In the context of Si-based photonics, we report on a strategy to integrate two optical components, a 3D photonic crystal light emitter and a waveguide, in a silicon-on-insulator patterned substrate. Self-assembled colloidal photonic crystals are produced with high crystalline quality and spatial selectivity. Plane wave expansion and finite-difference time-domain have been used to find suitable configurations for positioning emitters and waveguides. The first steps toward the realisation of these configurations are presented. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.