Photonics Driving Economic Growth in Europe - Photonics21

92 Towards 2020 – Photonics driving economic growth in Europe
B-PHOT’s photonics science show
for students and teachers where
two researchers make a student
disappear. © VUB
n FET Flagships: Photonics is already key in
some of the FET Flagships projects, hence it is
recommended that this activity could be used
to enhance communication and dissemination
of FET Flagships through attractive ways of
communication, audio-visual, etc.. A good
visibility of successful photonics projects will
foster further actions in the field.
2. ERC grants
ERC grants are traditionally devoted to funding
projects of scientific excellence. Although quantum
electronics and optics related research have been
funded in the past, the scientific excellence under-
lying photonics technologies seems to have been
underestimated. Although specific topics cannot
be introduced in the fully bottom up ERC research
programme, it is recommended that the European
Commission:
n raises the number of photonics
professionals in the evaluation
committees of the Physical Sciences
and Engineering Panel
n communicates and disseminates
photonics related ERC Grantees and
their projects as success stories
n enhances links between the ERC
Scientific Committee and ERC
Executive Agency and photonics
stakeholders in Europe
3. Access to Research Infrastructure
This aspect is fundamental for research institutions
and universities to promote mobility of researchers
and to ensure efficient usage of facilities. Although
ESFRI infrastructures will have a priority under this activity,
it is recommended that the Commission facilitates
this support through other forms of alliances
or networks of research facilities & infrastructures,
both specific to photonics and to KETs in general.
Education and Training
Past experience has demonstrated that imple-
mentation of successful and effective actions to
promote photonics in education and training has
been difficult and challenging. In addition to the
above recommendations reported, the following
aspects should be considered:
1. Outreach
n Exhibitions and shows: Exhibitions and shows,
fairs and festivals each provide an effective
opportunity for the wider popularisation of pho-
tonics to the society, and need to be enhanced
and provided at a European level. Strategic
alliances with committed members allow for
the design and implementation of activities,
fostering a wide participation from other stake-
holders. Connections should be established with
existing networks and programs (for example,
ECSITE, PLACES, NetS-EU). The involvement of
the Commission will be essential for the identification,
enabling and evaluation of the actions.
n ‘Living Lab’ and ‘Fab Lab’: Two new concepts
are ‘Living Labs’, allowing some experiments to
be performed by visitors under suitable supervision,
and ‘Fab Labs’, allowing tools to be
assembled and used by visitors to build some
simple prototypes. These should be exploited by
Science and Technology museums (and possibly