Photonics
Photonics is the science and technology of light. This includes lasers, optical systems and components, as well as fibre optics. Photonics is a £13.5bn industry in the UK. Photonics technology is used across various UK industries and in society, from optical communications and data storage to laser sensors for autonomous vehicles.
Photonics
Photonics is the science and technology of light. This includes lasers, optical systems and components, as well as fibre optics. Photonics is a £13.5bn industry in the UK. Photonics technology is used across various UK industries and in society, from optical communications and data storage to laser sensors for autonomous vehicles.
The KTN Enabling Technologies team supports 1,500+ photonics and photonics-enabled companies, and the vibrant UK photonics research base in the UK.
Our people create connections between photonics professionals and end-users in various sectors, from healthcare to AgriFood. This helps them fast-track the innovative technologies they’re working on.
The KTN supports the growth of UK photonics and is determined to promote the sector widely. We do this by working with photonics and related stakeholder groups and associations across the UK.
Our team has a deep expertise including photonics, laser, fibre, optical, optics, photovoltaic and imaging.
KTN is a partner in the European project which supports the Photonics21 platform. Photonics21 aims to establish Europe as a leader in the development of photonics technologies within applications fields such as ICT, lighting, industrial manufacturing, life science, safety, education and training.
We are proud to have contributed to the ground breaking horizon scanning report “Future horizons for photonics research 2030 and beyond”, released in September 2020 by the Photonics Leadership Group and the All-Party Parliamentary Group in Photonics and Quantum. We used our experience of online collaboration to support PLG in bringing together online 26 of the UK’s leading photonics researchers from 20 different institutions to ask “what will be the focus of photonics research a decade and more from now?”.
Our current focus in this area
Current Photonics funding opportunities
Innovate UK Smart Grants: July 2022
Opens: 28/07/2022 Closes: 26/10/2022
UK registered organisations can apply for a share of up to £25 million for game-changing and commercially viable R&D innovation that can significantly impact the UK economy. This funding is from Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation.
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Women in Innovation Awards 2022/23
Opens: 22/08/2022 Closes: 19/10/2022
Women with exciting, innovative ideas who will inspire others can apply for an award which includes a £50,000 grant and bespoke business support.
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Knowledge transfer partnerships (KTP): 2022 to 2023 Round 4
Opens: 20/09/2022 Closes: 16/11/2022
UK registered academic institutions, RTOs or Catapults can apply for a share of up to £9 million to fund innovation projects with businesses or not for profits.
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Related Events and Recordings
Related News
10/09/2021
Save the Date for Materials Research Exchange (MRE) 2022: 3rd – 5th October 2022
KTN is delighted to announce that Materials Research Exchange will be back in 2022 at the Business Design Centre in London.
Read more
15/08/2022
SPIE Photonex 2022 - the UK’s premier photonics exhibition
Taking place in Birmingham from 6-8 December 2022, SPIE Photonex is a leading photonics exhibition with product demos, industry presentations and technical workshops. This event will bring together 1,500 international engineers and scientists working to impact the areas of photonics, lasers, biophotonics, imaging, lasers, silicon photonics, optical technologies, vacuum components and instruments, and sensor satellite systems.