Photonics Enabling Productivity Throughout the UK

UK Photonics

UK Photonics

A £15.2bn industry employing over 89,400 people in the UK with nationally leading productivity and global industrial and societal impact

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UK Photonics and Quantum Directory

UK Photonics and Quantum Directory

A fully searchable directory of all companies, research organisations and universities engaged in Photonics and Quantum in the UK

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Vision for UK Photonics in 2035

Vision for UK Photonics in 2035

The future size and impact of photonics across the economy

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UK photovoltaic capacity hits 13GigaWatts exceeding power generation from coal fired power stations.

Latest government statistics on photovoltaic installations shows PV capacity in the UK exceeded 13GW in November 2018 from over 972,000 installations. November also saw the highest number of new installations in the month since September 2016. UK PV power generation capacity now exceeds that available from coal fired power stations in the UK and is…

UK Photonics in Horizon 2020

In a report released recently by the European Technology Platform Photonics 21, the UK received the second highest funding from the European Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation program in projects related to photonics. 494 organisations received 240M€ to carry out market focused research and innovation. At least 50% of participants of photonics related projects under…

Summer Placements 2019

If you are interested in improving your recruitment pipeline consider hosting a Physics student for a workplace placement in 2019.  The South East Physics Network are now seeking placement projects for Summer2019 for both undergraduate and PhD physicist.  Any organisation interested in recruiting physics graduates can submit and register a project. With student demand normally…

Photonics innovation big winners in Defence Growth Partnership

Light and laser based solutions for situational awareness were significant winners in the MOD and Defence Growth Partnership (DGP) Innovation Challenge announced by Defence Minister Stuart Andrew at the Institute of Engineering and Technology on 12 November 2018. QinetiQ’s Software Defined Multifunction LIDAR (laser radar) system will provide a range of capabilities including 3D imaging,…

Prototype Your Idea competition now open

The Photonics21 Prototype Your Idea contest is back, bigger and better! This is a great opportunity to get photonic product ideas off the drawing board and into reality. Especially useful for PhD/postdocs etc, but open to innovators in the private sector too. Details on the Photonics21 web site: https://www.photonics21.org/2018/participate-in-the-%23next_photonics.-prototype-your-idea-contest-2019%21

Photonics and the 2018 budget

Whilst the 2018 UK budget may not include any specific or direct support for photonics, there were significant announcements for industries heavily dependent on photonics including: £121m for Made Smarter supporting digital manufacturing £315m for the Industrial Energy Transformation Fund to support greater energy efficiency in manufacturing Both ‘made smarter’ and ‘energy transformation’ should open new pathways…

Who are the Photonics Leadership Group?

The PLG is a voluntary collective of photonics industry and academic leaders nudging policy, strategy, industry and research in mutually beneficial directions