On June 22, a 12-inch transparent-substrate wafer facility dedicated to AR micro-nano optical products in Shanghai’s Lingang area has officially commenced operations, emerging as China’s first large-scale manufacturing base for 12-inch AR micro-nano optical wafers, according to an announcement released by China Construction Third Engineering Bureau.

With a total investment of approximately CNY 3.28 billion (USD 457 million), the project spans a gross floor area of 261,000 square meters, located in Shanghai Lingang’s Blue Bay Industrial Zone. As a key component of both Shanghai’s major municipal projects and the Lingang Oriental Chip Harbor industrial cluster, this facility is operated by Goertek OmniLight Optical Technology Co., Ltd., formerly known as Sunny OmniLight NanoOptics Technology Co., Ltd., a company previously affiliated with Sunny Optical.

In 2025, Goertek’s subsidiary Goertek Optics acquired a 100% stake in Sunny OmniLight through a capital increase of approximately CNY 530 million, integrating the company into its precision optics portfolio. The business subsequently received additional shareholder funding to further strengthen its capital base.

Construction progressed rapidly following the project’s signing in February 2023. The first production building was topped out in September 2024, the first core lithography system was moved in during July 2025, and commercial production officially began in June 2026, completing the development cycle in roughly three years and four months.

Technologically, the facility covers a range of advanced processes, including diffractive waveguide design, precision silicon carbide machining, and nanoimprint lithography. Its product portfolio focuses on high-end optical components such as AR waveguide lenses, electrochromic lenses, and microlens arrays, bringing semiconductor-grade manufacturing precision to AR optical device production.

In its 2025 annual report, Goertek stated that it would closely follow the development of large AI models and intelligent agents while expanding its presence in edge AI hardware. Key growth areas include AI smart glasses, mixed reality (MR), augmented reality (AR), and automotive electronics.

The company has continued to strengthen its position in AI smart glasses and AR optics throughout 2026 through a series of investments and strategic partnerships aimed at enhancing vertical integration.

On the manufacturing side, construction of Phase II of Goertek’s VR assembly production base began in January 2026. The project carries a planned investment of CNY 1.6 billion and is intended to expand production capacity for VR headsets and AI-powered smart glasses.

Also in January, Goertek Optics signed a joint-venture agreement with Conant Optical to jointly develop products for the AI, AR, VR, and MR eyewear markets. The collaboration covers customized prescription lenses for smart glasses, optical waveguide eyepieces for both corrective and non-corrective applications, as well as the development, manufacturing, and sales of optoelectronic components supporting electrochromic and eye-tracking functionalities.

For better development, Goertek further announced a capital injection into its subsidiary Goertek Optics alongside Sunny OmniLight in early June. The investment is intended to accelerate development in emerging optical fields, including micro-nano optical components, XR optical lenses and modules, projection optics, and automotive optical systems.

(Photo credit: Goertek)