Optoelectronics Pioneer Institute

What Optoelectronics Pioneer Institute does

Optoelectronics Pioneer Institute (OEIC, 陕西光电子先导院科技有限公司) is a Xi'an-based photonic integrated circuit pilot platform founded in October 2015 by the Xi'an Institute of Optics and Precision Mechanics (CAS), the Shaanxi Provincial Department of Science and Technology, and the Xi'an High-tech Zone Administrative Committee. It operates two core manufacturing lines — a 6-inch compound semiconductor optoelectronic chip pilot platform (operational since March 2023) and an 8-inch silicon photonics platform (operational since October 2025, the first in Northwest China) — supported by 4,000 sqm of Class 100 to Class 10,000 cleanrooms, 170+ key process equipment sets, and 450+ supporting facilities representing roughly 1.5 billion RMB of cumulative investment.

The company generates revenue through three principal streams: chip processing and pilot production services (wafer processing, process development, and small-batch runs for photonic chip customers); joint technology development services where the platform provides equipment, engineers, and process technology alongside customer technical teams; and a Platform+Fund synergy in which OEIC serves as an LP in industry funds (notably the 20 billion RMB Shaanxi Photonics Strong Chain Fund) and earns equity returns by providing technical and industrial acceleration to portfolio companies. Customers span photonics startups (VCSEL, GaN, InP, silicon photonics LiDAR, infrared imaging), automotive optical sensing firms requiring IATF 16949-qualified chips, data center and AI computing optical interconnect developers, consumer electronics 3D-sensing suppliers, and university and research institute collaborators.

Its go-to-market is enterprise field sales plus targeted participation in industry exhibitions (SEMICON CHINA, Changchun International Optoelectronics Expo, Wuhan Optics Expo, Silk Road International Fair) and government-led platforms such as the Shaanxi "Chasing Light" plan. With 20+ released Process Design Kits, 30+ patents, 400+ completed chip process development projects, and service to 100+ enterprise customers and 240+ total innovation entities, the company functions as the central shared-infrastructure anchor for Shaanxi's photonics industry cluster, which scaled from 150 billion RMB to 365 billion RMB between 2021 and 2025.

Name

Optoelectronics Pioneer Institute

Legal name

陕西光电子先导院科技有限公司

Website

https://chinaoeic.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Optoelectronics Pioneer Institute (OEIC) is a Xi'an-based photonic integrated circuit pilot platform operating 6-inch compound semiconductor and 8-inch silicon photonics manufacturing lines, providing chip prototyping, process development, and small-batch production services to 100+ photonics startups, automotive LiDAR firms, and research institutes.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Semiconductor Foundry Services

NAICS

Semiconductor and Related Device Manufacturing (334413), Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing (3344)

SIC

Semiconductors & Related Devices (3674), Optical Instruments & Lenses (3827)

akta.pro primary industry

Optoelectronic / Photonics Foundries (Silicon Photonics/LED/Laser) (HDAHACAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Optoelectronic Emitters (LED/Laser/VCSEL) (HDAHALAL), Optoelectronic Receivers & Transceivers (Photodetectors/Optical Modules) (HDAHALAM), Foundry Platform & Design Enablement Services (PDK/DFM/Process Qualification) (HDAHACAJ)

Keywords

• Compound semiconductor foundry
• Silicon photonics platform
• Photonic chip prototyping
• Pilot production services
• Optoelectronic integrated circuits

Headquarters

HQ city

Xian Shi

HQ country

China

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Chip Processing/Pilot Production Services: Core revenue stream from providing compound semiconductor and silicon photonics chip prototyping and pilot-scale manufacturing services. Customers pay for wafer processing, process development, and small-batch production runs.
2. Technology Development Services: Joint R&D services where platform provides equipment, engineers, and process technology while customers provide technical support for special process or product development. Revenue generated through development project fees.
3. Platform + Fund Synergy Model: Unique business model where the company serves as LP in industry funds. Platform provides technical and industrial acceleration services to portfolio companies, which generates equity investment returns that partially offset platform operational costs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Optoelectronics Pioneer Institute operates a compound semiconductor and silicon photonics integrated circuit pilot production platform. The company provides chip prototyping, process development, wafer fabrication, testing, and co-development services to photonics startups, research institutions, and enterprises. Its core offering revolves around two main platforms — a 6-inch compound optoelectronic chip platform for GaAs VCSEL and passive devices, and an 8-inch silicon photonics platform for AI and data center optical interconnects — supplemented by a 1+N flexible engineering platform model with N characteristic process modules.

