News story

UK Photonics Strategy Launched

The UK photonics industry received a major boost with the DTI's launch by Lord Sainsbury of 'Photonics: A strategy for success' report, at the QE2 Conference Centre on Thursday 13th July 2006.

A PDF copy of the report is available on this link. (PDF3632K)

Background on the UK Photonics Strategy
Photonics, also known as “optoelectronics”, is concerned with the transmission and manipulation of information and energy in the form of light (photons) rather than electricity. The application of photonic technologies can enhance the performance of a wide range of products across industries as diverse as transport, security, communications, healthcare and energy. The market for systems dependent on photonics is already over £150 billion.

The Photonics Strategy Group made up of representatives from Government, academia & industry, was established to:

· examine the UK photonics industry sector;
· identify opportunities and challenges for UK over the next 5 to 10 years;
· develop an action plan for Government and industry to exploit the sector.

The Photonics Strategy industry consultation exercise allowed DTI to road test the draft conclusions their Photonics Strategy Group had reached on the future of the UK photonics industry and therefore contributed towards the report they are have published.

 Link to DTI Photonics web pages.

Date added: 14 July 2006