HiCONNECTS was pleased to take part in SEMICON Europa 2025, one of Europe’s flagship events for the semiconductor ecosystem, bringing together industry leaders, researchers, policymakers, and innovators from across the value chain. The event provided a strong platform to highlight HiCONNECTS’ work in advancing heterogeneous integration and to engage directly with stakeholders shaping the future of Europe’s semiconductor landscape.
A Dedicated Presence at the TechARENA
A key highlight of HiCONNECTS’ participation was its dedicated session at the TechARENA, titled “From Chip to Impact: The HiCONNECTS Revolution.” The session focused on how cutting-edge research from HiCONNECTS and its partners is translating into real-world impact, strengthening Europe’s leadership in heterogeneous integration across cloud, edge, and radar technologies.
The TechARENA session attracted a diverse audience, reflecting the growing interest in advanced integration technologies and their role in enabling next-generation electronic systems. Through technical insights and practical examples, the session demonstrated how collaborative innovation is driving progress from design and manufacturing through to application and deployment.
Expert Insights from Across the Consortium
The session featured contributions from leading experts within the HiCONNECTS consortium:
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Dimitrios Velenis (imec) presented on the heterogeneous integration of co-packaged optics and its importance in navigating the growing complexities of AI-driven systems.
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Gyuhyeon Park (AT&S) shared insights into the development and manufacturing of a co-packaged optics demonstrator for next-generation smart network interface cards (NICs) and switches.
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Anneriudh Sundararajan (PHIX Photonics Assembly) discussed the integration and assembly challenges and solutions for co-packaged optics in smart networks and switching technologies.
Together, these presentations highlighted the technical depth of the HiCONNECTS project and its contribution to addressing key challenges in performance, scalability, and efficiency.
Leadership and Standards Perspective
The session was chaired by Ilan England, EU Projects Manager and Coordinator of HiCONNECTS, who also delivered an overview presentation on heterogeneous integration and related security standards. This perspective underscored the importance of aligning technological innovation with standardisation, security, and long-term sustainability — critical factors for strengthening Europe’s semiconductor ecosystem.
Engaging with the Wider Ecosystem
Beyond the TechARENA session, SEMICON Europa offered valuable opportunities for networking and dialogue. HiCONNECTS representatives engaged with attendees from industry, research organisations, and public institutions, exchanging views on emerging trends, collaboration opportunities, and the future direction of heterogeneous integration in Europe.
These interactions reinforced the role of HiCONNECTS as a collaborative platform that connects research excellence with industrial relevance, while supporting Europe’s strategic ambitions in semiconductor technologies.
Looking Ahead
Participation in SEMICON Europa 2025 marked an important moment for HiCONNECTS to showcase progress, share knowledge, and build new connections within the European semiconductor community. As the project continues, HiCONNECTS remains committed to advancing innovation in heterogeneous integration and contributing to a resilient, competitive, and sustainable semiconductor ecosystem in Europe.
