Photonics – the science and technology of light – is a Key Digital Technology that is radically transforming the traditional industrial base. Photonics is essential to the functioning of new applications which are powering Industry 4.0 and which are also critical to our ability to fundamentally address the enormous global societal and environmental challenges of our times. Photonics technologies are being used to create and launch a myriad of superior and previously unimaginable products in wide-ranging end-user industries from sustainable energy, agrifood, healthcare and security, to smart transport, building and communications systems.
Explore more on the innovation enabling character of Photonics at the “Photonics Research and Innovation Agenda”
Discover how Photonics can innovate in different industry sectors here.
PhotonHub Europe is an European project that kicked-off on the 1th January 2021.
PhotonHub Europe is a single pan-EU Photonics Innovation Hub which integrates the best-in-class photonics technologies, facilities, expertise and experience of 53 partners from all over Europe, including the coordinators of EU pilot lines and local photonics hubs representing 18 regions, as a one-stop-shop solution offering a comprehensive range of supports to industry for the accelerated uptake and deployment of photonics.
PhotonHub provides European companies, in particular “non-photonics” SMEs and mid-caps that are first users and early adopters of photonics, with open access and guided orienteering to the following key support services: training and upskilling opportunities within PhotonHub’s Demo and Experience Centres throughout Europe and enhanced by digital tools for online learning; “test before invest” innovation support capabilities to engage with companies on highly collaborative Innovation Projects aimed at TRL acceleration from prototyping (TRL3-4) to upscaling (TRL5-6) to manufacturing (TRL7-8), and complemented by targeted business and IP advisory supports; and support to find investment through investment-readiness coaching and investor match-making organised in collaboration with major regional and European venture fora and deep tech Investor Days. PhotonHub uniquely supports cross-border innovation activities of European companies, while simultaneously working closely with the local photonics hubs to develop and roll out best practices of the “lighthouse” regions for ongoing regional financial support of SME innovation activities and to support the creation of new innovation hubs covering most regions of Europe.
PhotonHub has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under the Grant Agreement n°101016665, in Public Private Partnership with Photonics.
PhotonHub Europe is offering European Companies who would like to innovate with photonics different support activities :
- Orienteering
- Training and reskilling
- Deep innovation technology projects ( at different TRL levels)
- Support in linking up with investors
- Regional support
For more information please click here.
The Photonics innovation support of PhotonHub Europe is accessible for European Companies.
Thanks to the European funding :
- the online introductory training on photonics is free.
- the in-depth training session at the demo and experience centres offers a very low registration fee.
- the orienteering service that helps you find the best suited support to boost your innovation is free
- the cost of cross-border technology innovation support for prototyping and the associated business coaching is supported with 75% funding for SMEs ( 50% for Large Scale Companies)
- the cost of cross-border technology innovation for upscaling projects and the associated business coaching is supported with 50% funding for early adopters and first users companies
- the cost to broker a manufacturer for photonics components and systems
One of the support activities is to help non-photonics companies find the companies that can provide the photonics components, sub-systems and systems. Photonics companies are invited to include their offering in the PhotonHub marketplace. Interested : Contact info@photonhub.eu
More than 30 European Photonics RTO’s are already included in the PhotonHub Europe programme. PhotonHub Europe welcomes more Photonics RTO’s to join the PhotonHub ecosystem, to expand the offerings toward the European industry. Interested : Contact info@photonhub.eu
First step to apply for support services of PhotonHub is to complete the following form : Apply now