Pioneering Photonics Technologies: Fraunhofer HHI And OKI Advance Hybrid Integration

Fraunhofer Heinrich-Hertz-Institut (HHI) welcomed a high-level delegation from Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd. (OKI) to further advance the strategic collaboration in the field of advanced photonics technologies. The visit focused on the results of the joint research to date as well as the exchange on future development prospects.

Yoichi Kato, CTO of OKI, and Makoto Masuda, Head of the Research and Development Center, participated in the discussions. Fraunhofer HHI was represented by its Institute Director, Prof. Dr. Thomas Wiegand, and Norbert Keil, Head of the Photonic Components and Systems Department. Further representatives of the partner institutions also participated in the discussions.

Joint Research for Future Optical Applications
The cooperation with OKI is part of Fraunhofer HHI’s long-standing collaboration with Japanese research and industry partners. These include Keio University, TOK (Tokyo Ohka Kogyo Co., Ltd.), and Suruga Seiki Co., Ltd. These partnerships strengthen German-Japanese exchange in the field of photonics and create important points of contact for joint research and development activities.

A concrete result of the German-Japanese collaboration is the already functional laser Doppler vibrometer module. It combines OKI’s silicon photonics technology with Fraunhofer HHI’s hybrid integration and packaging technologies and demonstrates the potential for more compact, higher-performance, and more energy-efficient optical sensors.

The five-year research agreement signed on December 15, 2025, aims to establish a technological foundation for future optical applications. The focus is on the further development of the laser Doppler vibrometer module as well as the development of novel fiber-optic sensor modules for structural health monitoring, optoelectronic transceivers for high-speed communications, and biomedical photonic sensors. Both technologies are intended to make an important contribution to OKI’s Edge Platform strategy and open up new application possibilities.

German-Japanese exchange at Photonics Days 2026
The scientific exchange will continue immediately after the delegation visit at Photonics Days 2026 on October 7 and 8. As part of the event organized by OpTecBB e. V., OKI’s CTO will give a keynote presentation on hybrid photonic integration. In this way, Yoichi Kato will provide insights into current opportunities and application areas of hybrid photonic integration at OKI.

On October 8, the German-Japanese collaboration will be continued as part of the workshop day organized by PolyPhotonics Berlin e. V. and supported by Fraunhofer HHI. During the full-day workshop “Advances in Hybrid PICs”, led by Crispin Zawadzki from Fraunhofer HHI, current developments in hybrid photonic integration as well as results from the joint research activities of Fraunhofer HHI and OKI will be presented.

About OKI
Oki Electric Industry (OKI) is Japan’s leading manufacturer of information and telecommunications products, headquartered in Tokyo and founded in 1881. OKI offers its customers in various industries high-quality products, technologies, and solutions in the areas of Public Solutions, Enterprise Solutions, Component Products, and Electronics Manufacturing Services. For more information, visit https://www.oki.com/global/.

About Fraunhofer HHI
Fraunhofer Heinrich Hertz Institute is a world-leading research institute shaping the digital future. It pioneers innovative technologies at the forefront of materials science, communications, and photonic integration, supporting global connectivity and smart infrastructure. Fraunhofer HHI delivers practical solutions across diverse fields, including medicine, agriculture, critical infrastructure, disaster response, energy, and mobility.