Towards a Bright Future for Europe 

First European Photonics SRA finalized

The first Photonics Strategic Research Agenda “Towards a Bright Future for Europe” has been finalized.

The agenda had been drawn up since the constitution of the technology platform in December 2005 in Brussels by more than 350 experts from 27 countries, including 120 companies. It sketches out the basis for a common strategy for consolidating Europe’s global market leadership in photonics. This strategy is intended to serve as the foundation on which R&D expenditure and activities are to be increased and coordinated at European, national and regional level.

The Photonics21 recommendations have two core aspects: higher European and national expenditure on research and development in the photonics, and a pan-European strategic approach.

Key recommendations of the SRA

1. European photonics industry and science need to join forces under a strong European umbrella. The members of Photonics21 particularly see a need for a more structured approach and concerted action. Funding must be tailored to the needs and requirements of the economy, to ensure that the results of increased R&D activities are more efficiently translated into successful market products. According to Photonics21 the way to achieve this is through closer collaboration between the photonics industry, research, the funding agencies and the European Union.
2. An increased public and private investment in photonics is needed. The European photonics companies of Photonics21, led by Alexander von Witzleben, in turn announced at “Photonics Europe” their plan to increase their own spending on R&D by €330 million per annum. They demanded that the increase is to be linked with a strong focus on photonics in the Seventh Framework Programme and an associated doubling of European Union funding. In addition, the members of Photonics21 are calling for a doubling of funds from the national support programs over the next five years.
3. Clear responsibility for photonics within the European Commission is needed.
4. A mirror group involving the relevant public authorities and funding bodies throughout Europe needs to be installed. In spite of the diversity of the disciplines involved and the fields of application addressed, there is an urgent need for a common approach for photonics R&D in Europe:
5. Leading-edge research and innovation requires involvement and cooperation along the whole economic value chain - from the exploration of the underlying techniques to the development of marketable products;
6. Cross-sectoral issues need to be linked with application-oriented issues;
7. Synergies between different fields of application have to be utilized;
8. Substantial attention should be given to the fact that photonics communities and coalitions emerge in many parts of the world (e.g. in the US, Japan and Australia) and develop common strategies while photonics in Europe is still widely fragmented.

For further information please go to the website of Photonics21.