China opened its first dedicated photonic computing laboratory on June 11.
The Shanghai Key Laboratory of Integrated Photonic Computing Chips and Systems was launched at Shanghai Jiao Tong University. It will develop light‑based processors and the surrounding ecosystem, backed by state funding and university research staff.
Photonic chips use photons instead of electrons, promising lower energy use and higher bandwidth. If the technology matures, China could produce AI accelerators that do not rely on US‑restricted silicon fabs, giving it a path around export controls.
The lab joins a growing global race to commercialise photonic computing, but the field remains experimental and faces steep manufacturing challenges.