Home
About us
- Photonics21
  
  Photonics21
  The European Technology Platform Photonics21 unites the majority of the leading photonics industries and relevant R&D stakeholders along the whole economic value chain throughout Europe. Today, ...
  
  Read more...about Photonics21
- Photonics Partnership
  
  Photonics Partnership
  The Photonics21 association is an international non-profit association with scientific purpose governed by the provisions of Title 3 of the Belgium Law of twenty-seventh of June nineteen hundred ...
  
  Read more...about Photonics Partnership
  
  Research & Innovation Priorities
  
  Research & Innovation Priorities
  Setting photonics research and innovation Prorities for the Horizon Europe Work Programmes lies in the heart of the Photonics Partnership tasks.
  
  Read more...about Research & Innovation Priorities
  
  Structures, Processes and Statutes
  
  Structures, Processes and Statutes
  The Photonics Partnership acts as a "mouthpiece" of the European Technology Platform Photonics21 (and its more than 4,000 members) towards the European Commission.
  
  Read more...about Structures, Processes and Statutes
- Structure
  
  Structure
  Photonics21 is composed of several bodies. You can find more information on the structure of the platform in the following sections.
  
  Read more...about Structure
  
  Board of Stakeholders
  
  Board of Stakeholders
  The Board of Stakeholders (BoS) is the main decision-making body of the platform. In particular, the BoS bears responsibility for:
  
  Read more...about Board of Stakeholders
  
  Executive Board
  
  Executive Board
  The Executive Board (EB) is the managing body of the platform. The EB is responsible for the coordination and execution of the platform operations, for the preparation and the implementation of the ...
  
  Read more...about Executive Board
  
  Work Groups
  
  Work Groups
  The Photonics21 Work Groups (WGs) are the main centres of activities within Photonics21. They focus on the development of the work group specific research and innovation priorites and the update of ...
  
  Read more...about Work Groups
  
  Work Group 1
  Digital Infrastructure
  
  Work Group 1
  Early 2020, with the onset of COVID-19, digital infrastructure became an even more essential part of our personal and professional lives, acting as a 'lifeblood' the likes of which we have never seen ...
  
  Read more...about Work Group 1
  
  Work Group 2
  Manufacturing
  
  Work Group 2
  The Grand Challenges facing European research are well-documented. Digitisation, and a sustainable and circular approach for manufacturing and materials, will be the basis for a competitive, ...
  
  Read more...about Work Group 2
  
  Work Group 3
  Health
  
  Work Group 3
  The European population is ageing increasingly: the number of people today older than 65 relative to those in the working-age is assumed to double by 2045. Since age is a major factor for a higher ...
  
  Read more...about Work Group 3
  
  Work Group 4
  Climate, Mobility & Energy
  
  Work Group 4
  Photonics plays a role in the targets of Decarbonisation towards Zero Emission Road Transport, Clean Energy Transition, the Industrial Battery Value Chain, Renewable Energy with photovoltaics, energy ...
  
  Read more...about Work Group 4
  
  Work Group 5
  Safety, Security, Space & Defense
  
  Work Group 5
  A key responsibility of government is to keep its citizens protected and to make them feel safe. This can be accomplished on three levels: (1) Civilian empowerment, (2) Law enforcement and public ...
  
  Read more...about Work Group 5
  
  Work Group 6
  Agriculture & Food
  
  Work Group 6
  By 2030, the technology to feed a world population of 10 billion, push back food-borne illness, and reduce the environmental footprint of agriculture, fisheries and aquaculture needs to be in place. ...
  
  Read more...about Work Group 6
  
  Work Group 7
  Core Photonics
  
  Work Group 7
  Photonics will play a vital role in addressing the key socio-economic challenges facing Europe in the 21st century. As examples, we may note the following:
  
  Read more...about Work Group 7
  
  Mirror Group
  
  Mirror Group
  The Mirror Group constitutes the public complement to the industry-led Photonics21 Board of Stakeholders. It supports and reflects ("mirrors") the activities of Photonics21 at policy level and from a ...
  
  Read more...about Mirror Group
Photonics21
The European Technology Platform Photonics21 unites the majority of the leading photonics industries and relevant R&D stakeholders along the whole economic value chain throughout Europe. Today, ...