Product overview

Optoelectronics Pioneer Institute (陕西光电子先导院科技有限公司) operates as a compound semiconductor and silicon photonics integrated circuit pilot platform. The company provides a comprehensive portfolio centered around two core platforms: the 6-inch compound optoelectronic chip pilot platform (supporting GaAs VCSEL, silicon lenses, and integrated passive devices) and the 8-inch silicon photonics platform (for silicon-based photonic integrated circuits). These are complemented by specialized process services including single-step process foundry, complete device foundry, wafer testing, co-development, and extended technical services. The company has released over 20 PDKs covering consumer electronics, industrial sensing, and automotive applications. As the core platform of Shaanxi's 'Chasing Light Plan', the company serves as a national-level manufacturing pilot platform for photonic integrated circuits.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• 6-inch Compound Optoelectronic Chip Pilot Platform (6英寸化合物光电芯片中试平台) A 6-inch compound semiconductor pilot platform supporting GaAs VCSEL, silicon lenses, and integrated passive devices. Provides mid-trial and small-batch production of high-speed optical communication chips and high-power lasers for consumer electronics, industrial, and automotive applications. Operational since March 2023 with 20+ released PDKs across 5 categories.
• 8-inch Silicon Photonics Platform (8英寸硅光芯片平台) An 8-inch silicon photonics chip pilot platform providing silicon photonics R&D and pilot services. Features IMEC 130nm active integrated silicon photonics main process platform with 90nm+ advanced process development. Enables applications in AI, data centers, and optical computing. Reduces customer tape-out cycle by approximately 30%.
• GaAs VCSEL Chip Foundry Services (GaAs VCSEL芯片代工服务) GaAs-based Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser (VCSEL) chip processing services including single-junction, multi-junction arrays, and addressable VCSELs for 3D sensing, LiDAR, and optical communication applications. Multi-junction high-power array VCSEL chips passing 1000-hour automotive reliability verification.
• Single-step Process Foundry (单步工艺代工) Individual process services including lithography, metal thin film, dielectric film, etching, chemical, thinning, and laser scribing processes. Available to customers needing specific process steps without full process flow commitment.
• Complete Process Foundry (成套工艺代工) Complete device-level process services for VCSEL devices and GaAs power devices, providing end-to-end chip fabrication from wafer to finished device.
• Wafer Testing (晶圆测试) Comprehensive wafer testing services including step profiler, epitaxial wafer defect inspection, film thickness measurement, PL spectroscopy, EL testing, XRD, SEM, four-point probe, ellipsometer, and LED testing.
• Co-Development Services (共同研发) Joint R&D services where the platform provides equipment, engineers, and process technology while customers provide technical support for special process or product development. Supports tailored process development and technology transfer.
• Extended Technical Services (延伸技术服务) Extended technical services including equipment services, facility services, leasing services, material services, consulting services, and planning services for photonics enterprise customers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduced customer R&D cycle from 18 months to 5 months for VCSEL epitaxial wafer development
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Guangdong Advanced Technology Institute (广东光电子先导院科技有限公司)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2020Wholly-owned subsidiary established in Guangzhou to expand photonics chip technology joint development and equipment services in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. Jointly undertakes Guangdong Province key R&D projects with local partners.
• Xian Institute of Optics and Precision Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (中国科学院西安光机所)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding partner and parent institution providing core technology support, talent resources, and research capabilities. The institute's 'Chasing Light' initiative and optoelectronics research strengths underpin the platform's technical foundation.
• Shaanxi Photonics Technology Innovation Center (陕西光子创新中心)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative innovation center for photonics technology development, combining resources from universities, research institutes, and enterprises to advance photonics industry ecosystem.
• Photonics Technology Laboratory (光子科技实验室)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership with national laboratory combining 'big scientific facility + common technology platform + science fund + innovation ecosystem' to advance photonics basic and applied research.
• Xi'an Jiaotong University (西安交通大学)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partnership for talent cultivation, joint research projects, and technology transfer in photonics and semiconductor fields.
• Northwestern Polytechnical University (西北工业大学)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity collaboration for photonics talent development and joint technology development in aerospace and defense optical applications.
• Xidian University (西安电子科技大学)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership leveraging university's expertise in optical communication and optoelectronics for joint research and talent cultivation.
• IMEC (Belgium)majorTechnology or IntegrationTechnology licensing partnership for 130nm silicon photonics chip process package from IMEC, enabling platform to offer internationally competitive silicon photonics processes.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Broad incumbents

