Cardiff University and Finchetto Launch Photonics Manufacturing 2026

Key Points

• Finchetto has initiated a 10-month program aimed at the development of manufacturing processes for photonic integrated circuits (PICs) in Cardiff.
• It is being done in the innovation building of Cardiff University called sbarc|spark and will be carried out using the Institute for Compound Semiconductors cleanrooms of the university.
• Finchetto is developing TFLN (thin-film lithium niobate) PICs for its patented fully optical packet-switching technology.
• As cited in an article published by Insider Media, this technology is claimed to lower the latency by 700 times and power consumption by 20 times in comparison to electro-optical network switches.
• The program is financed by grants from the Investor Partnerships Programme and private investments of the Development Bank of Wales; UKRI (UK Research & Innovation) is mentioned as one of the partners.
• Finchetto operates offices in Cardiff and Guildford, Surrey, and keeps recruiting employees in Cardiff.
• The development is seen as a way to build up sovereign manufacturing capacity for photonics in the UK.
• Mark Rushworth, CEO and co-founder of Finchetto, says that the program takes the company’s fully passive optical networking technology closer to a manufacturable product.
• Jack Christopher, Senior Investment Executive of the Development Bank of Wales, sees the project as making Cardiff.

Cardiff (Wales Times) October 14, 2026 – Finchetto has started a 10-month manufacturing-development programme for photonic integrated circuits at uk/local/cardiff/">Cardiff University, in a project backed by UKRI and the Development Bank of Wales.

The company, which describes itself as developing the world’s first fully optical packet switch for energy-efficient artificial intelligence, will work to establish a manufacturing process for photonic integrated circuits, or PICs. The programme is based in Cardiff University’s sbarc|spark innovation building, according to Insider Media’s report on the announcement.

The grant will allow Finchetto to use cleanroom facilities at Cardiff University’s Institute for Compound Semiconductors. The company will develop thin-film lithium niobate photonic integrated circuits to carry its patented fully optical packet-switching technology.

What is Finchetto developing in Cardiff?

Finchetto is developing manufacturing processes for PICs, chips that use light rather than electrical signals to move data. The company says its optical packet-switching technology is intended to make AI networking and data communications more energy efficient.

As reported by Insider Media, the TFLN photonic integrated circuits are intended to support technology that Finchetto says can reduce latency by 700 times and power use by 20 times compared with traditional electro-optical network switches. These are company-reported performance claims rather than independently verified results.

WalesOnline reported that the chips being developed by Finchetto with Cardiff University would use light as the medium for data transfer, potentially lowering the energy and heat requirements of modern AI systems.

Who is supporting the Cardiff programme?

The programme is supported through the Investor Partnerships Programme, alongside private investment from the Development Bank of Wales. Insider Media also identifies UKRI as a partner in the wider collaboration.

The Development Bank of Wales said its support reflects Wales’s existing strengths in compound semiconductors and photonics. Jack Christopher, senior investment executive at the bank, said:

“Wales has strong capabilities in compound semiconductors and photonics, which is why we’re delighted to support Finchetto’s work at Cardiff University.”

Christopher added that bringing specialist process engineering to Cardiff would “strengthen the region’s competitiveness and deepen the growing cluster of photonics innovation”.

Why does the project matter for UK photonics?

The announcement is being presented as a move towards domestic, or sovereign, manufacturing capability for photonic technologies in the UK. Finchetto’s participation in the programme was described by Insider Media as “a step forward” for that objective.

Mark Rushworth, Finchetto’s chief executive and co-founder, said:

“This programme takes our fully passive optical networking technology towards a manufacturable product and builds upon the UK’s strong photonics manufacturing capabilities at the same time.”

Rushworth also said photonics was emerging as a route to “radically more efficient AI and data communications”, adding that sovereign capacity would be important if the UK were to compete in the field.

Where will the manufacturing work take place?

The work will be carried out at Cardiff University’s sbarc|spark innovation building. Finchetto will have access to the Institute for Compound Semiconductors cleanrooms, facilities used for advanced semiconductor and photonics fabrication.

Finchetto already has an established office in Cardiff, as well as an office and laboratory in Guildford, Surrey. Insider Media reported that the company has continued to hire in the Cardiff area.

WalesOnline similarly reported that the initiative would take place within Cardiff University’s Sbarc/Spark innovation centre and that Finchetto continues to expand its workforce in the region.

What does this mean for AI data centres?

The stated purpose of Finchetto’s technology is to reduce the energy demands associated with moving data in AI systems. WalesOnline reported that the collaboration could potentially diminish the energy demands of AI data centres, which it described as power-hungry.

The company’s optical packet switch is intended to handle network data using light. If the manufacturing process is successfully developed, it could move Finchetto’s technology closer to commercial production, although the announcement does not state a production timetable or identify customers.

What has Finchetto said about the technology?

Finchetto describes its technology as a fully passive optical networking system. In the announcement reported by Insider Media, Rushworth said the programme would take that technology “towards a manufacturable product”.

The company’s stated performance figures 700 times lower latency and 20 times lower power consumption than conventional electro-optical network switches were repeated by both Insider Media and WalesOnline.

Electronics Media also carried the announcement under the headline “Finchetto Photonic Integrated Circuits Manufacturing in Cardiff”, describing it as a 10-month programme at Cardiff University to develop manufacturing processes for energy-efficient photonic integrated circuits.

Background of the development

Finchetto is a photonics company with a presence in Cardiff and Guildford. It is developing optical networking technology aimed at energy-efficient AI and high-performance computing.

The new programme follows growing attention on photonics as a potential manufacturing opportunity for the UK. A September 2026 report by Data Centre Review argued that the UK has research and pilot strengths but does not yet have mature, high-volume domestic PIC manufacturing; it also noted that PICs often use feature sizes of around 200 nanometres, which can require less complex manufacturing and lower capital investment than advanced electronic chips.

Cardiff University’s Institute for Compound Semiconductors provides the cleanroom facilities being used in the programme. The university has also previously promoted training in compound semiconductor photonics, reflecting the region’s existing focus on semiconductor and photonics research.

Prediction: How could this affect Welsh and UK tech audiences?

For Welsh technology businesses, universities and investors, the programme could strengthen Cardiff’s position in compound semiconductors and photonics. If Finchetto successfully develops a repeatable TFLN PIC manufacturing process, it may encourage further investment, supplier activity and skilled roles around Cardiff University’s Institute for Compound Semiconductors.

For UK AI and data-centre operators, the development could eventually offer an alternative approach to reducing the power consumed by data movement. However, the immediate impact depends on whether the 10-month programme produces a reliable manufacturing process and whether the claimed energy and latency benefits are demonstrated in commercial deployments.

For policymakers, the project supports the stated goal of building UK sovereign capability in photonics manufacturing. Its wider significance will depend on whether Cardiff can convert research-stage cleanroom work into scalable production and a durable regional supply chain.