Read more...about Photonics21

Photonics Partnership
The Photonics21 association is an international non-profit association with scientific purpose governed by the provisions of Title 3 of the Belgium Law of twenty-seventh of June nineteen hundred ...

Read more...about Photonics Partnership

Structure
Photonics21 is composed of several bodies. You can find more information on the structure of the platform in the following sections.

Read more...about Structure
Services
- Photonics for Finance
  
  Photonics for Finance
  The financing of innovative photonics companies in their different growth phases is a serious problem in Europe. Thats why Photonics21 strives to improve the access to financing for European photonics ...
  
  Read more...about Photonics for Finance
- Photonics for Industry
  
  Photonics for Industry
  Several European pilot lines, which help companies take photonics technologies from lab into market, have been launched by the Photonics Partnership. The pilot lines mean that companies will be able ...
  
  Read more...about Photonics for Industry
- Photonics for Education
  
  Photonics for Education
  The Photonics Partnership supports various projects with the aim of bringing photonics into the education system of Europe. In this sector we dive a bit deeper into this projects.
  
  Read more...about Photonics for Education
- European Calls
  
  European Calls
  Photonics21 is the dedicated body helping define European call topics on photonics, which are published by the European Commission.With the implementation of the European Chips Act, there are also ...
  
  Read more...about European Calls
- Photonics Downloads
  
  Photonics Downloads
  The most relevant and recent publications from Photonics21 and the Photonics PPP can be found and downloaded in this section.
  
  Read more...about Photonics Downloads
Photonics for Education
The Photonics Partnership supports various projects with the aim of bringing photonics into the education system of Europe. In this sector we dive a bit deeper into this projects.

Read more...about Photonics for Education

Photonics for Finance
The financing of innovative photonics companies in their different growth phases is a serious problem in Europe. Thats why Photonics21 strives to improve the access to financing for European photonics ...

Read more...about Photonics for Finance

Photonics for Industry
Several European pilot lines, which help companies take photonics technologies from lab into market, have been launched by the Photonics Partnership. The pilot lines mean that companies will be able ...

Read more...about Photonics for Industry
Projects
- Projects
  
  ICON
  The EU-funded ICON project (Intent and Context-aware Optical Network) addresses the demand for smarter, more adaptive networks by embedding sensing capabilities directly into the architecture of ...
  
  Read more...about ICON
  
  HORTIQD
  The HortiQD project aims to develop an affordable and user-friendly machine vision system for precision farming, specifically tailored for orchard monitoring
  
  Read more...about HORTIQD
  
  VISUAL
  The VISUAL project aims to strengthen the leadership of industrial UL manufacturing partners in the scientific, medical, and industrial application fields. This will be achieved through a novel ...
  
  Read more...about VISUAL
ICON
The EU-funded ICON project (Intent and Context-aware Optical Network) addresses the demand for smarter, more adaptive networks by embedding sensing capabilities directly into the architecture of ...

Read more...about ICON

HORTIQD
The HortiQD project aims to develop an affordable and user-friendly machine vision system for precision farming, specifically tailored for orchard monitoring

Read more...about HORTIQD

VISUAL
The VISUAL project aims to strengthen the leadership of industrial UL manufacturing partners in the scientific, medical, and industrial application fields. This will be achieved through a novel ...

Read more...about VISUAL
News
- News Archive
  
  34 Photonics21 Board of Stakeholder candidates available for election
  The Photonics21 Board of Stakeholders candidates have now been published in preparation for the upcoming Photonics21 Board of Stakeholders online election. In total, 34 candidates will be available ...
  
  Read more...about 34 Photonics21 Board of Stakeholder candidates available for election
  
  New laser technology to detect killer bugs and improve welfare for chickens
  With millions of Europeans estimated to contract Campylobacter each year – and chickens and chicken meat potentially accounting for up to 30% of cases – new technology that combines photonics (the ...
  
  Read more...about New laser technology to detect killer bugs and improve welfare for chickens
  
  Final chance - Engage in the Photonics21 Board of Stakeholders Election 2026
  Photonics21 members will elect the new Board of Stakeholders between 20th October and 3rd November 2026. Register now as a voter and nominate a Board of Stakeholders candidate! Important deadlines ...
  
