Sustainable Optical Architectures for AI Datacenter Infrastructure (SOADI)
| Reference number | |
| Coordinator | Solinide Photonics AB |
| Funding from Vinnova | SEK 5 410 000 |
| Project duration | September 2026 - August 2028 |
| Status | Ongoing |
| Venture | Advanced digitalization - Industrial needs-driven innovation |
| Call | Shared, sustainable and secure AI infrastructure through advanced digitalization |
Purpose and goal
SOADI develops next-generation optical interconnects for AI datacenters, targeting at least 40 % lower energy per transmitted bit than today´s pluggable transceivers. Three goals: define scalable 1.6–3.2 Tbit/s link architectures using IMDD and co-packaged optics; optimise integrated microcomb lasers that replace banks of discrete lasers; and quantify full-lifecycle sustainability impact, including embedded carbon and e-waste, against current 400G/800G deployments.
Expected effects and result
The project delivers an industrially validated roadmap for energy-efficient AI-scale optical connectivity, microcomb sources fabricated on commercial silicon-nitride platforms, physical-layer link models and a lifecycle analysis of energy, carbon footprint and e-waste under Nordic datacenter conditions. Results are disseminated through publications, conferences and IEEE/OIF standardisation, strengthening Sweden´s position in sustainable digital infrastructure.
Planned approach and implementation
The project runs 24 months (Sep 2026–Aug 2028) in five work packages: WP1 1.6–3.2 T link architectures (Infinera AB); WP2 physical-layer models of IMDD and CPO links (Solinide); WP3 lifecycle analysis (joint); WP4 development and characterisation of microcomb sources over three wafer runs (Solinide); WP5 dissemination, standardisation and project management (joint). Solinide Photonics AB coordinates; Nokia Bell Labs Paris contributes in kind via Infinera AB.