The Chinese startup Prinano (Pulin Technology, Hangzhou) stated that it had mastered the production of photonic chips without using equipment from Western companies - in particular, the lithography systems of the Dutch ASML, which effectively monopolized the market for advanced lithography. Instead of traditional UV lithography, the company uses a nanoimprint technology (NIL) that can be compared to printing with a stamp: special form is physically pressed into the material, leaving the desired pattern.

On 5 June 2026, Prinano reported on WeChat that together with Shenzhen Litra Technology, it had launched photonic chips on 8-inch plates with a resolution of less than 10 nm - a competitive indicator for photonic applications. According to company estimates, the cost of production is reduced by about 10 times.

Photon chips work with light rather than electric current, and are used in optical networks, data centers, drone hubs, and industrial sensors. Demand for them is growing, owing to the construction of AI infrastructure that requires huge amounts of data transmission.

Important caveat: The statements are published in the WeChat corporate account without independent verification. Analysts emphasize: NIL is an alternative for a narrow class of tasks, not a one-size-fits-all replacement of ASML equipment. It cannot be used to produce advanced processors or memory chips. Nevertheless, the very fact of creating its own production process - from equipment to methodology - fits into China’s strategy of technological self-sufficiency. If the claimed cost reduction is confirmed, it could change the economics of an entire segment of the semiconductor industry.