Why Photonic Chips Matter

As AI systems become more powerful, the demand for faster data processing and lower energy consumption continues to grow.

That is where photonic chips are becoming increasingly important.

Instead of relying only on electrical signals, photonic technology uses light to transmit and process information. This can help improve speed, reduce energy use and support applications such as AI, data centers and high-speed communications.

For students interested in future technology, photonics is a good example of how electronics, communication systems, computing and advanced manufacturing are beginning to overlap.

Inside SMART Photonics

During the Netherlands mission, MAHANAKORN joined a visit to SMART Photonics, a leading photonic-chip manufacturer.

The visit provided a closer look at how photonic technologies move from research into production and how specialised manufacturing ecosystems are built around them.

What makes photonic chips especially interesting is their potential role in systems that need to move huge amounts of data quickly and efficiently.

That includes the infrastructure behind:

A Different Path into Advanced Chip Manufacturing

The mission also highlighted a strategic difference between photonic-chip production and traditional semiconductor fabrication.

According to the university’s report, the SMART Photonics model uses an investment scale of around THB 5.6 billion, significantly lower than the capital typically required for a conventional semiconductor fabrication plant.

That difference matters because it suggests another possible route for countries looking to build deeper capabilities in advanced chip technology.

For Thailand, the opportunity is not only about manufacturing.

It is also about developing the engineers, researchers and technical specialists needed to support photonics, semiconductors, AI and advanced electronics.

From Technology to Talent

MAHANAKORN’s role in this area connects with its wider work in semiconductor education, research and workforce development.

The university has been involved in national and international initiatives covering photonics, power electronics, biosensors and Lab-on-Chip technologies, alongside semiconductor talent development and research collaboration.

For students, that means emerging technologies such as photonic chips are not isolated research topics.

They sit inside a much larger ecosystem that combines:

Where Could You Take It Next?

Students interested in the technologies behind photonics and advanced chips can begin building relevant foundations through:

Communication & Electronics Engineering
Develop knowledge in electronics, communication systems, circuits and technologies connected with high-speed communications, sensing and advanced electronic devices.

Explore Communication & Electronics Engineering →

Computer & AI Engineering
Build foundations in computing, artificial intelligence and data — increasingly important across data centers, intelligent systems and advanced digital infrastructure.

Explore Computer & AI Engineering →

Mechanical Engineering
Explore engineering systems, automation and advanced manufacturing technologies that support modern high-tech industries.

Explore Mechanical Engineering →

The technologies powering the future of AI will depend not only on better software, but on better hardware and the people who know how to build it.