<PAGE>   1

                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.33

                                                                           DRAFT

                             COST SHARING AGREEMENT

        THIS AGREEMENT is entered into on this __ date of December, 1999
(Effective Date), by and between Avanex Corporation, a California, United States
corporation, and Avanex Cayman, a Cayman Islands corporation (collectively the
Members, and separately the Member).

                              W I T N E S S E T H:

        WHEREAS, the Members are engaged in the business of designing,
manufacturing, and marketing photonic processors;

        WHEREAS, on the Effective Date each Member owned Intangible Property
relating to certain photonics technology, as reflected in Exhibit A to this
Agreement (the Initial Intangible Property);

        WHEREAS, the portions of the communications industry in which the
Members are engaged are extremely competitive on a worldwide basis, so it is
imperative that the Members be in the forefront of the acquisition or
development of new generations of technology in their respective businesses;

        WHEREAS, Avanex Corporation has to date been responsible for research
and development; and

        WHEREAS, the Members desire to develop a new technology for use in the
photonic processors manufactured by the Members, and to share the costs and
benefits of such development.

        NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and conditions
contained herein and intending to be legally bound, the parties hereby agree as
follows.

<PAGE>   2

                                    ARTICLE 1

                                   DEFINITIONS

        Affiliate or Affiliates. "Affiliate" or "Affiliates" shall mean any
corporation, firm, partnership, or other entity, whether de jure or de facto,
that directly or indirectly owns, is owned by, or is under common ownership with
a party to this Agreement to the extent of at least 50 percent of the equity
having the power to vote on or direct the affairs of the entity and any person,
firm, partnership, corporation, or other entity actually controlled by,
controlling, or under common control with a party to this Agreement.

        Confidential Matters. "Confidential Matters" is as defined in Section
6.3 of this Agreement.

        Developed Intangible Property. "Developed Intangible Property" shall
mean Intangible Property developed as part of the Research Program.

        Effective Date. "Effective Date" is as defined immediately prior to the
Recitals at the beginning of this Agreement.

        Group. "Group" shall include the legal entities that are Members, as
long as they remain in such status.

        Improvements. "Improvements" shall mean any findings, discoveries,
inventions, additions, modifications, formulations, or changes made during the
term of this Agreement that relate to Intangible Property, Developed Intangible
Property, Initial Intangible Property, Know-How, or Product.

        Initial Intangible Property. "Initial Intangible Property" is as defined
in the Second Recital at the beginning of this Agreement.

        Intangible Property. "Intangible Property" shall mean and include any
and all patents and similar industrial property rights (including, but not
limited to, existing patent and pending patent applications, improvement
patents, patents of addition, as well as


<PAGE>   3


divisions, reissues, contributions, and extensions of any of the foregoing),
copyrights, process technology, inventions, computer programs, enhancements,
updates, improvements, translations, adaptations, secret and confidential
Know-How, information, data, specifications, designs, manufacturing techniques
and descriptions, or other intangible property (whether or not in documentary
form and whether or not patentable or copyrightable).

        Know-How. "Know-How" shall mean any and all technical information
presently available or generated during the term of this Agreement that related
to Product or Improvements and shall include, without limitation, all
manufacturing data and any other information relating to Products or
Improvements and useful for the development, manufacture, or effectiveness of
Product.

        Member or Members. "Member" or "Members" is as defined immediately prior
to the recitals at the beginning of this Agreement.

        Product. "Product" shall mean the property listed in Exhibit B to this
Agreement using the Intangible Property.

        Research Committee. "Research Committee" shall mean the Committee
composed or representatives of the Members that shall have responsibility for
making determinations relating to value of valuation under the terms of this
Agreement and the Research Program. Each Member shall have the right to appoint
one representative to serve on the Research Committee. Each representative shall
continue to serve as a member of the Research Committee until such time as the
respective Member shall notify Avanex Corporation, and the other Members, if any
other, of the appointment of a successor representative. Each member of the
Research Committee shall have one vote. All decisions of the Research Committee
shall be made by a vote of a majority of its members. In the event that there
should be a tie vote, because of the presence of an even number of members or
otherwise, Avanex Corporation shall have one additional vote for purposes only
of breaking such tie. The members of the Research Committee shall annually elect
a Chair from among its members, who shall have responsibility for


<PAGE>   4


maintaining the records of the Committee, including, without limitation, minutes
of meetings and actions taken. All decisions of the Research Committee shall be
binding on the Members for all purposes of this Agreement.

