Rishi Sunak, MP 2021 budget contains a a number of measures likely to have broad impact on the photonics industry. The biggest of which may be the super-deduction. Super-Deduction – effectively a 25% discount on capex for the next two years that should significantly reduce barriers to the wider deployment of laser based materials processing…
In collaboration with SPIE’s Public Policy team and the Knowledge Transfer Network, the Photonics Leadership Group are organising a webinar on the forthcoming UK National Security Investment (NSI) legislation and its potential impact on photonics on Tuesday, February 9 @ 16:00-17:00 GMT This key new law will require mandatory notification to government of asset transfers…
The Photonics Leadership Group welcomes finalisation of the post Brexit Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the EU and the UK. The full agreement and accompanying annexes includes a number of measures welcomed by the photonics industry including:- The UK will be full associate members of the next Horizon Europe collaborative research and development funding framework…
SPIE have confirmed its first five meetings of 2021 including Photonics West will run as fully remote participation digital meetings. The remote Photonics West will remain at the rearranged dates of 6-11 March 2021. In addition to the remote accessible conference presentations, Photonics West 2021 ‘will also feature a Digital Marketplace with product demos showcasing…
The latest analysis of the PLG’s autumn survey of the impact of Covid-19 on photonics and acoustics industries shows UK photonics continues to be highly resilient with 93% of companies operating at,or above 75% of pre-Covid-19 capacity, with 16% operating at above March 2020 levels. Whilst some companies identify some continuing difficulties in the supply…
Significant changes have been incorporated in the new National Security and Investment Bill that was introduced to Parliament on 11 Nov 2020. The Bill now proposes mandatory notification to government of transactions in sensitive sectors, essentially effective from 12 November 2020 The list of sensitive sectors has been expanded to include advanced materials including “photonics…
Chi Onwurah, MP -the Shadow Minister for Digital, Science & Technology will be the headline speaker at the UK Fibre Connectivity Forum (UKFCF), next quarterly meeting on 30 November 2020. Limited spaces remain for this online meeting with registration required in advance
The PLG is currently working with the UK photonics community and the UK Fibre Connectivity Forum to draft a recommended strategy for significantly increasing supply of UK optical communications hardware and a vision giving the UK a lead in next generation low-carbon communications capability. UPDATE – a 1 page briefing summary of the recommended Connecting…
To date we have received 115 responses to the PLG Autumn survey of the impact of Covid-19 on the Photonics & Acoustics industries. The survey will close on 31 October. If you have not yet provided input to the 14 questions, please do so this week. All responses are anonymous and the average time to…
The Photonics Leadership would like to congratulate two long time photonics innovators Prof Roy Sambles at the University of Exeter for receiving a Knighthood and Prof Miles Padgett at the University of Glasgow for receiving an OBE in the 2020 Queen’s Birthday Honours List.
