This three years project is concerned with the development of a series of novel optical sources (nanowires) based on nonlinear optical conversion.The proposed research will allow the university team members from INRS-EMT and Warsaw University of Technology, in collaboration with their industrial partners and with the support of the University of Sherbrooke (also located in Quebec), to lead the international efforts in searching for low-cost, high performance all-optical sources.In order to complete this project, we will need to design, grow and characterize high index contrast waveguides based on both AlGaAs/GaAs and AlGaAs/GaAs/Silica substrates.The devices proposed in this project will present a simple geometry, which will allow overcoming the limitations of conventional AlGaAs/GaAs structures (low index contrast between different layers, and a consequent limitation in device design capabilities).Our research effort will be directed towards:A: Theoretical analysis and design of highly birefringent waveguides for nonlinear optical conversion.B: Development of a direct bonding technique for AlGaAs-Silica hybrid waveguide fabrication.C: Fabrication of wavelength converters in both semiconductor and semiconductor/silica waveguides (my contribution to step B and C will be partial), andD: Experiments to demonstrate the wavelength conversion capabilities of the proposed devices.The resulting, highly compact devices could have a dramatic impact in several disciplines, such as telecommunication engineering, bio-photonics, medicine and environmental sensing.The new knowledge generated from this project and the training of highly qualified personnel associated to the different stages of this work (including the training I will personally receive during my Marie Curie Fellowship) will certainly contribute to enhance the competitiveness of the all partners, including mine, especially in the most advanced high-technology sectors and academic research fields.