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Tower Semiconductor and LightIC partner to expand silicon photonics for physical AI and automotive applications
Monday, January 5, 2026 at 02:00 PM
Tower Semiconductor and LightIC have partnered to expand the application of silicon photonics technology into physical AI and automotive sectors. This collaboration leverages Tower's manufacturing capabilities to support LightIC's chip development for high-growth infrastructure markets.
Context
Tower Semiconductor and LightIC announced a strategic partnership on January 5, 2026, to scale silicon photonics for the automotive and physical AI sectors. The collaboration leverages Tower’s specialized foundry platform to mass-produce LightIC’s Frequency-Modulated Continuous-Wave (FMCW) LiDAR sensors, including the Lark automotive unit and the FR60 for robotics. This pivot expands silicon photonics from AI data-center infrastructure into real-world 4D sensing and autonomous navigation.
The agreement targets a high-growth market, as the automotive LiDAR industry is forecasted to reach $3.6 billion by 2030 with a 24% CAGR. For Tower, this follows a recent $300 million investment in photonics capacity intended to support its projected $215 million in 2025 segment revenue. By integrating complex optical functions onto a single chip, the partnership aims to drastically reduce the size and cost of high-performance sensors essential for autonomous vehicles and industrial robotics.
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