Forward by Travis via 4o.

The National Research Council of Canada (NRC) has initiated a significant modernization project for its Canadian Photonics Fabrication Centre (CPFC). This project involves expanding the centre's capabilities and updating its equipment to enhance its role in research, innovation, and commercialization of photonic components. These components are vital for high-speed data transmission in fibre optic networks, particularly in data centres.

The Government of Canada allocated $90 million in Budget 2021 for this modernization, with an additional $25 million provided through the NRC's Office of Facilities Renewal Management Program. These funds aim to increase the CPFC's capacity and ensure it continues to meet both Canadian and global demand for compound semiconductor foundry services.

Key aspects of the modernization include:

1. Expansion of Facilities: A new 7,500 square-foot building is under construction, which will feature a modern clean room, a gowning room, and a wastewater collection system to minimize the environmental impact of the fabrication processes.

2. Equipment Upgrades: The centre will receive new metal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) reactors, enhancing its capacity for epitaxial growth with greater precision.

3. Operational Continuity: Despite the ongoing construction, the CPFC will remain operational, ensuring that there are no disruptions to its services or client deliverables.

This modernization is designed to support next-generation optical components, addressing the growing demand and ensuring the CPFC remains at the forefront of the telecommunications supply chain. The project highlights the NRC's commitment to maintaining Canada's leadership in photonics and semiconductor fabrication, providing critical infrastructure to support both national and international markets.

Access ya know…where is the cowbell?

December 21, 2023 - Ottawa, Ontario

Construction of the new CPFC building started in Ottawa on September 18, 2023.

The National Research Council of Canada (NRC) recently broke ground on a major construction project that will modernize its Canadian Photonics Fabrication Centre (CPFC) by adding capacity and capability for research, innovation and commercialization. The centre is a semiconductor fabrication facility that produces unique photonic components. These components generate, modulate, amplify and receive high-speed optical signals over fibre optic networks and are crucial for high-speed data transmission in data centres.

In Budget 2021, the Government of Canada provided $90 million to the NRC to update some of the fabrication centre's existing equipment and expand its current space. An additional $25 million was allocated through the NRC's Office of Facilities Renewal Management Program. These investments aim to increase the Canadian Photonics Fabrication Centre's capacity as Canada's only pure play compound semiconductor foundry and enhance its ability to better meet Canadian and global client demand.

As part of the modernization, the NRC is expanding the facility to improve critical processes for next-generation optical components, meet growing demand and see outdated equipment replaced to better support the telecommunications supply chain. Construction began in September 2023 on the new 7,500 square-foot building, which will include a modern clean room, a gowning room and a wastewater collection system to reduce the fabrication centre's environmental footprint. It will have the ability to host 2 new metal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) reactors for additional capacity for epitaxial growth with more precise control. During construction of the new facility, the fabrication centre will remain open, with no impact on operations or client deliverables.

Check back soon for more updates about the Canadian Photonics Fabrication Centre.

A 3-D rendering illustrating the new CPFC building.

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