Nano-photonic devices are playing increasingly important roles in optical communication and optical sensor systems. By engineering the nano-photonic structures, for example, by integrating surface plasmonic and photonic crystal devices on the same platform, we can significantly increase the light-matter interaction through localized electric fields and photonic bandgaps. In this presentation, I will discuss the development of innovative hybrid nanophotonic devices for two emerging engineering applications: 1) Metallic-Photonic Crystals with integrated nonlinear polymers for high-speed optical interconnects and all-optical signal processing 2) Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) sensors using biosilica photonic crystal materials for biomedical detection In summary, nano-photonic devices have demonstrated extremely high potential in many areas, and will continue to broaden its application in more emerging fields through interdisciplinary research.