Photonics21 Association
Budget
€10 — €0
EP Access
0
accredited persons
Staff
3
0.3 FTE
EU Grants
None
Mission & Goals
The Association is an international non-profit association with scientific purpose governed by the Belgian Code of companies and associations, as introduced by the Belgian law of twenty-third of March twenty nineteen on companies and associations, and containing various provisions. The purpose of the Association is to enter into the PPP Contract, to execute this PPP Contract and to promote R&D in the Photonics industry in order to strengthen the Photonics industry in the European Union, to foster technology skills in Europe by attracting students and to increase the competitiveness of the European industry by providing new tools and capabilities for manufacturing in Europe.
EU Legislative Interests
The Photonics partnership represents a long-term commitment between the European Commission and the Photonics Stakeholders to invest in Europe with the aim of securing Europe's industrial leadership and economic growth in photonics and is enabled industries. Photonics industry, which is based on about 5000 SMEs across Europe has a highly skilled workforce, and the capability to generate new jobs that attract young people. The partnership is the basis for a Research and Innovation strategy and more broadly for an industrial strategy in photonics for Europe for the Horizon Europe period and beyond. On June 23rd, 2021 Photonic21 Association entered into a Co-programmed partnership with the European Commission by signing a Memorandum of Understanding in the frame of a Launch Event. The main objectives are to strengthen the photonics ecosystem along the value chain support diffusion of photonics technologies and contributes to growth and jobs and raise competitiveness. In detail: Foster a focused, continuous and synergetic development of key photonics technologies, components and systems in Europe Push for the rapid diffusion into the various sectors that critically depend on innovative photonics solutions by early collaboration along value chains Fully exploit the potential of photonics for a digital, green and healthy future in Europe by providing critical components and systems and processes for next generation applications Securing Technological Sovereignty for Europe by maintaining leadership in core photonics technologies and in the application of photonics through ensuring common strategic research and investment commitment Raise the International Competitiveness of Europe’s economy and ensure Long-term Job and Prosperity creation in Europe Provide a framework for the shaping of ecosystems to address changes of value creation Towards this new Photonics partnership in Horizon Europe a Vision Paper was provided as well as a detailed Multiannual Strategic Roadmap: "New Horizons- Securing Europe’s technological sovereignty through Photonics" as well as a new report on "Market data and Industry Report 2020" and "Insights into the dynamic photonics market (2019–2022)", which shows the impact of Photonics on the main objectives of the European Commission with regard to Technological Sovereignty, Green Deal, Competitiveness and Digital Transformation as well as the success potential of photonics technologies as an innovative growth driver for many end-use applications. Some of the key results can be viewed below: New research shows the photonics industries in Europe, the US, and Asia outpaced global GDP from 2019 to the post-pandemic period of 2022, growing at a CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) of 6.8% despite geopolitical risks significantly affecting international trade. Employment surged by 35,000 jobs during this period, far exceeding the growth rate of European manufacturing as a whole. European photonics production soared to €124.6 billion in 2022, representing over 5,000 companies and contributing significantly to Europe’s manufacturing landscape. The sector witnessed a remarkable annual revenue growth rate of 6.5% (2019-2022), outpacing Europe’s GDP growth even after accounting for inflation. Europe maintained a strong position as the second-largest player in the global photonics market (15% share), underscoring its competitiveness against major counterparts like China and the US. The European photonics industry exhibits a strong commitment to research and innovation, with an R&D intensity of 10.5%, significantly > than other industries With this highly innovative industry and four recent Nobel Prizes awarded to European scientists for their work in Photonics, Europe is in a very good starting position to accelerate advanced key European initiatives, such as AI, High-Performance Computing, Quantum Communication and Quantum Computing, as well as Smart Cities which all depend on Photonics as the key enabling technology
Communication Activities
Photonics21 Call for Evidence Chips Act Consultation 2025 Photonics Start-Up Radar 2025 Photonics Partnership Annnual Meetings Joint Statment of the Photonics Enduser Industries 2025 Multi-annual Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda 2028-2034 Position Papers towards Horizon Europe, Digitizing Europe and Technological Sovereignty Vision Paper - Europe's age of Light Multiannual Strategic Roadmap for Horizon Europe: "New Horizons - Securing Europe’s technological sovereignty through Photonics" Market Data and Industry Report 2020 Horizon Europe - Proposal for a Photonics Partnership 2020 Memorandum of Understanding - final signing event June 23rd, 2020 Quantum PIC Position Paper Multi-annual Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda 2023-2030 Photonics Industry Supply Chain Survey 2023 White Paper on Integrated Photonics Position Paper on Optics and Photonics Technologies Serving Virtual Worlds Photonics Market Study "Insights into the dynamic photonics market (2019–2022)" EAC Study "Political Steering Processes in China in Core Segments of the Photonics Industry 2024" Photonics Partnerships project success stories Four thematic reports which focus on industrial applications of high relevance for photonic technologies: Defence, Virtual Worlds, High Performance Computing and Fusion/Energy Analysis of US grants for R&D photonics funding 300mm Photonics White Paper CSA "Nextpho21" (finalized end 2020) and start of new CSA "Bestphorm21" on July 1st, 2021 CSA "Phorwards21", started January 1st, 2024 European Photonics Venture Forum in collaboration with Tech Tour and ActPhast Digital Innovation Hubs / Founding and close collaboration with the "Photon Hub" project Regional and Member State Engagement: u.A. Information event with regional and national representatives in the area of Research and Innovation as well as with Perm Reps / Strengthen the information exchange and collaboration with former "Photonics Mirror Group" in the new format of a National and Regional Advisory Board Collaboration with other Partnerships (e.g. QFlag, Manufacture Europe, KDT, Virtual Worlds Partnership, Innovative Materials for Europe Partnership, Chips JU and more to come) EIC on Accelerator, EIB on Financing Photonics and High Tech Industries, KDT on integrated silicon photonics - activities ongoing
Interests Represented
Promotes their own interests or the collective interests of their members
Member Of
Science|Business (https://sciencebusiness.net/network) Partnership Knowledge Hub (https://ec.europa.eu/transparency/expert-groups-register/screen/expert-groups/consult?lang=en&groupId=3783&fromMembers=true&memberType=4&memberId=95957)
Organisation Members
https://www.photonics21.org/about-us/structure/ https://www.photonics21.org/about-us/photonics-ppp/structures-processes-and-statuses.php
Commissioner Meetings
No recorded meetings with EU commissioners.