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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, ...
  
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- 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 ...
  
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  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.
  
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  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.
  
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- Structure
  
  Structure
  Photonics21 is composed of several bodies. You can find more information on the structure of the platform in the following sections.
  
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  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 ...
  
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  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 ...
  
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  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:
  
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  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 ...
  
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- 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 ...
  
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- 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 ...
  
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- 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
  
  uCAIR
  uCAIR aims to achieve breakthrough results by developing a laser platform that ingeniously combines non-linear optical fibers, optronics, wide-band coherent Raman, and artificial intelligence ...
  
  Read more...about uCAIR
  
  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
  
  M3NIR
  M3NIR develops very innovative (currently at TRL2) mid-IR sensing approaches to significantly boost the technology in terms of performance (low limit of detection, multiple-species detection), ...
  
  Read more...about M3NIR
uCAIR
uCAIR aims to achieve breakthrough results by developing a laser platform that ingeniously combines non-linear optical fibers, optronics, wide-band coherent Raman, and artificial intelligence ...

Read more...about uCAIR

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

M3NIR
M3NIR develops very innovative (currently at TRL2) mid-IR sensing approaches to significantly boost the technology in terms of performance (low limit of detection, multiple-species detection), ...

Read more...about M3NIR
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
  
  29 May 2026
  
  Photonics for Visual Health
  Read more...about Photonics for Visual Health
  
  09–10 June 2026
  
  Photonics Partnership Annual Meeting 2026
  Read more...about Photonics Partnership Annual Meeting 2026
  
  18 June 2026
  
  Photonics 4 Masterpieces: Colors
  Read more...about Photonics 4 Masterpieces: Colors
- 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
20 May 2026

Fiber Optic Sensing in Precision Agriculture
Read more...about Fiber Optic Sensing in Precision Agriculture

21 May 2026

Optical Fiber Sensors for Biomedical Applications
Read more...about Optical Fiber Sensors for Biomedical Applications

21 May 2026

Photonics and Food
Read more...about Photonics and Food
Membership

From Platforms to Applications: The INPHOMIR School on Integrated Photonics for Sensing and Navigation

© Rzoog – Fotolia.com

2026 07–11 September

The INPHOMIR Training School is a five‑day international programme dedicated to advancing knowledge in integrated photonics, with a special focus on sensing navigation and next‑generation infrared technologies. Organized within the EU-funded INPHOMIR Project (Grant Agreement n. 101135749), the School brings together students, researchers, and industry professionals for a comprehensive and hands‑on learning experience.

Open event website

Upcoming Events & Workshops

20 May 2026
100 N. Plastira St., Vassilika Vouton, Heraklion, Crete, 70013, Greece

Fiber Optic Sensing in Precision Agriculture

This hands-on training workshop, provided by FORTH, offers participants practical experience in the use of optical fiber sensors for modern agricultural applications. The event covers key techniques ...

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21 May 2026
Online

Optical Fiber Sensors for Biomedical Applications

This talk, provided by FORTH, will explore cutting-edge developments in fiber optic technology tailored for healthcare. It will cover innovations in biomonitoring, focusing on real-time physiological ...

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21 May 2026
VUB Brussels Humanities, Sciences & Engineering Campus, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium

Photonics and Food

Photonics plays an important role in the screening of food products. This includes the detection of foreign objects, the classification of a product batch based on its quality, the monitoring of the ...

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Latest news about Photonics21

Photonics21
Wednesday, 15 April 2026

European scientists turn to light to halt internet energy crisis

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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

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