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
  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
  
  HILIGHT
  The overall objective of HILIGHT is to implement innovative solutions into versatile light sources and systems as tools for biomedical and healthcare applications centred around two-photon excitation ...
  
  Read more...about HILIGHT
  
  RAVEN
  Anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and deteriorating air quality are driving climate change and severely impacting human and ecosystem health, respectively. To combat these issues, new and ...
  
  Read more...about RAVEN
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

HILIGHT
The overall objective of HILIGHT is to implement innovative solutions into versatile light sources and systems as tools for biomedical and healthcare applications centred around two-photon excitation ...

Read more...about HILIGHT

RAVEN
Anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and deteriorating air quality are driving climate change and severely impacting human and ecosystem health, respectively. To combat these issues, new and ...

Read more...about RAVEN
News
- News Archive
  
  European scientists turn to light to halt internet energy crisis
  European scientists are turning to light to avert a looming energy crisis threatening the future of AI, streaming, and digital services.
  
  Read more...about European scientists turn to light to halt internet energy crisis
  
  Benefit of the early bird rate & register now to the Photonics Partnership Annual Meeting 2026
  Benefit of the early bird rate and register now to the Photonics Partnership Annual Meeting 2026. The event will take place at the DoubleTree by Hilton Brussels City hotel on 9 & 10 June 2026.
  
  Read more...about Benefit of the early bird rate & register now to the Photonics Partnership Annual Meeting 2026
  
  Photonics research at heart of € 370 bil European tech boom, new study finds
  A major new study has revealed that Europe’s university spinout companies have grown into a technology ecosystem worth hundreds of billions of euros – with photonics playing a vital enabling role ...
  
  Read more...about Photonics research at heart of € 370 bil European tech boom, new study finds
European scientists turn to light to halt internet energy crisis
European scientists are turning to light to avert a looming energy crisis threatening the future of AI, streaming, and digital services.

Read more...about European scientists turn to light to halt internet energy crisis

Benefit of the early bird rate & register now to the Photonics Partnership Annual Meeting 2026
Benefit of the early bird rate and register now to the Photonics Partnership Annual Meeting 2026. The event will take place at the DoubleTree by Hilton Brussels City hotel on 9 & 10 June 2026.

Read more...about Benefit of the early bird rate & register now to the Photonics Partnership Annual Meeting 2026

Photonics research at heart of € 370 bil European tech boom, new study finds
A major new study has revealed that Europe’s university spinout companies have grown into a technology ecosystem worth hundreds of billions of euros – with photonics playing a vital enabling role ...

Read more...about Photonics research at heart of € 370 bil European tech boom, new study finds
Events
- Upcoming
  
  09–10 June 2026
  
  Photonics Partnership Annual Meeting 2026
  Read more...about Photonics Partnership Annual Meeting 2026
  
  15–19 June 2026
  
  3rd edition of the Photonics TALENT International Summer School
  Read more...about 3rd edition of the Photonics TALENT International Summer School
  
  19 August 2026
  
  Photonics4Health workshop
  Read more...about Photonics4Health workshop
- Archive
  
  21–22 April 2026
  
  360 CARLA Training Berlin
  Read more...about 360 CARLA Training Berlin
  
  25 March 2026
  
  360 CARLA Experience Grenoble
  Read more...about 360 CARLA Experience Grenoble
  
  24 March 2026
  
  360 CARLA Training Grenoble
  Read more...about 360 CARLA Training Grenoble
29 April 2026

Optical fibers technology and application to sensing in biomedical, civil and transportation engineering
Read more...about Optical fibers technology and application to sensing in biomedical, civil and transportation engineering

30 April 2026

360 CARLA Experience Barcelona (i2CAT)
Read more...about 360 CARLA Experience Barcelona (i2CAT)

07 May 2026

Introduction to Wire-Based Laser Additive Manufacturing
Read more...about Introduction to Wire-Based Laser Additive Manufacturing
Membership

Boost your surface innovation

© Rzoog – Fotolia.com

2026 12 June

This training activity, provided by JOANNEUM RESEARCH, offers practical insights into surface technologies and provides the opportunity to experience hands‑on demonstrations during a guided company tour. Participants will benefit from direct exchange with experts and innovation partners and receive valuable information on subsidised PhotonHub projects.

Open event website

Upcoming Events & Workshops

29 April 2026
Online

Optical fibers technology and application to sensing in biomedical, civil and transportation engineering

Optical fiber is everywhere and is absolutely not limited to telecommunications, but plays a crucial and growing role in biomedical applications, laser industry and sensing. Many optical fiber systems ...

Read more...

30 April 2026
i2CAT Foundation (Barcelona)

360 CARLA Experience Barcelona (i2CAT)

The 360 CARLA Experience will be held on 30 April 2026 in Barcelona. You will find any further details on the event website.

Read more...

07 May 2026
Online

Introduction to Wire-Based Laser Additive Manufacturing

This online training course, provided by LZH, serves as an introduction to the important aspects of wire-based Laser Additive Manufacturing that have to be considered for a successful implementation ...

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
Wednesday, 15 April 2026

European scientists turn to light to halt internet energy crisis

Read more...

Photonics21
Thursday, 26 March 2026

Benefit of the early bird rate & register now to the Photonics Partnership Annual Meeting 2026

Read more...

Photonics21
Tuesday, 24 March 2026

Photonics research at heart of € 370 bil European tech boom, new study finds

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