        Territory. "Territory" shall mean the following geographic areas
relating to each Member:

Member                                      Geographic Area

Avanex Corporation                          United States

Avanex Cayman                               Cayman Islands

All Members on a nonexclusive               Rest of the world (not separately
basis                                       listed above)

        Third Party or Third Parties. "Third Party" or "Third Parties" shall
mean any entity other than a party to this Agreement, a Member, or an Affiliate.

        Year. "Year" shall mean the 12-month period ending on [December 31].


<PAGE>   5


                                    ARTICLE 2

                                TERM AND FUNDING

        Section 2.1. Term. The term of this Agreement shall be for a period of
ten (10) years from the Effective Date, or for as long as a Research Project is
in existence, whichever is later, unless terminated earlier as provided in
Article 8 of this Agreement.

        Section 2.2. Funding. Each Member shall commit up to [US$________] to
accomplish the purposes of this Agreement over the ten year period beginning
with the Effective Date. The funds so committed shall be expended in a manner
and on a schedule as determined by the Research Committee.

        Section 2.3. Additional Funding. The Research Committee shall determine
the extent to which additional funding is required to conduct the activities
contemplated by this Agreement, and shall advise the parties of the amount of
such additional funding and timing for contribution.

                                    ARTICLE 3

               GRANT OF RIGHTS TO USE INITIAL INTANGIBLE PROPERTY

        Section 3.1. Grant by Grantor Members. Each Member (Grantor Member)
hereby grants to each other Member (Grantee Members) the reciprocal
nonexclusive, royalty-free right to use the Initial Intangible Property and any
Developed Intangible Property owned by the Grantor Member outside the Territory
of the Grantor Member during the term of this Agreement.

        Section 3.2. Grant of Third-Party Rights. Each Grantor Member hereby
grants to the Grantee Members the reciprocal nonexclusive, royalty-free right to
use any and all rights that the Grantor Member shall have with respect to
Intangible Property licensed to the Grantor Member by any Third Party, to the
extent authorized by the documents pursuant to which such Intangible Property
was licenses or otherwise granted to the


<PAGE>   6


Grantor Member (Third Party Intangibles). In the event that the Grantor Member
is obligated to pay, or has paid, a royalty with respect to such Third Party
Intangibles, each Grantee Member shall be obligated to make an appropriate
payment to the Grantor Members, which amount shall de determined by the Research
Committee.

        Section 3.3. No Further Transfer. A Grantee Member may not further
assign, sublicense, make available, or otherwise transfer or disclose any right
to use, develop, or otherwise enjoy any of the Initial Intangible Property or
Developed Intangible Property granted to such Grantee Member under Section 3.1
of this Article, or any of the Third-Party Intangibles granted to such Grantee
Member under Section 3.2 of this Article, without the express written consent of
the respective Grantor Member, provided that this restriction shall not apply to
any transactions entered by Avanex Corporation pursuant to Article 4 of this
Agreement.

        Section 3.4. Compensation. In return for the grants made in Sections 3.1
and 3.2 of this Article, each Member shall be entitled to receive the following:

        a. The royalty-free right to use the Initial Intangible Property or
           Developed Intangible Property granted to it under Section 3.1 of this
           Article.

        b. The royalty-free right to use the Third-Party Intangibles granted to
           it under Section 3.2 of the Article.

                                    ARTICLE 4

                                RESEARCH PROGRAM

        Section 4.1. Research Program. The Research Program shall include
research and development activity performed by the Members, or performed by
Third Parties and funded by the Members, including, without limitation, (1)
basic research, (2) product specific development, and (3) Improvements to
existing Product of manufacturing processes, relating to the Research Program. A
list of those products included in the Research Program is attached as Exhibit C
to this Agreement. Those projects specifically


<PAGE>   7


excluded from the Research Program are listed in Exhibit D to this Agreement.
Research activity not listed in Exhibit C but not excluded in Exhibit D shall be
included in the Research Program. Exhibits C and D shall be updated as of the
last day of a Year by Avanex Corporation.

