Aeluma Inc. has signed an agreement with Phoenix-based Sumitomo Chemical Advanced Technologies (SCAT), a subsidiary of Japan’s Sumitomo Chemical Co. Ltd., to accelerate the development and production of photonics wafers targeting the artificial intelligence datacom market.
The partnership initially taps existing metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) capacity at SCAT’s Arizona facility, while establishing a clear roadmap to expand production volumes over time. SCAT manufactures epitaxial wafers for the optical communications, mobile, wireless, and automotive sectors.
Aeluma specializes in scalable technologies across AI, consumer electronics, defense, and quantum hardware. Its proprietary non-indium phosphide (non-InP) photonics platform combines high-performance optical materials with standard, high-volume microelectronics manufacturing processes.
Traditional photonics manufacturing relies heavily on InP substrates, which remain expensive, constrained in global supply, and vulnerable to geopolitical risks. Standard InP production is also largely limited to 100mm or smaller wafers, while newer 150mm lines require lengthy qualification cycles and heavy capital investments.
To overcome these constraints, Aeluma uses heterogeneous integration on widely available substrates, including 150mm gallium arsenide (GaAs) and 200mm to 300mm silicon (Si). Beyond its work with SCAT, Aeluma pairs its internal MOCVD capabilities with high-volume GaAs and silicon foundries. This fabless model lets the company scale photodetectors and lasers without the capital drag and long lead times of building new dedicated fabs.
“SCAT is an ideal partner to pair with Aeluma’s in-house MOCVD that is capable of producing wafers of any size, including large-diameter 150mm, 200mm and 300mm substrates,” said Dr. Jonathan Klamkin, founder and CEO of Aeluma. “This new agreement aims to strengthen our relationship and set the stage for accelerated development, qualification, production, and future potential expansion.”
Dr. Ken Campman, President and Executive Officer of SCAT, noted that severe InP substrate shortages have created bottlenecks across the photonics sector. He highlighted Aeluma’s large-diameter substrate integration as a practical, high-throughput alternative to supply AI datacom and adjacent markets.
