China cuts photonic chip costs by 90% using nanoscale stamping on eight-inch wafers

A Chinese startup called Prinano has cut photonic chip manufacturing costs by 90% using nanoimprint lithography (NIL), a process that physically stamps tiny patterns onto wafers instead of using expensive optical systems. This lets them bypass restricted Dutch-made lithography equipment. The technology works for optical communications, sensing, and lidar applications, though independent data on production yields and commercial scale has not yet been released.