        Section 4.2. Projects Conducted Prior to the Effective Date. The
Research Program shall include no research project conducted by a Member prior
to the Effective Date.

        Section 4.3. Acquired Products or Projects. A product or project may be
added to the Research Program on the acquisition of the product or a portion
thereof by purchase, license, or otherwise.

        Section 4.4. Research Program and Budget.

        a.  Annual Operation Plan. The Research Committee shall prepare an
            annual operation plan for the Research Program (Annual Operation
            Plan), which shall set forth in detail the objectives to be
            accomplished during such Year and project future operations and
            objectives. The Annual Operating Plan may be changed at any time by
            the Research Committee. In the event that the Policy Committee
            should fail to adopt an Annual Operation Plan for any Year, the
            preceding Annual Operation Plan shall continue in force.

        b.  Budget. The Annual Operating Plan shall include a budget of planned
            expenditures for sources and uses of funds for the current Year and
            a forecast for the two subsequent years.

        Section 4.5. Cost Sharing.

        a.  Cost Share. Each Member shall be responsible for its proportional
            share of the costs of the Research Program for each Year in which
            this Agreement is effective, as defined in Section 4.5(b).


<PAGE>   8


        b.  Proportional Share. The proportional share of each Member for a Year
            shall be determined by its respective proportion of the sales of
            Product by the Group, which amount shall be a fraction the numerator
            of which shall be the net sales of Products by each Member during
            the ten years preceding the Year in question and the denominator of
            which shall be the net sales of Products by all Members of the Group
            during the ten years preceding the Year in question. The Research
            Committee shall determine the proportional share of each Member for
            each year and shall notify each Member of such determination as soon
            as possible after the end of each Year.

        c.  Contribution. The Research Committee shall advise the Members of the
            dates when cost contributions are to be made, subject to Section 2.2
            of this Agreement.

        Section 4.6. Roles of Parties. The role of each party in performing its
activities under this Agreement will be set forth in the Annual Operating Plan.
Initially, it is contemplated that the parties will:

        a.  Use their expertise in materials developed and concentrate on
            research to develop advanced materials that can effectively be used
            in Product; and

        b.  Use their design, manufacturing, and marketing expertise in
            photonics technologs to direct research into areas where Product is
            needed and to coordinate efforts to obtain any necessary government
            approvals to market resultant Product.

        Section 4.7. Research and Development Responsibilities. The Research
Committee shall determine the nature of the research and development work that
needs to be completed by one or both parties to achieve the purposes of this
Agreement, and such projects shall be included in the Annual Operation Plan
(Project or Projects).

        a.  Each Project shall separately identify the nature of the work to be
            performed by each party, the particular use to which the work is
            expected to be put, the


<PAGE>   9


            total cost of such work, the amount to be billed to and paid for by
            each party, and an estimate of the date by which such work is to be
            completed.

        b.  The parties shall perform the work specified for each Project. Each
            party covenants with the other that all such work will be performed
            as specified in the Project and that each will cause such work to be
            performed by its employees utilizing the level of skill, care, and
            diligence as is exercised by its respective employees in their own
            internal projects of the same or similar nature.

        c.  Until such time as a Product is developed, all research,
            development, and other work contemplated by this agreement shall be
            performed by the parties via Projects. Each party shall be
            reimbursed for its total direct costs incurred in such work.

        d.  In the event that the Research Committee shall decide to contract
            with a Third Party for work relating to Projects, the services of
            any such Third Party shall be obtained by the Research Committee
            under circumstances that will Protect the confidentiality of
            Intangible Property and Improvements developed by the Third Party
            under the same conditions as those set forth in Section 6.3 of this
            Agreement.

        e.  Whether the work of a Project is done by the parties or by agreement
            with a Third Party, such Project will be set forth in the Annual
            Operating Plan along with an estimate of the cost thereof and must
            be approved by the Research Committee before becoming effective.

        f.  A research manager (Research Manager) will be appointed by the
            Research Committee and will direct the research and development
            being carried out by the parties and coordinate activities under
            this Agreement subject to the oversight of the Research Committee.
            The Research Manager will normally attend the meetings of the
            Research Committee but will not vote.


