration, epitaxial growth and epitaxial processes, and manufacturing processes.(Responsibility lies with the Provincial Department of Science and Technology, the Provincial Development and Reform Commission, the Provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology, and other relevant departments according to their respective duties)
(2) Industrial Chain Strengthening and Gap-Filling Project.
22. Strengthen optical chip design and R&D. Encourage qualified institutions to benchmark against world-class standards, build high-level innovation platforms for optical chip design tools, software, and IP, and establish technological innovation advantages in specialized sectors.Support optical chip design enterprises in strengthening R&D and industrialization efforts in areas such as optical communication interconnect transceiver chips, FP/DFB/EML/VCSEL laser chips, PIN/APD detector chips, short-wave infrared organic imaging chips, TOF/FMCW lidar chips, and 3D vision sensing chips. (Responsibility lies with the Provincial Development and Reform Commission, Department of Science and Technology, Department of Industry and Information Technology, and other relevant departments according to their respective duties)
23. Strengthen the layout of optical chip manufacturing. In accordance with national industrial policies, vigorously support technologically advanced optical chip IDM (integrated design, manufacturing, packaging, and testing) and foundry enterprises. Expand production lines and capacity for optical chips, optical modules, and optical components based on platform materials such as silicon, germanium, compound semiconductors, and lithium niobate thin films, as well as those featuring heterogeneous integration of various materials and the fusion of multiple optoelectronic functions.(Responsibility lies with the Provincial Development and Reform Commission, Department of Science and Technology, Department of Industry and Information Technology, and other relevant departments according to their respective duties)
24. Enhance optical chip packaging capabilities. Vigorously develop advanced packaging technologies such as on-chip integration, 3D stacking, co-packaging (CPO) of optical waveguide devices with optical chips, and optical I/O interfaces. Closely align with market demand to drive the upgrading of optical chip packaging and testing processes and enhance related capabilities. (Responsibility lies with the Provincial Development and Reform Commission, Department of Science and Technology, Department of Industry and Information Technology, and other relevant departments according to their respective duties)
(III) Core Product Demonstration and Application Project.
25. Strengthen the demonstration and application of optical chip products. Vigorously support the demonstration of use cases and product applications of optical chips in industries such as next-generation information and communications, data centers, intelligent computing centers, biomedicine, and intelligent connected vehicles. Cultivate more application scenarios, expand the use of optical chip products in fields such as information transmission, detection, and sensing, and promote the upgrading of semiconductor products in related sectors. (Responsibility lies with the Provincial Development and Reform Commission, Department of Science and Technology, Department of Industry and Information Technology, and other relevant departments according to their respective duties)
(IV) Frontier Technology Industry Cultivation Project.
26. Conduct fundamental research and strategic R&D planning focused on cutting-edge theories and technical challenges in optical chips. Support enterprises, universities, and research institutions in conducting R&D planning in technical fields such as optical neural network chips, optical quantum chips, ultra-sensitive optical sensing and detection chips, optoelectronic heterogeneous hybrid integrated chips, microcavity optoelectronic chips, and optical chips with exponential computing power growth, striving to achieve fundamental breakthroughs, original technological accumulation, and pioneering advancements.(Responsibility lies with the Provincial Department of Science and Technology, Development and Reform Commission, Department of Education, Department of Industry and Information Technology, and other relevant departments according to their respective duties)
III. Support Measures
(1) Strengthen Organizational Leadership. The Provincial Leading Group for the Development of the Semiconductor and Integrated Circuit Industry shall coordinate the overall planning of the province’s optical chip industry, integrate resources from all parties, and coordinate the resolution of major issues. Relevant provincial departments and all concerned cities and prefectures shall clarify their responsibilities, increase policy support, and form a collaborative effort between the provincial and municipal levels to plan and establish landmark projects, specialized industrial parks, and major innovation platforms.Explore the establishment of a strategic advisory mechanism for the optical chip industry, intensify fundamental analysis of overall industry trends, shifts in the international landscape, and major technological directions, conduct research on forward-looking and strategic issues, and gradually build an industrial system to support the future development of the optical chip industry. (Responsibility lies with the Provincial Development and Reform Commission, Department of Science and Technology, Department of Industry and Information Technology, and other relevant departments according to their respective duties)
(2) Strengthen Financial Support. Effectively coordinate and utilize existing special funds to support the development of the optical chip industry, providing stable financial support for basic research, technology transfer, promotion and application, attracting leading enterprises, and recruiting talent. Encourage researchers to independently select topics and conduct R&D in cutting-edge fields of optical chip technology, accelerating the creation of original, cutting-edge, interdisciplinary, and disruptive technological achievements.Encourage various innovation entities within the province—including enterprises, universities, and research institutes—to undertake a number of major national-level projects under policies such as the National Major Special Projects for Future Industries, thereby accelerating scientific and technological innovation and the commercialization of research outcomes. Leverage the guiding role of provincial funds and relevant municipal investment funds to encourage private capital to support the development of the optical chip industry through equity, bonds, insurance, and other forms. (Responsibility lies with the Provincial Development and Reform Commission, Department of Science and Technology, Department of Industry and Information Technology, Department of Finance, and Department of Commerce, among others, according to their respective duties)
(3) Strengthen Pilot Demonstrations. Actively attract leading domestic and international optical chip enterprises to establish headquarters and invest in major projects in Guangdong, and establish a coordinated response mechanism for investment decision-making and rapid implementation of major projects. Prioritize the inclusion of major optical chip projects in the provincial key construction project plan; for eligible projects requiring new construction land, the province will centrally allocate land quotas.Effectively coordinate and utilize existing special funds to support optical chip projects with substantial investment, as well as national-level public service platforms and innovation platforms in the optical chip sector that demonstrate significant industrial spillover effects. Expand pilot demonstrations of optical chip industry application scenarios and accelerate the implementation of application scenario demonstrations and market validation for key projects. (Responsibility lies with the Provincial Development and Reform Commission, Department of Science and Technology, Department of Industry and Information Technology, Department of Finance, Department of Natural Resources, Department of Commerce, and other relevant departments according to their respective duties)
(4) Strengthen Resource Support. Coordinate special resources for talent recruitment across the province to vigorously attract a group of “high-end, specialized, and scarce” talents in the optical chip sector. Innovate talent recruitment mechanisms; encourage qualified universities and research institutes to improve teaching resources and practical platforms in relevant fields, deepen industry-academia-research collaboration for joint talent cultivation, and accelerate the training of innovative talents urgently needed for industrial development.Support the hosting of major events with international influence, such as large-scale academic symposia, cooperation promotion conferences, industrial technology forums, and annual summits. Accelerate the development of the optical chip industry through supply-demand matching, technical exchanges, and collaborative technology transfer, and guide social forces to actively pay attention to and strongly support the cultivation and development of the optical chip industry.(Responsibility lies with the Provincial Development and Reform Commission, the Provincial Party Committee Financial Affairs Office, the Provincial Department of Education, the Provincial Department of Science and Technology, the Provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology, the Provincial Department of Human Resources and Social Security, the Provincial Department of Commerce, the Guangdong Financial Regulatory Bureau, and the Guangdong Securities Regulatory Bureau, in accordance with their respective duties.)
