The UK photonics industry is distributed across the UK with key centres of activity in Northern Ireland, Scotland, the South West, South East, Midlands, Wales, North East and North West. With global exporters often tucked away in small industry estates thought out the country, many people are unaware of the significant role UK photonics firms…
Ideas Innovation People Skills Infrastructure i.e. full fibre networks Business Environment Starting & growing enterprise Places Prosperity across UK The industrial strategy: building a Britain for the future outlines 5 foundations for UK growth down from the 10 pillars in the original green paper. The strategy further outlines the overall grand challenges / global trends…
The new Ministry of Defence Science and Technology Strategy 2017 is welcomed by the PLG. The concise review identifies the critical role science and technology plays in current and future defence and security. Many of the key enablers identified in sensing, quantum technology, novel materials, autonomy and more are underpinned by photonics innovations. The importance…
Measures in the budget of high relevance to UK photonics industry include:- An Additional £2.3bn in 2021-2022 for research and development funding. This is an extension of the national productivity investment fund program to 2021-22 not an increase in earlier years. Announced R&D funding under NPIF (inc industrial challenge fund) now:. 2017-18 2018-19 2019-20 2020-21 2021-22…
The PLG welcomes the publication of Juerger Maier’s Made Smarter Review of how digital technology, including photonics, can boost UK manufacturing by £455billion over 10 years. A likely prelude for an Industrial Digitisation Sector Deal, the review outlines three key challenges in leadership, adoption and innovation. Photonics, notable industrial vision, optical metrology and laser processing,…
UK photonics leaders have identified four grand challenges for the industry to address over the next 5 to 10 years. Delivering Internet 5.0, where data delivery is ubiquitous, invisible and instantaneous to all people and all factories, no matter where they are or what they are doing. I5_0 will break the link between digital demand…
Who is doing what, where? The interactive photonics landscape tool from the Knowledge Transfer Network shows where many UK photonics companies are located and which markets/applications they are focused on. Searchable by region and application, this tool gives insights into the breadth of applications addressed by UK photonics and distribution of companies around the UK.…
Lasers are an increasingly essential tool for enhancing productivity in modern manufacturing enabling rapid precision cutting, welding, joining, engraving and marking in additional to precision quality control and on-line measurement. The latest review article from Industrial Laser Solutions summarises how the latest fibre laser – invented in the UK continue are enhancing the manufacturing process.
Many high technology sectors are experiencing difficulty in recruiting the right skills at the right time. Photonics is no different and must recruit the very best talent in the fastest possible time to continue to expand. In a rapidly growing industry, the faster a new position can be filled and the more suitable candidates apply…
A Cardiff meeting on 13 December will examine the pivotal role of photonics in Medical Technologies and Pharmaceutical development and production. Organised by the Centre for Process Innovation and the Knowledge Transfer Network, this event gives the opportunity hear what Pharma and MedTech users need from photonics and how developments in these area can be supported…
