Caliopa

The firm specializes in creating advanced silicon photonics-based optical transceivers. These components are designed to be more compact and consume significantly less power compared to traditional devices. By utilizing standard CMOS manufacturing processes, Caliopa aimed to achieve considerable cost savings in materials and energy consumption, addressing key industry concerns of port density and power usage.

In September 2010, Caliopa secured €2 million in initial funding from investors including Baekeland, Fidimec, PMV-Vinnof, and a private investor. This was followed by an additional €1.3 million in April 2012. On August 6, 2013, Caliopa was acquired by Huawei for €7 million (approximately 56 million yuan), becoming a wholly-owned subsidiary. The acquisition was part of Huawei's strategy to bolster its European research and development capabilities, specifically in silicon photonics. Following the acquisition, Caliopa was integrated into Huawei's existing R&D center in Ghent, Belgium, while continuing its partnership with imec and Ghent University.