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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:
  
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  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
  
  FLASH
  While current state-of-the-art laser systems are optimised for single applications, FLASH will develop a versatile platform integrating three laser sources, enabling multi-wavelength emissions across ...
  
  Read more...about FLASH
  
  PHOREVER
  PHOREVER will develop a disruptive multi-sensing platform that will enable for the first time the reliable detection of EVs with size down to 80 nm, the detection of EVs with specific biomarkers ...
  
  Read more...about PHOREVER
  
  ECSTATIC
  The EU-funded ECSTATIC project aims to harness this vast existing network by developing a groundbreaking interferometry- and polarisation-based approach to vibration and acoustic fibre-optic sensing.
  
  Read more...about ECSTATIC
FLASH
While current state-of-the-art laser systems are optimised for single applications, FLASH will develop a versatile platform integrating three laser sources, enabling multi-wavelength emissions across ...

Read more...about FLASH

PHOREVER
PHOREVER will develop a disruptive multi-sensing platform that will enable for the first time the reliable detection of EVs with size down to 80 nm, the detection of EVs with specific biomarkers ...

Read more...about PHOREVER

ECSTATIC
The EU-funded ECSTATIC project aims to harness this vast existing network by developing a groundbreaking interferometry- and polarisation-based approach to vibration and acoustic fibre-optic sensing.

Read more...about ECSTATIC
News
- News Archive
  
  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
  
  Register for our workshops to set up the new Photonics Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda
  Photonics21 is organising a workshop series to set up the new Photonics Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda.
  
  Read more...about Register for our workshops to set up the new Photonics Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda
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

Register for our workshops to set up the new Photonics Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda
Photonics21 is organising a workshop series to set up the new Photonics Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda.

Read more...about Register for our workshops to set up the new Photonics Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda
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
02–03 December 2025

MEDigIT
Read more...about MEDigIT

02–03 December 2025

MedFIT
Read more...about MedFIT

04 December 2025

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

360 CARLA Experience Barcelona (Vitsolc)

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2026 12 February

The 360 CARLA Experience will be held on 12 February 2026 in Barcelona. You will find any further details on the event website.

Open event website

Upcoming Events & Workshops

02–03 December 2025
Strasbourg, France

MEDigIT

Join the 2nd edition of MEDigIT in Strasbourg on December 2nd and 3rd, 2025 and online for a digital meeting day on December 8th. Be at the heart of the European event fostering innovation in Digital ...

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02–03 December 2025
Strasbourg, France

MedFIT

Join the 9th edition of MedFIT in Strasbourg on December 2nd and 3rd, 2025 and online for a digital meeting day on December 8th. Be at the heart of the European convention dedicated to partnership ...

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04 December 2025
CosmoCaixa (Barcelona, Spain)

CARLA Camp: The Photonics Careers Symposium - 6th edition

Within the Quantum Education Summit, ICFO organises the sixth CARLA Camp, the Photonics Career Symposium, which will take place on December 4, 2025, at CosmoCaixa (Barcelona). If you are an ...

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Latest news about Photonics21

Photonics21
Wednesday, 12 November 2025

Photonics21 welcomes 23 newly elected members of the Photonics21 Board of Stakeholders

Read more...

Photonics21
Tuesday, 11 November 2025

Photonics Start-ups Powering Europe’s Innovation

Read more...

Photonics21
Tuesday, 28 October 2025

Register for our workshops to set up the new Photonics Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda

Read more...

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