THE University of Glasgow has signed an optoelectronics partnership agreement with a Chinese state-owned enterprise company focused on addressing demand for high-speed network connections for the internet.

The agreement is focused on developing an international optoelectronics industry base in the Lingang area of Shanghai.

A memorandum of understanding was signed earlier this year by Glasgow University and senior representatives of the Shanghai Lingang Science and Technology Innovation City Economic Development Co, and Shanghai Shunmao Information Technology Co. Shanghai Shunmao is a private company established to manage and commercialise some of the technology developed by the initiative.

The agreement has led to the establishment of the Shanghai Lingang International Photonic Integrated Circuit Joint Laboratory (PIC Lab), which the University of Glasgow said would foster collaboration between it and its partners.

Glasgow University said that PIC Lab aimed to accelerate the development and commercialisation of optoelectronic integrated chip technology.

It added that this involved “integrating multiple optical components on a single chip and packaging the chips with high-speed electronics, to address the demand for high-speed network connections for the next generation of the internet.”

John Marsh, professor of optoelectronic systems at Glasgow University, noted there were also plans to create a Scottish platform.

He said: “The University of Glasgow is delighted to be working with our new partners to strengthen international links relating to optoelectronic devices.”