A silicon based electro-optically active device and method of production thereof. The device comprising: a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) layer; an electro-optically active stack, disposed on top of the SOI layer: a first epitaxially grown structure comprising a first passive waveguide and a second epitaxially grown structure comprising a second passive waveguide, the first and second passive waveguides being disposed adjacent to respective sides of the electro-optically active stack, wherein the first and second passive waveguides are configured to edge couple light from the first passive waveguide into the electro-optically active stack and from the electro-optically active stack into the second passive waveguide; and an evanescent coupling structure, for evanescently coupling light between the SOI layer and the first and second passive waveguides.