In the middle of the first row is the president of  the Tianhe Rotary Club, Lin Shu-Ling . On her right is Professor Lin Ching-Fu, the CTO of N&M. Picture/N&M offered

　　Professor Lin Ching-Fu, CTO of Taiwan Nano & Micro-photonic and a distinguished professor at National Taiwan University, was recently invited by the Tianhe Rotary Club to present a lecture on the innovative applications of silicon photonics sensing technology. As one of Taiwan’s few photonics scholars to be named a fellow of both the IEEE and SPIE, Professor Lin, known as the “Father of Silicon Photonic Sensing” in Taiwan, has made outstanding contributions to both academia and industry. During his presentation, he shared insights into the profound impact of silicon photonics on the future of technology.

　　In her opening remarks, President Lin Shu-Ling of the Tianhe Rotary Club noted the increasing global recognition of silicon photonics, emphasizing its significance in advancing human civilization. She highlighted the honor of hosting Professor Lin, remarking, “We are privileged to welcome Professor Lin, a pioneer in silicon photonic sensing, to share with us the critical role this technology plays. Silicon photonics sensing is set to extend AI’s perceptive abilities, enhancing human health and advancing our society.”

　　During his speech, Professor Lin outlined how past technological revolutions, such as vacuum tubes, transistors, and integrated circuits, marked paradigm shifts in human innovation, with silicon photonics now positioned to drive a new transformative era. He explained that beyond communication, silicon photonics has far-reaching applications in sensing, computing, and quantum technology. Integrating these domains while expanding the functionality of artificial intelligence (AI) will be crucial for future technological advancement.

　　While silicon photonics is currently gaining attention primarily in communication, it holds equally substantial potential in non-communication fields, such as sensing and computing. In particular, Professor Lin emphasized its relevance to the development of quantum computing, where silicon photonics could play a pivotal role. He noted, however, that challenges remain: “Silicon photonics faces obstacles, including impedance matching, heterogeneous integration, coupling losses, and cost-effectiveness. Addressing these requires robust industry-academia collaboration.”

Lin Ching-Fu's speech at Tianhe Rotary Club. Picture/N&M offered

　　Committed to accelerating the deployment of silicon photonics, Professor Lin and his team at N&M are making cutting-edge contributions. At the Rotary event, he shared, “We have successfully induced silicon materials to emit mid-to-long infrared light, and we have developed sensors in this wavelength range, which can be applied to physiological and environmental monitoring.” Through continuous, stable detection, this technology can generate Big Data, providing precise data support for AI applications and furthering the realization of smart living.

　　Professor Lin concluded his presentation with a lighthearted comparison, saying, “Silicon electronics and silicon photonics are like Taiwan’s ‘Heavenly Sword and Dragon Saber’—powerful tools that can help Taiwan maintain a leading position in global high-tech.” He highlighted N&M’s commitment to leveraging Taiwan’s semiconductor strengths as a foundation for innovation, with a vision of establishing Taiwan as a frontrunner in the silicon photonics industry and positioning N&M as the “NVIDIA of silicon photonic sensing.”

　　This event at the Tianhe Rotary Club highlighted the pivotal role of silicon photonics in the future of high-tech industries, particularly in sensing and AI applications. President Lin Shu-Ling expressed her gratitude, stating, “We are thrilled to have Professor Lin share such valuable industry insights with our members, and we look forward to seeing the impact of his work at N&M benefiting those in need through silicon photonics applications.”