Photonics
Photonics is the science and technology of light. This includes lasers, optical systems and components, as well as fibre optics. Photonics is a £13.5 billion industry in the UK, with the technology used across various UK industries and in society, from optical communications and data storage to laser sensors for autonomous vehicles.
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The Innovate UK Business Connect Enabling Technologies team supports 1,500+ photonics and photonics-enabled companies, and the vibrant UK photonics research base in the UK.
Our people create connections between photonics professionals and end-users in various sectors, from healthcare to AgriFood. This helps them fast-track the innovative technologies they’re working on.
We support the growth of UK photonics and are determined to promote the sector widely. We do this by working with photonics and related stakeholder groups and associations across the UK.
Our team has a deep expertise including photonics, laser, fibre, optical, optics, photovoltaic and imaging.
Innovate UK Business Connect is a partner in the European project that supports the Photonics21 platform. Photonics21 aims to establish Europe as a leader in the development of photonics technologies within applications fields such as ICT, lighting, industrial manufacturing, life science, safety, education and training.
We are proud to have contributed to the groundbreaking horizon scanning report “Future horizons for photonics research 2030 and beyond”, released in September 2020 by the Photonics Leadership Group (PLG) and the All-Party Parliamentary Group in Photonics and Quantum. We used our experience of online collaboration to support PLG in bringing together online 26 of the UK’s leading photonics researchers from 20 different institutions to ask “what will be the focus of photonics research a decade and more from now?”.
Our current focus in this area
Related Opportunities
Contracts for Innovation: Quantum Sensors and PNT Missions Primer
Opens: 19/05/2025 Closes: 02/07/2025
Apply for a share of £14m to accelerate the development and adoption of quantum sensors and quantum position, navigation, and timing products and services.
More Information
Horizon Europe 2025 work programme Cluster 4: Digital, Industry and Space
Opens: 03/05/2025 Closes: 02/10/2025
Topics available under Horizon Europe’s Cluster 4 programme for 2025/26, with up to €75m available for the largest single projects
More Information
Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP): 2025 – 2026 Round 2
Opens: 14/04/2025 Closes: 11/06/2025
UK registered academic institutions, RTOs or Catapults, working with businesses or not for profits, can apply for a share of up to £9m.
More Information
Related Events and Recordings
Related News
11/11/2022
Quantum Leap: UK quantum tech showcases enormous progress at industry get-together
Over 1,000 delegates packed into the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre in London on Friday 11 November to see the great technological strides made in the field of quantum technology at the 6th Quantum Showcase.
Read more
22/04/2024
UKRI invest £8m into the Workforce Foresighting Hub
Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation, has announced an £8 million investment into the Workforce Foresighting Hub programme.