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Photonics

Photonics
Photonics

Context

Photonics plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of Europe across various domains. Its importance is not only about current advancements but also its potential to drive innovation and economic growth in the years to come. Here are some key aspects that underline the significance of photonics in Europe's future, with a focus on the variety of application areas where it plays a crucial role:

  1. Economic Growth and Competitiveness: Photonics is a cornerstone of numerous industries in Europe, including telecommunications, data storage, and information technology. These sectors are critical for economic growth, innovation, and competitiveness on a global scale.
  2. Innovation and Research Leadership: Europe's photonics industry is a global leader in research and innovation. It extends its influence to fields like laser technology, optical sensors, and advanced imaging systems, driving advancements in fields as diverse as material science, quantum technology, and space exploration.
  3. Sustainable Development: Photonics applications in renewable energy, such as solar panels and LED lighting, are instrumental in Europe's commitment to reducing carbon emissions and achieving sustainability goals. Additionally, environmental monitoring and climate studies heavily rely on photonics technologies.
  4. Healthcare Advancements: Photonics innovations have a profound impact on healthcare. Applications in medical imaging, laser surgery, and diagnostics are pivotal to improving healthcare outcomes, thus ensuring a healthier and more productive European population.
  5. High-Speed Communications: Photonics underpins high-speed internet and communication networks in Europe, supporting data-intensive applications, such as video conferencing and cloud computing. The importance of these networks for the digital economy and connectivity cannot be overstated.
  6. Manufacturing and Industry 4.0: Europe's manufacturing sector benefits from photonics applications, such as laser cutting, precision metrology, and optical quality control. These technologies enhance productivity and product quality, positioning European industry for global competitiveness.
  7. Education and Workforce Development: The photonics industry also offers opportunities for education and workforce development. Europe's investment in training programs and research facilities ensures that it can meet the growing demand for skilled photonics professionals.
  8. Security and Defense: Photonics offers essential enabling technology solutions for keeping citizens protected and making them feel safe. Photonics technologies are crucial to identity authentication and to maintaining safe borders, helping to safeguard Europe's national security interests.
  9. Space Exploration: Europe's space agencies leverage photonics for scientific discoveries and technological advancements, using it in satellite communication, Earth observation, and interplanetary exploration.
  10. Global Collaboration: Europe's commitment to international collaboration in photonics research and development fosters a vibrant ecosystem of knowledge sharing and cooperation. This approach ensures access to the latest advancements and a unified approach to addressing global challengesunified approach to addressing global challenges while maintaining European sovereignty.

The variety of application areas where photonics plays a crucial role underscores its importance in the future of Europe. It not only contributes to economic growth and competitiveness but also addresses societal challenges, fosters innovation, and supports Europe's leadership in numerous critical industries, ranging from healthcare and communications to manufacturing and space exploration. Europe's continued investment in photonics research, innovation, and education is vital to harness the full potential of this transformative technology for the benefit of its citizens and the global community.

Year established: 2017

Regions (lead and partner)

  • Leading regions: Flanders (BE)
  • Co-leading regions: Bretagne (FR)
  • Participating regions: Autonomous Province of Trento (IT), Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes (FR), Baden-Württemberg (DE), Berlin Capital Region (DE), Bretagne (FR), Catalonia (ES), East Netherlands (NL), Regions of Finland (FI), Flanders (BE), Lombardia (IT), Lubelskie (PL), Mazowieckie (PL), North Karelia (FI), North Ostrobothnia (FI), North Rhine-Westphalia (DE), Östergötland (SE), Scania (SE), Sicily (IT), South Region (Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur) (FR), South-Netherlands (NL), Regions of Spain (ES), Stockholm (SE), Styria (AT), Regions of The Netherlands (NL), Thüringen (DE), Västerbotten (SE), Vilnius Capital Region (LT)

Mission

Our mission is to catalyse the development of a resilient and innovative European photonics ecosystem by amplifying existing interregional initiatives and launching new, high-impact projects where needed. We aim to foster deep interregional collaboration that drives research, innovation, and economic growth in photonics. Our approach prioritises practical outcomes, physical prototypes, and rapid production processes, focusing on strengthening links between academia, industry, and end-users across Europe.

By advancing these objectives, the S3 Platform in Photonics will create an integrated European photonics landscape that is economically competitive, resilient, and geared toward real-world applications and end-user needs. Together, we will position Europe as a global leader in photonic technology innovation and sustainable development.

Objectives

  • Objective 1: Map and leverage regional strengths
    Identify and catalog European regions with unique capabilities in photonic components, systems manufacturing, and application domains. Emphasise each region's competitive advantages to create a cohesive and impactful European photonics network.
  • Objective 2: Build robust interregional photonics supply chains
    Develop resilient supply chains that span multiple locations, supporting rapid prototyping, and production, while showcasing Europe’s capacity to build dependable and scalable photonic solutions. Focus on application domains relevant to end-users, with demonstrable impact across industries.
  • Objective 3: Drive joint R&D initiatives and high-risk/high-gain research
    Establish collaborative research projects that push the boundaries of photonic innovation. Support high-risk/high-gain research to enable breakthrough technologies, while leveraging existing partnerships and fostering a vibrant scientific network.
  • Objective 4: Strengthen connections between academia, industry, and regional clusters
    Facilitate continuous exchange of expertise and best practices through industry-directed research programs, career-oriented training, and peer-learning initiatives. Encourage regional clusters to connect with complementary technological fields and support SMEs to increase their resilience and competitiveness.
  • Objective 5: Expand the photonics ecosystem through outreach and advocacy
    Promote photonics innovation and past achievements and aligning with broader European economic sectors.
  • Objective 6: Support knowledge exchange and interregional networking
    Encourage interconnection between photonics regions through funding programs, networking events, and peer-learning opportunities. Emphasize face-to-face meetings to foster trust, collaboration, and shared understanding, thereby enabling robust, interregional partnerships.

Main activities

The main activities of the S3 platform in Photonics will initially focus on photonics innovation in 4 different application areas:

  • Health
  • Safety, Security, Space and Defence
  • Industry 5.0 and Manufacturing
  • Agriculture and Food

Organisations involved

Belgium:

  • Brussels Photonics (BE)

France:

  • Photonics Bretagne (FR)
  • Photonics France (FR)

Germany:

  • VDI (DE)
  • Photonics 21 (DE)

The Netherlands:

  • Photon Delta (NL)

Other:

  • European Digital Innovation Hubs and clusters

Shared smart specialisation areas

Thematic working areas:

  • Photonics Integrated Circuits (PICs)
  • Sensing, Measuring and Imaging
  • Optical Fibres for Industry
  • Pilot Facility for Photonics-based Manufacturing
  • Free space and free form optics
  • Lasers
  • Quantum technology
  • Lighting

Related projects

  • PhotonHub: In order to accelerate the uptake of photonics technologies by European industry, and thereby help to boost competitiveness and to foster new business and business models, PhotonHub Europe has established a unique European full-service one-stop-shop Photonics Innovation Hub in a manner which is deeply rooted within the wider ecosystem of innovation hubs and manufacturing right across the European continent for maximum coverage, leverage, impact, and long-term sustainability. PhotonHub has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020. (https://www.photonhub.eu)
  • Phorwards21 aims to create and implement a comprehensive industrial strategy of photonics in Europe. The action will be implemented by Photonics21 (the EU Commission's partner in the Horizon Europe Photonics Partnership) with its more than 3000 members from companies and research institutions as well as national photonics technology platforms and regional clusters. (https://www.photonics21.org/)

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