The overarching ambition of FORTE is to mature photonic integrated circuit-based hybrid frequency-agile ultra-low noise laser technology and establish a universal platform for coherent laser source and photonic integrated circuit technology that is scalable, flexible, reconfigurable, and extremely high performance in terms of optical coherence and frequency-agility. The consortium will collaborate with end users and system integrator to improve product-market fit and obtain required certification for the next generation of photonic sensing systems with all European value chain, to re-enforce industrial leadership in photonic sensing.

This hybrid integrated platform, which combines ultra-low loss photonic integrated circuits, with MEMS technology monolithically integrated on a silicon chip, addresses the need for low-noise laser sources in multiple domains of photonic sensing.

These lasers will pave the way to new photonic sensing schemes especially in light detection and ranging (LiDAR) and in distributed fiber optical sensing (DFOS).