Innovation UK > News > Innovation UK Vol4-1 > Making light work for industry

The UK is rich in small companies developing novel technologies across all application areas in photonics ? a huge underpinning sector that?s at the cutting edge of several fast growing markets. The world-wide market for photonics is expected to exceed £1Trillion by 2013 and the UK is poised to take its share of this with innovative companies punching above their weight through novel IP.

?Our vision is to make the UK photonics industry a beacon of successful wealth creation from knowledge. To fulfil this vision we need to support existing small companies to help them grow, and seed the formation of new companies that can fully exploit the UK?s internationally recognised excellence in photonics innovation.?

Alastair Wilson, Director of the Photonics Knowledge Transfer Network

Amongst our activities we have:

• mapped the photonic capabilities in the UK?fund out who does what in photonics and how they can be contacted
  capability.photonicsKTN.org
• created a funding map?do you need help in funding funding? Do you investin technology companies?
  funding.photonicsKTN.org
• set up a training portal?an industry needs trained staff at every level, we can connect providers to consumers
  training.photonicsKTN.org
• With a reach that extends around the globe, we are the voice of the UK photonics community to government, and the one-stop-shop for people who want to make connections in UK photonics.

LASER APPLICATIONS

Lasers are ubiquitous, from small devices inside CD players, to large devices capable of large scale sheet metal cutting. The world-wide market for this already exceeds $10Bn per annum, and is still growing at 8%. Lasers open up whole new possibilities for manufacturing, and are vital to new industries working in the micro- and nano-scale.

COMMUNICATIONS

Looking for state-of-the-art communications technology? You need photonics. Our remit includes the whole supply chain, and devices ranging from bre-optical components to lasers. Next Generation Broadband Access? This will need photonics devices across the networks?and right into the home.

MEDICAL APPLICATIONS

Another discipline where photonics technology is opening new doors, from bre-optic laser surgery, to dentistry to novel imaging techniques, photonics devices are giving doctors new tools for healthcare. New technologies are allowing clinicians to diagnose problems by looking at the retina, and photodynamic therapy is unlocking whole new treatment regimes for cancer patients, with stunning success.

www.photonicsKTN.org