KD Showcases Automotive Optical Connectivity and End-to-End Expertise at ESSERC 2026

2026-09-14 · KD

KD has successfully concluded its participation in the 52nd IEEE European Solid-State Electronics Research Conference (ESSERC 2026), held from 7 to 10 September in Palma de Mallorca, Spain. One of Europe’s leading forums for solid-state devices and integrated circuits, this year’s conference reflected strong momentum across the semiconductor research community, with a record 665 paper submissions—around 24% more than in 2025—and organizer materials citing an international audience of more than 800 researchers and engineers. With a strong academic orientation, ESSERC brought together a large community of students, professors and researchers alongside semiconductor industry representatives, making the event particularly valuable as a forum for technical exchange, networking and building new connections between academia and industry.

At its booth, KD showcased the first implementation of its KD7251 10GBASE-AU optical transceiver in an optical multigigabit automotive camera, the LI VENUS ISX031 BASE AU developed by Leopard Imaging. The demonstration also incorporated a hybrid cable and connector system designed and developed by Corning Incorporated using its automotive-grade cables and connectors. Together, the technologies provided attendees with a tangible example of how high-speed optical connectivity can address the increasing bandwidth, weight, distance and electromagnetic-interference requirements of next-generation vehicle architectures.

Beyond the automotive demonstration itself, one of the strongest reactions from visitors was to KD’s ability to cover the complete technology and product-development chain. Discussions at the booth highlighted the company’s vertically integrated capabilities, spanning silicon-level design, packaging design and modelling, characterization and testing, packaging processes and the transition from engineering development to volume production. This breadth of expertise generated significant interest among the highly technical audience, with many visitors impressed not only by the performance and maturity of KD’s solutions, but also by the company’s ability to bring together disciplines that are often distributed among multiple suppliers.

The event also proved valuable in raising KD’s profile within the European microelectronics research community. A recurring reaction among booth visitors was surprise that they had not previously encountered the company, particularly given the maturity of its technology and the scope of the solutions already available. For KD, ESSERC 2026 was therefore as much about building relationships and awareness as showcasing technology: an opportunity to engage directly with IC designers, device specialists, researchers and the next generation of semiconductor engineers, while positioning KD’s optical connectivity technology and end-to-end development capabilities within one of Europe’s key forums for advanced electronics.

About KD

KD is a Spanish semiconductor company leading the market for high-speed data transmission through optical fiber in challenging environments. For 15 years, the company has been reinventing the way optical communications are made to make them robust and affordable enough for the automotive, consumer and industrial markets.