At the last PLG meeting it was agreed to add Vice-Chair and Treasurer officers to the Photonics Leadership Group, to be appointed by member vote alongside the PLG Chair-person at the next PLG meeting on 27 February 2019.
…The Department for International Trade are soliciting views, especially from SMEs, on possible future UK trade agreements with USA, Australia New Zeeland and CPTPP (Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam) by Friday 26 October at https://consultations.trade.gov.uk. Key questions include:- What do you stand to gain from free trade…
Innovate UK together with BEIS and the ElecTech Council will be running a Roadmap workshop on the 3rd July 2018 in central London and are looking to invite 40-50 experts with specialist knowledge across : Electronic components and systems Photonics Sensor and Sensor Systems Large Area Electronics Register interest to attend and contribute The aim…
In the first call from UKRI , the new body combining the Research Councils and Innovate_UK expressions of interest have been invited on the main challenges faced by industry where intervention will make a significant impact on the grand challenges identified in the 2017 industry strategy. The PLG welcomes this open call from UKRI which…
Significant changes have been proposed to the government power to intervene and examine M&A and foreign direct investment in business with > £1 million turnover (reduced from £70m) irrespective of their share of the UK market. These measures would apply to companies supplying dual use or military items listed on the strategic export list –…
Photonics continues to develop rapidly, driven by diversification into new applications and rapid expansion of existing applications. This presents the industry, in the UK, with a number of challenges. The PLG are currently capturing and summarising these challenges and what actions may have a transformative impact on them and the industry. The current draft of…
Published on 23Jan 2017, the UK’s latest industrial strategy presents many opportunities for photonics summarised in our compressed analysis of the industry strategy
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…
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.
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New multiband imaging chips offer the potenital for lightweight simultaneious imaging from LWIR thermal range to the visible spectrum. However, operational systems also need simultanous break throughs in optical matierals, coatings, electroincs, image processing and system design. Advances in all of these are taking place in the UK, but lack of ‘visibility’, coordination and ‘focus’…