A PIC design framework built for integrated photonics
Nazca Design is a Python-based PIC design framework developed by Bright Photonics. It supports PIC layout, simulation and validation, giving designers the freedom to build complex photonic integrated circuit designs in their own development environment.
Nazca Cloud extends this framework with PDKs, compact models, circuit simulations. Together, Nazca Design and Nazca Cloud support a structured, scalable and test-compatible PIC development flow.
How Nazca works
Design locally, extend through the cloud
Flexible PIC Layouts
Nazca Design allows users to create PIC layouts on their own laptop, in the editor of their choice, such as VS Code, Visual Studio or PyCharm. The framework runs in Python and includes source code access, giving designers flexibility and control over their design flow.
Access Advanced Cloud-Based Extensions
Nazca Cloud adds advanced functionality through cloud-based extensions. Users can connect to the cloud through Nazca API modules and access PDKs, compact models, simulations and extra building blocks such as MMIs, AWGs and spirals.
Cloud validation for PIC design
This combination allows teams to work with local design freedom while using cloud-supported validation, models and technology-specific extensions for more predictable PIC design.
Who is Nazca for?
Built for PIC designers, foundries and education
- PIC designersFor commercial, research and academic PIC designers who need a flexible framework for layout-aware design, simulation and validation.
- FoundriesFor foundries and technology platforms that need to create, maintain and distribute PDKs, ADKs, compact models and design validation workflows.
- Students & teachersFor education and training in integrated photonics. Nazca Design is open source and includes demo PDKs and application designs.
Key capabilities
More than PIC layout software
Nazca supports photonic integrated circuit development across layout, modelling, simulation and validation.
- 1. PIC layout creation
- 2. Layout-aware netlist building
- 3. Native compact-model integration
- 4. Multi-foundry design in one environment
- 5. PDK, TDK and ADK support
- 6. DRC and circuit validation
- 7. S-matrix simulations
- 8. Design modules for MMIs, AWGs, spirals and other building blocks
- 9. Package templates
- 10. Connections to propagation simulators
- 11. Connections to mode-solvers
- 12. Scalable and hierarchical validation for complex circuit designs
Predictable PIC design starts with validated tools
PIC development becomes more reliable when layout, simulation, models and validation are connected from the start. Nazca Design and Nazca Cloud help teams work with qualified PDKs, compact models and test-compatible simulations, reducing uncertainty throughout the design process.
For Bright Photonics, Nazca is part of a broader engineering philosophy: making complex integrated photonics accessible without compromising technical depth, precision or scalability.
10+
Years of development
1000+
PIC designs taped out
25+
Implemented PDKs
200+
Countries
Photonics has moved beyond the era of code-first layouts and fragile software wrappers. As PIC designs become more complex, high-speed optical design requires the same physical discipline and long-term reliability that are standard in RF and mixed-signal IC design.
Nazca Design brings this engineering mindset into the photonic design workflow. It provides a Python-based, self-contained PIC layout, simulation and validation framework built for stability, reproducibility and strict backward compatibility. With a decade-long track record in real PIC design, Nazca treats design IP as a long-term asset. Layouts remain reliable, maintainable and repeatable over time, supporting the level of confidence required for commercial photonic integrated circuit development.
Ecosystem
Working across the integrated photonics ecosystem
Nazca Cloud modules
Extend your PIC design flow when needed
Nazca Design is available as a free PIC design framework. Nazca Cloud provides paid extension modules for teams that need additional functionality, validation and technology access, saving you the time of building, validating and maintaining it yourself.
Nazca Cloud can include:
- Short-term and long-term subscriptions
- One or more PDKs
- Compact models for PDKs
- DRC and circuit validation
- S-matrix simulations
- Design modules for MMIs, AWG, spirals and other components
- PDK, DRC and model implementations for foundries
- Testbench, digital twins and a virtual lab
Bright Photonics connection
Developed by PIC designers, for PIC development
Nazca Design and Nazca Cloud are developed by Bright Photonics, a company with more than 15 years of specialised experience in integrated photonic development.
Because Nazca is built by engineers who work on real PIC projects, the platform is closely connected to practical design challenges, state of the art validation needs and manufacturability requirements.
It is not only a software environment. It is part of how Bright Photonics makes PIC development more structured, repeatable and accessible.
More Services
- Feasibility & System DesignDefine the right route before development begins
- Photonic IC Design & IP BlocksDesign built on precision, validation and reuse.
- PIC Testing, Prototyping & Optical ValidationValidate performance with real measurement data.
- Bright Boards for PIC EvaluationPractical tools for PIC evaluation and demonstration.