<PAGE>   10


                                    ARTICLE 5

                       OWNERSHIP OF DEVELOPED INTANGIBLES

        Section 5.1. Legal Title. Legal title to Developed Intangible Property
shall be in the name of the Member responsible for the portion of the Research
Program that produced such Developed Intangible Property (Developing Member)
subject to the rights and obligations of the other members under this Agreement.
The Developing Member shall take such action as may, from time to time, be
necessary to protect the worldwide intellectual property rights in Developed
Intangible Property, unless the Research Committee directs to the contrary.

        Section 5.2. Beneficial Rights. Each Member shall have the exclusive
right to use the Developed Intangible Property for manufacturing, marketing, and
other purposes in its Territory, except as otherwise provided in this Agreement.

                                    ARTICLE 6

             EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION, CONFIDENTIALITY, AND TRANSFER

        Section 6.1. Know-How. During the term of this Agreement, each member
shall promptly disclose to the other Members its Know-How.

        Section 6.2. Improvements. During the term of this Agreement, each
Member shall promptly inform the other Members of any information that it
obtains or develops regarding Product and Improvements.

        Section 6.3. Confidentiality. During the Term of this Agreement, and for
a period of ten years from the date of expiration or termination of this
Agreement, each Member shall treat this Agreement, Know-How, Intangible
Property, Initial Intangible Property, Developed Intangible Property,
Improvements, and all information, data, reports, and other records that it
receives from another Member (collectively, the Confidential Matters) as secret,
confidential, and proprietary and shall not disclose or use such


<PAGE>   11


Confidential Matters without the prior written consent of such other Member.
Each Member shall develop and implement such procedures as may be required to
prevent the intentional or negligent disclosure to Third Parties of Confidential
Matters communicated to it and its employees by other Members, including, but
not limited to, requiring each of its employees having access to such
information under this Agreement to enter into an appropriate secrecy agreement.

        Nothing in this Agreement shall prevent the disclosure by a Member or
its employees of confidential information that:

        a.  Prior to the transmittal thereof to the Member was of general public
            knowledge;

        b.  Becomes, subsequent to the time of transmittal to the Member, a
            matter of general public knowledge otherwise than as a consequence
            of a breach by the Member of any obligation under this Agreement;

        c.  Is made public by the disclosing Member;

        d.  Was in the possession of a Member in documentary form prior to the
            time of disclosure thereof to it by the disclosing Member, and was
            held by the Member free of any obligation of confidence to the
            disclosing Member or any Third Party; or

        e.  Is received in good faith from a Third Party having the right to
            disclose it, who, to the best of the Member's knowledge, did not
            obtain the same from a Member and who imposed no obligation of
            secrecy on the Member with respect to such information.


<PAGE>   12


                                    ARTICLE 7

                                 INDEMNIFICATION

        Each Member (a Defending Member) shall save, hold harmless, and defend
each other Member from and against any loss, cost, or expense, including
reasonable attorney fees, damages, or penalties of any kind on account of or
resulting from any claim or action for infringement of any existing or future
patent, or misappropriation of any trade secret or other intellectual property
right with respect to Initial Intangible Property, Developed Intangible
Property, Intangible Property, or other Confidential Matters owned, developed,
or held by such Defending Member. A Defending Member shall defend any such claim
or action at its own expense provided that the other Member promptly notifies
such Defending Member upon learning of any such claim or action and cooperates
with such Defending Member in defending any such claim or action.

                                    ARTICLE 8

                              TERM AND TERMINATION

        Section 8.1. Termination With Respect to All Members. This Agreement may
be terminated at any time by the unanimous written consent of the Members.