• IMEC: Belgium-based global R&D and pilot consortium for advanced semiconductor and silicon photonics technologies. IMEC licenses its 130nm silicon photonics process to Optoelectronics Pioneer Institute, and is the de facto upstream technology provider and global reference point for the platform's Si photonics roadmap.
• Tower Semiconductor: Israel-based specialty foundry (now under Intel) with an established silicon photonics platform (PH18) serving automotive LiDAR, data center, and sensing customers. Comparable as a high-mix specialty foundry serving similar end markets (LiDAR VCSEL, optical comms) with mature automotive-grade qualifications.
• GlobalFoundries: Global merchant foundry offering silicon photonics processes (9WG, 45CLO, 45RFE) and RF/compound semiconductor capabilities. Comparable as a large-scale foundry competing for the same Si photonics and RF GaAs workload that Optoelectronics Pioneer Institute targets, though at significantly greater scale.

Direct peers

• CompoundTek: Singapore-based silicon photonics foundry offering 8-inch wafer services and custom PDKs to fabless customers globally. Directly comparable as a specialty silicon photonics pilot foundry serving startups and OEMs with similar prototyping and small-volume production services.
• AIM Photonics: US-based public-private Manufacturing Innovation Institute for Integrated Photonics, operating a multi-project wafer pilot line for silicon photonics. Directly comparable mission as a publicly-funded, shared photonics pilot platform serving startups, universities, and defense customers.

Regional players

• Vanguard International Semiconductor: Taiwan-based specialty foundry with GaAs, GaN, and silicon photonics capabilities serving optical and RF customers. Comparable as a regional specialty foundry with compound semiconductor and emerging Si photonics offerings, though primarily serving Taiwan and international customers rather than mainland China.
• Shanghai Simgui Technology: China-based SOI wafer and silicon photonics foundry in Shanghai, offering 8-inch SOI-based photonics services. Comparable as a domestic Chinese Si photonics pilot foundry serving similar customer segments, and a direct competitor for the Shanghai/Yangtze River Delta photonics ecosystem.
• CSICC (China Semiconductor International Manufacturing Corporation): Shanghai-based specialty foundry offering advanced analog, RF, and optoelectronic processes including silicon photonics. Comparable as a domestic Chinese specialty foundry serving photonics and compound semiconductor customers, and a potential competitor for similar end-customer workloads.

Emerging players

• Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics (WNLO): Huazhong University of Science and Technology-affiliated optoelectronics R&D platform with compound semiconductor and silicon photonics capabilities. Comparable as a research-driven optoelectronics platform with pilot production capabilities, though more focused on academic R&D than commercial foundry services.
• Silex Microsystems: Sweden-based specialty MEMS and compound semiconductor foundry acquired by China's Sai MicroElectronics. Comparable business model as a specialty foundry serving photonics, MEMS, and sensor customers with shared-platform economics.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance10 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors8 records

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Optoelectronics Pioneer Institute