Towards 2020 – Photonics driving economic growth in Europe

76 Towards 2020 – Photonics driving economic growth in Europe
Photonics is a strong
export industry: the European
market of optical components
and systems represents about
11% of the total European
photonics production, while
the European market share
in the global market place
approaches 50%.
Wafer-scale test of silicon photonic IC
© Ghent University – imec
in proving technical capabilities at the appropriate
scale, and bringing technologies within reach of entrepreneurial
companies in the various application
domains. These actions are identified specifically in
the following roadmap timeline. This also identifies
those areas where the required research, development
and innovation actions should be coordinated
between Photonics and other KETs, such as micro/
nanoelectronics, advanced manufacturing, materials
and biotechnology.
Expected impact for Europe
As has been noted elsewhere, photonics is one of
the most vibrant areas of the European economy.
The total world market of optical components
and systems was estimated in 2009 to be in the
region of €15 billion with growth to more than
€30 billion expected by 2015. Given their pivotal
importance across a wide range of industries and
services, from telecommunications and information
systems to healthcare, investment in generic
photonic technologies can have a disproportionately
large impact. The leverage from advanced
component technologies is extremely large: as an
example, we may consider that the global market
for telecommunications services, at more than €2
trillion, is critically dependent upon the capabilities
of its constituent photonic elements. Similar
considerations apply in other market sectors. The
leading players in communications, laser technologies,
lighting and bio-photonics all require innovative
optical components as the basis for their
differentiation in the marketplace. We should also
note that photonics is a strong export industry: the
European market of optical components and systems
represents about 11% of the total European
photonics production, while the European market
share in the global market place approaches 50%.
We note also that European manufacturers of production
tools for photonics have a commanding
position in world markets. In order to sustain this
strong position against global competition, it is
vital that momentum is maintained in the underpinning
technology base.
The measures we propose will benefit small and
large industries across Europe, as well as the public
at large through the improved services that will
be made possible with more advanced photonic
technology. We recognise the importance of startup
businesses and SMEs in driving technical and
product innovation, and several of the measures
that we propose will be of particular benefit to
SMEs. For example, the development of photonic
integration platforms that can be made available
widely through generic foundries should revolutionise
access to high technology manufacturing
for small companies across Europe.