Sharing the latest information from the Photonics Leadership Group, representing The UK photonics industry
June 29, 2017 Leave a comment
UK photonics industry output now exceeds £12.9 billion, is growing at twice the national average with 3X the average UK productivity per worker.
This updated analysis of the UK photonics industry shows a rise of £2.4 bn since the last report in 2013, recording an average growth rate of >5.3%, which finds UK photonics to be growing at twice the speed of the rest of the UK economy.
April 20, 2017 Leave a comment
The Photonics Leadership Group has submitted a full response to the UK industry strategy green paper consultation based on broad ranging industry input and our analysis of the green paper.
The PLG looks forward to working with government to develop a detailed sector strategy for Photonics following the election on 8 June 2017
April 4, 2017 1 Comment
The next PLG meeting will be on 4 May in London, 2-5pm. The main topic of discusion will be creating a Sector Deal for Photonics. If you are intersting in attending and not currently a contributor to the PLG please contact us
March 8, 2017 Leave a comment
Published on 23Jan 2017, the UK’s latest industrial strategy presents many opportunities for photonics summarised in our compressed analysis of the industry strategy
January 25, 2017 1 Comment
The Westminster Hall debate regarding Photonics can be viewed in full online (timing from 11:00am on with respond from Jo Johnston, MP Minister for Universities Science and Research and Innovation from 11:16. Read more of this post
January 24, 2017 Leave a comment
Carol Monaghan, MP for Glasgow North West, has successfully applied for a Westminster Hall debate on the UK Photonics Industry, to be held on Wednesday 25 Janurary 2017 @ 11am
January 24, 2017 Leave a comment
The UK’s new industry strategy is now published. Whilst, the 10 pillars of the strategy will support continued development of photonics, the vital role of enabling technologies, such as photonics, that provide the competitive edge in product performance, and manufacturing productivity needs to be fully recognised. Less than 5% of the value of high technology goods, from mobile phones to airplanes, is in the final assembly (Economist 14/1/17). Most value is in the design, the critical components (often photonics e.g. camera, screen, sensors) and the manufacturing equipment (also often photonics e.g laser marking, cutting, machine vision).
Responses to the green paper give the opportunity to refine the industrial strategy and make sure support for the research, design, development and manufacture of the hidden technologies that enable a productive future is secure. The UK is blessed with globally leading photonics research and a strong export driven industry. But, as a global industry, photonics is sensitive to changes in international trade and care is needed to ensure we continue to develop and manufacture this enabling technology in the UK.
Online responses to the industrial strategy can be submitted at https://beisgovuk.citizenspace.com/strategy/industrial-strategy/consultation/intro/
January 23, 2017 1 Comment
The Photonics Leadership Group welcomes the publication of UK Industry Strategy and looks forward to developing a sector deal for photonics and light based technologies with UK government that addresses needs of both UK photonics industry and the huge range of firms enabled by photonics.
The priority given in the strategy to industries, such as photonics, that self-organise – as evidenced by the continued support for the PLG from multiple sectors and organisations distributed across the UK is further welcomed. With shared challenges and opportunities already identified, and further strategies for lasers in manufacturing and roadmaps for photonics in active development, the PLG invites the government prioritize development of a sector deal in photonics. Critical to keeping so many industries competitive from automotive to healthcare, vital for delivering productivity gains in manufacturing and already a major exporter a secotr deal for photonics would enhance the whole of the UK economy.
January 13, 2017 Leave a comment
Minutes of the PLG meeting on 11 January 2017 are now available to attendees and regular contributors
Please contact us if you would like to participate in the Photonics Leadership Group
December 12, 2016 1 Comment
The Big UK Data Equipment Opportunity report highlights UK capabilities and key players within this important growth area, with a focus specifically on the financial sector.
The past decade has seen a move from the physical trading floor to the anonymous data centre, populated with generic imported equipment. The next decade will see these systems optimised for the unique requirements of individual data centres. This presents a major opportunity for the UK to supply latency and security-optimised hardware to the local financial services industries and the many sectors handling sensitive data in the UK, from smart metering to healthcare and security.
