A £18.5bn industry employing over 84,800 people in the UK with nationally leading productivity and global industrial and societal impact
A fully searchable directory of all companies, research organisations and universities engaged in Photonics and Quantum in the UK
The SPIE Prism Awards celebrate breakthrough products that are shaping the future of optics and photonics. Recognition as a finalist or winner can help elevate your company’s visibility among customers, partners, investors, and industry leaders. Award recipients receive promotion across SPIE channels and exposure at SPIE Photonics West, which attracts more than 22,000 attendees each…
Photonics has long been one of the UK’s scientific strengths. Today, it is rapidly becoming one of its strategic assets. Contributing more than £18.5 billion annually to the UK economy, photonics underpins many of the technologies shaping the country’s future prosperity – from artificial intelligence and quantum technologies to advanced manufacturing, healthcare, defence, and next-generation…
The European Commission have opened a consultation on the future of Joint Undertakings including the Chips JU to shape the framework fro Joint Undertaking under Horizon Europe 2028-2034. This is of significant importance for photonics as the Commission’s current plans are to expand the EU Chip ACT 2 to include photonics. Therefore much of the…
The publication of the Technopolis-led report, Study on the EU’s critical digital capacities deployment beyond 2027, is a welcome contribution to the importance of investment in next generation of digital technology, including photonics. Commissioned by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology, the study looks beyond the current EU Framework programme to…
Photonics21 presented the latest European Photonics Roadmap, the Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA) Light Driving the Future, to the European commission at the Photonics21 annual meeting on the 9 June 2026. Light Driving the Future is the sector’s most significant strategic update since Horizon Europe began and set out a vision for teh next…
To Express your Interest in participating in developing the National Photonics Roadmap, please complete the on-line expression of interest. Invitations to participate in the in-person workshop will be drawn from those completing the EoI, subject to constraints of the venue, balance of contributions and discretion of our government partners. Following the Council for Science and Technology…
The UK government’s Council for Science and Technology (CST), which provides independent advice to the Prime Minister on science and technology policy issues across government, has highlighted the vital role of photonics in keeping the whole economy competitive. Photonics: Capturing the Opportunities for Growth and Global Leadership emphasises the growth opportunity, strong UK Leadership in…
Seeking a photonics champion to lead the UK industry voice for the 21st century The Photonics Leadership Group (PLG) is hiring a network/cluster manager to improve awareness of photonics and foster growth within the field. The ideal candidate will be an enthusiastic, organised and self-motivated, capable of listening and interpreting what is important to all…
UK Government has opened a new rapid consultation on reducing electricity costs for energy intensive industries:- British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme: consultation on scheme eligibility and approach – GOV.UK – 24 November 2025. The proposed British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme (BICS) is aimed at reducing the high electricity prices experience by energy intensive UK manufacturers. Qualification will…
Innovate UK are are including photonics in their next Future Tech Deep Dive series. The objective of this event series is to look into the future and scan the horizon for long-term innovations of significant potential impact with key technology areas. The series aims to bring together thought-provoking experts from business, science, academia responsible for…
