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- 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
  There are regular Photonics Calls for Proposals published by the European Commission. The Photonics21 community is the dedicated body to define the European call topics for photonics.
  
  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
  
  SoFiN
  SoFiN contributes to adaptive photonic multi-sensing systems with focus on:a)developing & testing a novel flexible, adaptive, modular, software-defined sensor platformb)studying ways to establish ...
  
  Read more...about SoFiN
  
  WAVETAILOR
  The WAVETAILOR project addresses the growing complexity of modern manufacturing and assembly by developing advanced solutions to enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and minimise environmental impact.
  
  Read more...about WAVETAILOR
  
  GlobalAM
  The GlobalAM project aims to overcome the limitations of Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF) in producing complex geometries at a large scale by developing a hybrid production approach that combines the ...
  
  Read more...about GlobalAM
SoFiN
SoFiN contributes to adaptive photonic multi-sensing systems with focus on:a)developing & testing a novel flexible, adaptive, modular, software-defined sensor platformb)studying ways to establish ...

Read more...about SoFiN

WAVETAILOR
The WAVETAILOR project addresses the growing complexity of modern manufacturing and assembly by developing advanced solutions to enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and minimise environmental impact.

Read more...about WAVETAILOR

GlobalAM
The GlobalAM project aims to overcome the limitations of Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF) in producing complex geometries at a large scale by developing a hybrid production approach that combines the ...

Read more...about GlobalAM
News
- News Archive
  
  Photonics21: New Report Shows Only Photonics Can Satisfy AI’s Insatiable Appetite for Compute Power
  As artificial intelligence expands, its soaring electricity use is putting unprecedented pressure on power grids, driving up costs and threatening to slow Europe’s energy transition. But a new report ...
  
  Read more...about Photonics21: New Report Shows Only Photonics Can Satisfy AI’s Insatiable Appetite for Compute Power
  
  Photonics21 welcomes 23 newly elected members of the Photonics21 Board of Stakeholders
  As of the closing date on 4 November 2025, a total of 145 Photonics21 members participated in the two-week online election for the Photonics21 Board of Stakeholders – reflecting a strong turnout of 79 ...
  
  Read more...about Photonics21 welcomes 23 newly elected members of the Photonics21 Board of Stakeholders
  
  Photonics Start-ups Powering Europe’s Innovation
  New data from Photonics21 shows Europe’s photonics start-up scene is accelerating, with 240 companies newly identified since 2024 and 556 active firms now tracked across the continent.
  
  Read more...about Photonics Start-ups Powering Europe’s Innovation
Photonics21: New Report Shows Only Photonics Can Satisfy AI’s Insatiable Appetite for Compute Power
As artificial intelligence expands, its soaring electricity use is putting unprecedented pressure on power grids, driving up costs and threatening to slow Europe’s energy transition. But a new report ...

Read more...about Photonics21: New Report Shows Only Photonics Can Satisfy AI’s Insatiable Appetite for Compute Power

Photonics21 welcomes 23 newly elected members of the Photonics21 Board of Stakeholders
As of the closing date on 4 November 2025, a total of 145 Photonics21 members participated in the two-week online election for the Photonics21 Board of Stakeholders – reflecting a strong turnout of 79 ...

Read more...about Photonics21 welcomes 23 newly elected members of the Photonics21 Board of Stakeholders

Photonics Start-ups Powering Europe’s Innovation
New data from Photonics21 shows Europe’s photonics start-up scene is accelerating, with 240 companies newly identified since 2024 and 556 active firms now tracked across the continent.

Read more...about Photonics Start-ups Powering Europe’s Innovation
Events
- Upcoming
  
  04 December 2025
  
  CARLA Camp: The Photonics Careers Symposium - 6th edition
  Read more...about CARLA Camp: The Photonics Careers Symposium - 6th edition
  
  12 February 2026
  
  360 CARLA Experience Barcelona (Vitsolc)
  Read more...about 360 CARLA Experience Barcelona (Vitsolc)
  
  18 February 2026
  
  360 CARLA Experience Barcelona (SENSOFAR)
  Read more...about 360 CARLA Experience Barcelona (SENSOFAR)
- Archive
  
  20 November 2025
  
  Photonics4 Mobility Workshop
  Read more...about Photonics4 Mobility Workshop
  
  19–20 November 2025
  
  DVN Frankfurt Sensing & Applications Conference
  Read more...about DVN Frankfurt Sensing & Applications Conference
  
  19 November 2025
  
  Photonics21 WG5 "Safety, Security, Space & Defence" Workshop: Photonics Strategic Research & Innovation Agenda
  Read more...about Photonics21 WG5 "Safety, Security, Space & Defence" Workshop: Photonics Strategic Research & Innovation Agenda
04 December 2025

CARLA Camp: The Photonics Careers Symposium - 6th edition
Read more...about CARLA Camp: The Photonics Careers Symposium - 6th edition

04–06 February 2026

Asia Photonics Expo(APE)
Read more...about Asia Photonics Expo(APE)

12 February 2026

360 CARLA Experience Barcelona (Vitsolc)
Read more...about 360 CARLA Experience Barcelona (Vitsolc)
Membership

Photonics21 Board of Stakeholders
Election 2026

The Board of Stakeholders online election 2026 will be held in autumn 2026. Any further details and deadlines will be published ahead of the election.

Associated structures

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Board of Stakeholders

The Board of Stakeholders (BoS) is the main decision-making body of the platform. In particular, the BoS bears responsibility for:

Become a Member!

Create an account and join our community for exclusive downloads and events. Registration is free of charge.

Photonics21 Board of Stakeholders Election 2026

Associated structures

Become a Member!

Photonics21 Board of Stakeholders
Election 2026