The Mirror Group (MG) constitutes the public complement to the industry-led Photonics21Board of Stakeholders (BoS). It supports and reflects (“mirrors”) the activities of the ETP at policy level and from a governmental perspective.

The Mirror Group has been established in July 2007. It is composed of representatives from relevant European, national and regional public authorities such as ministries involved with research and innovation, funding agencies and the European Commission.

On the one hand, the Mirror Group informs and advises the BoS including the EB regarding political issues and objectives and governmental activities at national and European level. On the other hand, the Mirror Group may take up recommendations developed by Photonics21 and contribute to their implementation, e. g. through Public Private Partnerships. In general, the MG functions as an inter-governmental panel for exchange, discussion and concerted planning on photonics-related research policy in Europe.

Presently, the Photonics21 Mirror Group consists of representatives from Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Poland, Spain, Sweden, the Netherlands, the UK and the European Commission.

Governmental representatives from additional Member States or Associated Countries are invited to join in at any time! Please contact Secretariat@photonics21.org .

The Photonics21 Mirror Group has worked out the PIANO+ Competition for funding on photonics-based internet access networks of the future. PIANO+ is a trans-national call for project proposals on "photonics-based internet access networks of the future" which is co-funded by the participating national funding bodies and the European Commission. The competition was open for participants from Austria, Germany, Israel, Poland and the United Kingdom.

Any further information about PIANO+ as well as about the funded projects can be found here.