Photonics Digital Innovation Hub garners €19 million investment
PhotonHub Europe (Brussels, Belgium), a new pan-European photonics digital innovation hub, has been awarded a €19 million (over $22.4 million) investment from the EU’s Horizon 2020 program. The new hub will help European subject matter experts (SMEs) and mid-caps become highly competitive digital businesses through faster and smarter deployment of photonics-based technologies, directly creating over 1000 new high-tech EU jobs and nearly €1 billion (over $1.1 billion) in new revenues and venture capital by 2025.
In order to accelerate the uptake and deployment of photonics technologies by European industry, PhotonHub will establish a single photonics innovation hub that integrates best-in-class photonics technologies, facilities, expertise, and experience of 53 top competence centers across Europe under one roof as a one-stop-shop solution with open access for any company anywhere in Europe that wants to innovate with photonics.
Training and upskilling supports to companies will cover both technology- and application-specific learning in photonics using lecture-based tutorials, hands-on lab-based training, and “Train-the-Trainer” programs within the hub’s 40 Demo Centres and 10 Experience Centres throughout Europe, all coordinated for consistent standards of excellence under the umbrella of the European Photonics Innovation Academy of PhotonHub.
PhotonHub also will help companies innovating with photonics to find investment from suitable sources of venture capital or other private/public sources of growth capital to further boost their capabilities in bringing new photonics and “photonics-enabled” products faster to market.
The hub will begin operations in early 2021 and will be operating a continuous open call for companies to apply for its support services. Applications for support will be facilitated online through the PhotonHub website at photonhub.eu.