Ric is currently Director of Business Development: Space, Technology and Facilities, at STFC, leading a team developing business opportunities, bridging the gap between pioneering science and business and maximizing economic impact. He has served on the committee of AILU (Association of Industrial Laser Users) being elected President 2015-17. Ric has been a long-term member of the PLG and is a Director of Photonics Leadership Ltd. the company formed to operate PLG.
Ric has >30 years R&D, commercial and business development experience in advanced photonics based technologies. Following a degree in Physics with Laser Physics and a PhD in Laser Produced Plasmas, between 1995 and 2001 he worked as a beamline scientist in the Central Laser Facility at RAL. In 2001, he joined Exitech Ltd, an innovative manufacturer of highly specialised laser micromachining systems. At Exitech he led the research, development and commercialisation of novel laser processing techniques focused on the Flat Panel Displays, Energy Efficient Lighting and Photovoltaic markets. Between 2006 and 2011 he played a pivotal role in setting up and operating a number of the UK Knowledge Transfer Networks in the photonics and plastic electronics sectors. This role was all about business development, connecting business to business and science to business. Following this he joined Polyphotonix a pioneer in OLED technology as Chief Technical Officer with responsibility for setting technical strategy and delivering the companies IP/technology. In 2012 he joined STFC as Business Development Manager for the Central Laser Facility before being appointed Director of BD in 2018.
My passion has always been all things “Light” starting at school with an early fascination of Lasers and how they work. In my current role I have the opportunity to connect world leading science and technology to real world industrial challenges. Enabling connections that can lead to the solution of some of the most complex problems. It is an absolute privilege and I couldn’t have got here without my love of, and passion for, photonics.