        Section 8.2. Termination With Respect to Fewer Than All Members. The
interest of a Member in this Agreement shall terminate on the occurrence of any
of the following events, the determination of which shall be in the sole
discretion of Avanex Corporation, and any such determination shall be effective
immediately upon giving notice thereof to the Members of Avanex Corporation.

        a.  The giving of notice by a Member of a desire to terminate its
            participation in this Agreement, but where a majority of Members do
            not provide a similar notice.

        b.  The transfer of a substantial portion of the stock or assets of a
            Member.


<PAGE>   13


        c.  The default of a Member with respect to any of its obligations under
            this Agreement and its failure to cure any such default within sixty
            (60) days following the date of notice to it from Avanex Corporation
            identifying such default.

        d.  Any act, determination, filing, judgment, declaration, notice,
            appointment of receiver or trustee, failure to pay debts, or other
            events under any law applicable to a Member indicating the
            insolvency or bankruptcy of the Member.

        e.  The taking of any extraordinary governmental action, including,
            without limitation, seizure or nationalization of assets, stock, or
            other property relating to a Member.

        f.  Any other event that shall cause Avanex Corporation to have concern
            about the financial stability of a Member.

        Section 8.3. Effect of Termination of the Interest of Fewer Than All
Members.

        a.  On the occurrence of an event of termination of the interest of a
            Member (the Terminated Member) under Section 8.2 of this Article,
            where there are at least two Members that are not Terminated
            Members, the Terminated Member shall continue to have the rights
            granted to it hereunder with respect to Know-How, Initial Intangible
            Property, Developed Intangible Property, Improvements, and other
            Confidential Matters that it actually used as of that date of such
            event of termination during the life of such intangibles, provided
            that the Terminated Member shall have no right to assign,
            sublicense, or otherwise transfer such rights to any person or
            entity without the express written consent of Avanex Corporation.

        b.  In the event that the Terminated Member shall make any assignment,
            sublicense, or other transfer of the items noted in Subsection (a)
            of this Section without the express written consent of Avanex
            Corporation, then the


<PAGE>   14


            interest of the Terminated Member in such right shall immediately
            terminate, and the Terminated Members shall have no further interest
            in such rights whatsoever.

        c.  The Terminated Member shall have no interest in any Developed
            Intangible Property resulting from the Research Program subsequent
            to the date of such event of termination.

        d.  The Members other than the Terminated Member shall continue to have
            the rights granted to them under this Agreement with respect to
            Know-How, Initial Intangible Property, Developed Intangible
            Property, Improvements, and other Confidential Matters owned,
            developed, or held by the Terminated Member during the life of such
            intangibles, which rights shall not be affected by the termination
            stated in Subsection (b) of this Section.

        Section 8.4. Effect of Termination of This Agreement. In the event of a
termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.1 of this Article, the
Avanex Corporation shall determine a winding-up procedure that will have the
effect of allowing each Member to continue to enjoy the rights granted to it
hereunder with respect to Know-How, Initial Intangible Property, Developed
Intangible Property, Improvements, and Confidential Matter as of the effective
date of such termination of this Agreement.

                                    ARTICLE 9

                                  MISCELLANEOUS

        Section 9.1. Notices. Any and all notices, elections, offers,
acceptances, and demands permitted or required to be made under this Agreement
shall be in writing, signed by the person giving such notice, election, offer,
acceptance, or demand and shall be delivered personally, or sent by registered
or certified mail, with a copy by facsimile, to the party, addressed as follows:

                Avanex Corporation


<PAGE>   15


                40919 Encyclopedia Circle
                Fremont, CA  94538
                Attn: Jessy Chao
                Fax: 510-897-4189

                Avanex Cayman
                40919 Encyclopedia Circle
                Fremont, CA  94538
                Attn: Jessy Chao
                Fax: 510-897-4189

        The date of personal delivery or the date of mailing, as the case may
be, shall be the date of such notice, election, offer, acceptance, or demand.

