Photonics Driving Economic Growth in Europe - Photonics21
Photonics Driving Economic Growth in Europe - Photonics21
Photonics Driving Economic Growth in Europe - Photonics21
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76 Towards 2020 – <strong>Photonics</strong> driv<strong>in</strong>g economic growth <strong>in</strong> <strong>Europe</strong><br />
<strong>Photonics</strong> is a strong<br />
export <strong>in</strong>dustry: the <strong>Europe</strong>an<br />
market of optical components<br />
and systems represents about<br />
11% of the total <strong>Europe</strong>an<br />
photonics production, while<br />
the <strong>Europe</strong>an market share<br />
<strong>in</strong> the global market place<br />
approaches 50%.<br />
Wafer-scale test of silicon photonic IC<br />
© Ghent University – imec<br />
<strong>in</strong> prov<strong>in</strong>g technical capabilities at the appropriate<br />
scale, and br<strong>in</strong>g<strong>in</strong>g technologies with<strong>in</strong> reach of en-<br />
trepreneurial companies <strong>in</strong> the various application<br />
doma<strong>in</strong>s. These actions are identified specifically <strong>in</strong><br />
the follow<strong>in</strong>g roadmap timel<strong>in</strong>e. This also identifies<br />
those areas where the required research, develop-<br />
ment and <strong>in</strong>novation actions should be coord<strong>in</strong>ated<br />
between <strong>Photonics</strong> and other KETs, such as micro/<br />
nanoelectronics, advanced manufactur<strong>in</strong>g, materi-<br />
als and biotechnology.<br />
Expected impact for <strong>Europe</strong><br />
As has been noted elsewhere, photonics is one of<br />
the most vibrant areas of the <strong>Europe</strong>an economy.<br />
The total world market of optical components<br />
and systems was estimated <strong>in</strong> 2009 to be <strong>in</strong> the<br />
region of €15 billion with growth to more than<br />
€30 billion expected by 2015. Given their pivotal<br />
importance across a wide range of <strong>in</strong>dustries and<br />
services, from telecommunications and <strong>in</strong>formation<br />
systems to healthcare, <strong>in</strong>vestment <strong>in</strong> generic<br />
photonic technologies can have a disproportionately<br />
large impact. The leverage from advanced<br />
component technologies is extremely large: as an<br />
example, we may consider that the global market<br />
for telecommunications services, at more than €2<br />
trillion, is critically dependent upon the capabilities<br />
of its constituent photonic elements. Similar<br />
considerations apply <strong>in</strong> other market sectors. The<br />
lead<strong>in</strong>g players <strong>in</strong> communications, laser technologies,<br />
light<strong>in</strong>g and bio-photonics all require <strong>in</strong>novative<br />
optical components as the basis for their<br />
differentiation <strong>in</strong> the marketplace. We should also<br />
note that photonics is a strong export <strong>in</strong>dustry: the<br />
<strong>Europe</strong>an market of optical components and systems<br />
represents about 11% of the total <strong>Europe</strong>an<br />
photonics production, while the <strong>Europe</strong>an market<br />
share <strong>in</strong> the global market place approaches 50%.<br />
We note also that <strong>Europe</strong>an manufacturers of production<br />
tools for photonics have a command<strong>in</strong>g<br />
position <strong>in</strong> world markets. In order to susta<strong>in</strong> this<br />
strong position aga<strong>in</strong>st global competition, it is<br />
vital that momentum is ma<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong>ed <strong>in</strong> the underp<strong>in</strong>n<strong>in</strong>g<br />
technology base.<br />
The measures we propose will benefit small and<br />
large <strong>in</strong>dustries across <strong>Europe</strong>, as well as the public<br />
at large through the improved services that will<br />
be made possible with more advanced photonic<br />
technology. We recognise the importance of start-<br />
up bus<strong>in</strong>esses and SMEs <strong>in</strong> driv<strong>in</strong>g technical and<br />
product <strong>in</strong>novation, and several of the measures<br />
that we propose will be of particular benefit to<br />
SMEs. For example, the development of photonic<br />
<strong>in</strong>tegration platforms that can be made available<br />
widely through generic foundries should revolutionise<br />
access to high technology manufactur<strong>in</strong>g<br />
for small companies across <strong>Europe</strong>.