Photonics21 releases roadmap to photonics research and innovation priorities

May 3, 2013

At the Photonics21 Annual Meeting the group presented the Photonics Multiannual Strategic Roadmap Towards 2020 – Photonics Driving Economic Growth in Europe to Neelie Kroes, Vice-President of the European Commission.

Conard Holton

Brussels, Belgium--At the Photonics21 Annual Meeting the European photonics community presented the Photonics Multiannual Strategic Roadmap Towards 2020 – Photonics Driving Economic Growthin Europe to Neelie Kroes, Vice-President of the European Commission (EC). The photonics roadmap has been developed by the European photonics community and outlines the research and innovation priorities for 2014–2020.

Photonics21, which is the European technology platform for photonics, also agreed to create a new entity--the Photonics PPP Association--as the legal vehicle needed to sign a contract with the EC. The Photonics21 community pledges to spend 5.6 billion euros on a public-private partnership (PPP), provided that the EC commits 1.4 billion euros to the PPP as part of its Horizon 2020 plan.

Download the European photonics roadmap here.

Related article:Photonics industry commits to 5 billion Euro investment in Europe

Photonics21 President Michael Mertin, CEO of Jenoptik, stressed that: “Boosting economic growth and the creation of jobs in Europe through strengthening its innovation capacity will be the major challenges of Horizon 2020. Through the establishment of a Public Private Partnership the photonics community fully commits to strive for photonics innovation in Europe and to reinforce the cooperation between public and private sectors. Our innovation capacity will substantially contribute to Europe’s economy and thus benefit European citizens.”

EC Vice-President Neelie Kroes highlighted the photonics sector's role in her keynote speech, stating that "Europe has a great high-tech story to tell, and photonics is at the centre of that story. Most importantly at this time it is the source of 5,000 of Europe's most innovative SMEs [small and medium enterprises]. I want to make sure those companies have the R&D support they need to lead the 300 billion euro global photonics market, improve lives, and support new and existing jobs."

Source: www.Photonics21.org

About the Author

Conard Holton | Editor at Large

Conard Holton has 25 years of science and technology editing and writing experience. He was formerly a staff member and consultant for government agencies such as the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority and the International Atomic Energy Agency, and engineering companies such as Bechtel. He joined Laser Focus World in 1997 as senior editor, becoming editor in chief of WDM Solutions, which he founded in 1999. In 2003 he joined Vision Systems Design as editor in chief, while continuing as contributing editor at Laser Focus World. Conard became editor in chief of Laser Focus World in August 2011, a role in which he served through August 2018. He then served as Editor at Large for Laser Focus World and Co-Chair of the Lasers & Photonics Marketplace Seminar from August 2018 through January 2022. He received his B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania, with additional studies at the Colorado School of Mines and Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University.