Opto chip companies join European research effort
Europe has a new body championing the cause of photonics research thanks to the creation of Photonics 21 . More than 200 experts from 16 European member states and 120 companies celebrated the launching event earlier this month in Brussels.
Set up by the European Photonics Industry Consortium (EPIC), members include key MOCVD equipment supplier Aixtron, sapphire substrate maker CrystalQ, GaN specialist Picogiga and epiwafer foundry IQE.
Also involved are a whole host of chip manufacturers such as Bookham, Osram Opto Semiconductors, Jenoptik, as well as end-users of optoelectronic technology such as Audi and Philips Lighting.
Those partners will work alongside some of Europe s top university research teams to develop future optoelectronic technologies.
"What this means is that for the first time photonics is recognised as a strategic technology for European industry," said Tom Pearsall, General Secretary of EPIC. "The objective is to capture European advantages in technology and turn it to a commercial advantage for manufacturing."
It features a strategic research agenda for the European photonics community that promises to make sure that photonics plays an important role in the upcoming 7th framework program. The platform is based on a report called Photonics for the 21st Century which was published in spring.
Author
Oliver Graydon is editor of Optics.org and Opto & Laser Europe magazine.
