Or more correctly there are relatively more larger companies in photonics than standard in manufacturing. On going analysis of the UK photonics industry shows that the fraction of UK photonics operations which are small, medium or large by employment is significantly higher than in UK engineering or manufacturing sectors*. Only 50% of photonics operations employ…
The PLG welcomes a new report from the King’s College London’s Policy Institute by David Willetts, former Minister of State for Universities and Science on “The Road to 2.4%” -the target for the fraction of GDP invested in science and research . The report makes a clear case for increasing support for enabing technologies (such…
The Institute of Physics 2019 awards presented on 18 November recognised outstanding contributions in many areas of photonics including: Professor Donna Stickland, University of Waterloo- Honary Fellowship for her pioneering method of generating high-intensity, ultra-short optical pulses. Matoha Instrumentation – Business Start-Up Award for the development of a low-cost small-scale infrared materials identification and analysis…
For 2020 the Photonics21 annual meeting will take place 27-28 of May. Two months later than its traditional slot at the end of March. Whilst the focus of the annual meeting will be on the next framework programme, Horizon Europe, the current Horizon 2020 programme is not quite finished. The final photonics calls in Horizon…
The latest competition from the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund (ISCF) commercialising quantum technologies challenge will award up to £30million to industry led projects addressing technological barriers to the commercial exploitation of quantum technologies. Projects should exploit second generation quantum techniques (superposition) in one or more of the challenge areas of: Connectivity Situation awareness Quantum computing…
The European Commission has opened a public consultation on the 12 proposed Institutionalised European Partnerships under the future Horizon Europe Research and Innovation programme (2021-2027). In particular, the consultation focuses on the overall need for and the planned focus of these potential European Partnerships. This will include Key Digital Technologies and integrated photonics may fall…
The Queen’s Speech contained important new announcements on research and innovation funding. Extracted from ‘THE QUEEN’S SPEECH AND ASSOCIATED BACKGROUND BRIEFING, ON THE OCCASION OF THE OPENING OF PARLIAMENT ON MONDAY 14 OCTOBER 2019′. Science, space and infrastructure “My Government is committed to establishing the United Kingdom as a world-leader in scientific capability and space…
Further analysis of the UK photonics industry provides a regional breakdown of industry productivity measured through gross value added to the economy per photonics employee. UK Photonics total output was £13.5billion in 2018 with a total gross value added* (GVA) to the economy estimated to be £5.3billion. At an average gross value add per photonics…
The opening of the new Electronics and Photonics Innovation Centre (EPIC) in Torbay was celebrated at an event on 19 September attended by Sarah Wollaston, MP, local Councillor Swithin Long, business and academic leaders. Welcomed by Alan Denby, Director of Economic Strategy at Torbay Development Agency, EPIC demonstrates strong support for photonics as an engine…
EPSRC is hosting an event on 6 December 2019, sponsored by the Institute of Physics and the Royal Society of Chemistry, to celebrate the significant and wide-ranging impacts that arise from the breadth of physical sciences research: from the fundamental to the applied. Expressions of interest by 20 September are invited from those who would…
