Photonics industry commits to more than 5 billion Euros investment in Europe
Key enabling technologies (KETs)
Due to its high innovation potential and its immense contribution to European industrial leadership photonics has been defined as one of only six key enabling technologies (KETs) at European level. The Photonics industry in Europe is worth € 58.5 billion (21 % of the world market) and employs about 300,000 people across 5000 companies. A recently issued study of the European Commission estimates that today already 20-30% of the European economy and 10% of the European workforce depends on photonics as a key enabling technology.
However, like many other sectors the potential of the photonics industry is currently limited by the so called “Valley of Death” in the innovation value chain. Giorgio Anania states that “photonic innovation in Europe tends to fall through in the stage between successful science and pilot scale industrial deployments, the latter being the stage at which jobs can start being created.”
The founding of a Photonics PPP would address these concerns and brings to fruition the recommendation of the recently published KET High Level Group report which calls for forward-driven and long-term strategies involving all stakeholders – private and public – at European, national and regional levels. By building and strengthening bridges between scientific excellence and innovative production the PPP will result in the creation of an additional 70,000 – 100,000 jobs in the photonics industry leveraged to 350,000 to 600,000 new jobs for European industry overall. “What we expect from such a PPP", Anania said, "is to secure a long-term commitment from both the private and the public sector to investing in photonics research and innovation and thereby creating jobs and economic growth in Europe.”
In a letter to Photonics21, European Commission Vice President Neelie Kroes, responsible commissioner for the “Digital Agenda” stated her support for a Photonics PPP: “I value the strong commitment from the photonics industry to creating economic growth and jobs in Europe, as well as the proposed four-fold leveraging of the initial public funding and the monitoring of its impact through key performance indicators. I appreciate in particular the clear emphasis on addressing the full research and innovation chain from materials to pilot actions. I conclude that the necessary ingredients are in place to justify the creation of a PPP in Photonics.”
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