If we look at the changes of direction POET has taken it becomes interesting to consider POETs path and how it could have been impacted.

There is little question in my mind that it began with Ajit as highlighted in this presentation at Deftronics 2015 (held in Sept) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfOzwfFpXGg  

On June 16 2016 the Expression of Interest for the transfer of Technology for Gallium Arsenide based RF and Photonic Devices was published and the pre-bid conference was held 1 month later on July 15. A tight timeline for companies to prepare? As a reminder POET had no questions as they understood all the requirements (potentially because POET was involved in identifying those as the capabilities of POET).

So to focus on one aspect of the technical requirements as per the Expression of Interest pre-bid conference.

United Monolithic Semiconductors asked:

The GaAs processes are suitable for production of MMIC’s for ground and space applications. These processes are not designed to produce VCSEL. Is SCL willing to consider a process suitable for GaAs MMIC production?

The answer was no. The requirement is of a technology supporting the development of Gallium Arsenide based Technology for the monolithic integration of RF and photonics devices like VCSEL, Photovoltaic devices and MMICs to SCL leading to the development of monolithic Focal Plane Array (FPA), RF MMICs, VCSELs, VCSEL arrays and triple junction photovoltaic solutions. The vendor was requested to check the feasibility of offering the same to SCL instead of solely MMICs under the technology transfer.

The following statement was made in POET’s March 31,2016 MD&A:

The disruptive potential of the POET technology was first recognized within the military community, and this recognition has remained strong. Applications in this market include infra-red sensor arrays and high frequency RF Monolithic Microwave Integrated Circuits ("MMIC's"). The Company today is conducting research and development related to expansion of the POET platform by adding processes to the POET IP portfolio. It is also engaged in developmental work related to existing POET processes for data communications applications in potential consumer, data center, high performance computing, and industrial markets.