        Section 9.2. Force Majeure. If the performance of any part of this
Agreement by either party, or of any obligation under this Agreement, is
prevented, restricted, interfered with, or delayed by reason of any cause beyond
the reasonable control of the party liable to perform, unless conclusive
evidence to the contrary is provided, the party so affected shall, on giving
written notice to the other party, be excused from such performance to the
extent of such prevention, restriction, interference, or delay, provided that
the affected party shall use its reasonable best efforts to avoid or remove such
causes of nonperformance and shall continue performance with the utmost dispatch
whenever such causes are removed. When such circumstances arise, the parties
shall discuss what, if any, modification of the terms of this Agreement may be
required in order to arrive at an equitable solution.

        Section 9.3. Binding Effect, Assignment. This Agreement shall be binding
upon, and shall inure to the benefit of, the parties hereto and their permitted
assigns and successors-in-interest. Neither party may assign any right, or
delegate any obligation hereunder without the express prior written consent of
the other, which consent shall be strictly at the discretion of such other party
and may be contingent, if given, upon such terms and conditions as it sees fit.


<PAGE>   16


        Section 9.4. Amendment. No change, modification, or amendment of this
Agreement shall be valid or binding on the parties unless such change or
modification shall be in writing signed by the party or parties against whom the
same is sought to be enforced.

        Section 9.5. Remedies Cumulative. The remedies of the parties under this
Agreement are cumulative and shall not exclude any other remedies to which the
party may be lawfully entitled.

        Section 9.6. Further Assurances. Each party hereby covenants and agrees
that it shall execute and deliver such deeds and other documents as may be
required to implement any of the provisions of this Agreement.

        Section 9.7. No Waiver. The failure of any party to insist on strict
performance of a covenant hereunder or of any obligation hereunder shall not be
a waiver of such party's right to demand strict compliance therewith in the
future, nor shall the same be construed as a novation of this Agreement.

        Section 9.8. Integration. This Agreement constitutes the full and
complete agreement of the parties.

        Section 9.9. Captions. Titles or captions of articles and paragraphs
contained in this Agreement are inserted only as a matter of convenience and for
reference, and in no way define, limit, extend, or describe the scope of this
Agreement or the intent of any provision hereof.

        Section 9.10. Number and Gender. Whenever required by the context, the
singular number shall include the plural, the plural number shall include the
singular, and the gender of any pronoun shall include all genders.

        Section 9.11. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in multiple
copies, each of which shall for all purposes constitute an Agreement, binding on
the parties, and


<PAGE>   17


each partner hereby covenants and agrees to execute all duplicates or
replacement counterparts of this Agreement as may be required.

        Section 9.12. Computation of Time. Whenever the last day for the
exercise of any privilege or the discharge of any duty hereunder shall fall on a
Saturday, Sunday, or any public or legal holiday, whether local or national, the
person having such privilege or duty shall have until 5:00 p.m. PST on the next
succeeding business day to exercise such privilege or to discharge such duty.

        Section 9.13. Costs and Expenses. Unless otherwise provided in this
Agreement, each party shall bear all fees and expenses incurred in performing
its obligations under this Agreement.

        Section 9.14. Governing Law, Jurisdiction, Etc.

This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws
of the State of California applicable to contracts performed wholly within
California, without regards to conflict of laws principles. Any dispute arising
in connection with the present Agreement shall be finally settled under the
Rules of Conciliation and Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce.
The arbitral proceedings shall be held in Alameda County, California, USA and
conducted in the English language. Any award so entered shall be final and
binding upon the Parties and may be entered by any court of competent
jurisdiction.


<PAGE>   18


        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
executed on the date first written above by their duly authorized officers.

                                            AVANEX CORPORATION

                                                    /s/ JESSY CHAO
                                            ----------------------------------
                                                    Jessy Chao, CFO

                                            AVANEX CAYMAN

                                                     /s/ JESSY CHAO
                                            ----------------------------------
                                                  Jessy Chao, Director


<PAGE>   19


[ATTACH EXHIBIT A, LIST OF INITIAL INTANGIBLE PROPERTY; EXHIBIT B, PRODUCTS;
EXHIBIT C, RESEARCH PROGRAM; AND EXHIBIT D, EXCLUDED PROJECTS; SAMPLES NOT
PROVIDED]