  Read more...about Final chance - Engage in the Photonics21 Board of Stakeholders Election 2026
34 Photonics21 Board of Stakeholder candidates available for election
The Photonics21 Board of Stakeholders candidates have now been published in preparation for the upcoming Photonics21 Board of Stakeholders online election. In total, 34 candidates will be available ...

Read more...about 34 Photonics21 Board of Stakeholder candidates available for election

New laser technology to detect killer bugs and improve welfare for chickens
With millions of Europeans estimated to contract Campylobacter each year – and chickens and chicken meat potentially accounting for up to 30% of cases – new technology that combines photonics (the ...

Read more...about New laser technology to detect killer bugs and improve welfare for chickens

Final chance - Engage in the Photonics21 Board of Stakeholders Election 2026
Photonics21 members will elect the new Board of Stakeholders between 20th October and 3rd November 2026. Register now as a voter and nominate a Board of Stakeholders candidate! Important deadlines ...

Read more...about Final chance - Engage in the Photonics21 Board of Stakeholders Election 2026
Events
- Upcoming
  
  09–10 November 2026
  
  Photonics 4 Defence & AI workshop
  Read more...about Photonics 4 Defence & AI workshop
- Archive
  
  10 September 2026
  
  Photonics4Defence workshop
  Read more...about Photonics4Defence workshop
  
  19 August 2026
  
  Photonics4Health workshop
  Read more...about Photonics4Health workshop
  
  18 June 2026
  
  Photonics 4 Masterpieces: Colors
  Read more...about Photonics 4 Masterpieces: Colors
06–07 October 2026

Micro-transfer printing
Read more...about Micro-transfer printing

06–08 October 2026

Optics & Photonics in Sweden - OPS-2026
Read more...about Optics & Photonics in Sweden - OPS-2026

13–14 October 2026

Artificial Intelligence in Photonics
Read more...about Artificial Intelligence in Photonics
Membership

Photonics for Space Communications

© Rzoog – Fotolia.com

2026 08 September

A technical webinar bringing together experts from OPTOMAN, ZYGO, G&H and Acktar to discuss the challenges involved in building reliable optical communication links for space applications. Topics include optical loss, thin-film coatings, thermal effects, alignment and wavefront control, beam quality, stray-light management and optical link budgets. The webinar takes place online on 8 September 2026 at 15:00 BST / 16:00 CEST.

Open event website

Upcoming Events & Workshops

06–07 October 2026
Tyndall National Institute, Lee Maltings Complex,, Dyke Parade, Cork, T12R5CP, Ireland

Micro-transfer printing

Micro-transfer printing (MTP) is a cutting-edge technology in heterogeneous integration that enables the transfer of microscale structures and devices from one substrate to another with high precision ...

Read more...

06–08 October 2026
Museum of work (the Flat Iron), Norrköping, Sweden

Optics & Photonics in Sweden - OPS-2026

Registration to Optics & Photonics in Sweden is now open! The event programme of Optics & Photonics in Sweden-2026 is: Day 1: 2026-10-06 Tuesday 13:00-18:00 Nordic Photonics Forum: Study ...

Read more...

13–14 October 2026
Aachen, Germany

Artificial Intelligence in Photonics

Join us for a day of cutting-edge research, best practices, and technological trends at the English-language Deep Dive on October 14, 2026.The conference brings together experts from industry and ...

Read more...

View all events & workshops

Post a Photonics event

Fill in the form to get your event published on the Photonics21 website.

Post your event

Latest news about Photonics21

Photonics21
Tuesday, 06 October 2026

34 Photonics21 Board of Stakeholder candidates available for election

Read more...

Photonics21
Wednesday, 30 September 2026

New laser technology to detect killer bugs and improve welfare for chickens

Read more...

Photonics21
Wednesday, 16 September 2026

Final chance - Engage in the Photonics21 Board of Stakeholders Election 2026

Read more...

Stay informed!

We can keep you posted on upcoming events,
publication and reports that matter to you.

Register to our Newsletter Register as a Member