Qascade: High-Speed Plasmonics modulator & Integrated Optical Switching for AI and Quantum

As AI grows, moving data, not processing it, is becoming the biggest bottleneck. The industry knows this challenge is real, with Morgan Stanley estimating nearly $2.9 trillion in global AI data centre investment between 2025 and 2028. The optical interconnect-to-compute spending ratio is expected to grow from around 9% to 25%, highlighting the accelerating “optical tax” of AI infrastructure.  

At Qascade, we are changing how computers communicate by replacing electrical connections with light. 

Our first innovation is an ultra-fast plasmonic modulator that delivers more than twice the bandwidth of today's Si photonics modulators while using around 50% less energy, all while remaining CMOS compatible. 

Our second innovation is integrated optical switching built directly into the photonic platform, allowing AI systems to reconfigure communication paths in nanoseconds instead of relying on fixed networks.  

Our technologies enable AI clusters of 1,000+ servers to communicate, reducing total cost of ownership by up to 60% and direct networking energy consumption by up to 25%, while nanosecond latency. The same core technology also enables the next generation of hybrid classical-quantum interconnects, opening access to a market expected to reach $18.5 billion by 2033. 

We generate revenue by licensing our photonic IP to semiconductor and AI companies today, and by supplying high-performance photonic communication hardware platforms as next-generation AI data centres are deployed. We are supported by QuBIC, STFC, NQCC and ChipStart UK Si Catalyst. Our team of 5, with partners including Synopsys, GlobalFoundries, imec and CSA Catapult.

Simply put, we are building the photonics communication infrastructure for the future of AI and beyond.