Photonics21 - Photonics PPP Activity Report 2014/15

Spot on Innovation Financing - Venture Capital for Photonics
Two Photonics Venture Capital events took place in Europe, “Invest
in Photonics”,
Bordeaux, France, 9-10
Oct 2014 and the
“European Photonics
Venture Forum”, Rome,
Italy 16 April 2015.
The participation at
Invest in Photonics 2014
event grew to 170
attendees this year, an
increase of 13 percent.
Photonics21 Vice President Giorgio Anania acting as a chairman of
the “Invest of Photonics” conference was also giving a keynote
speech at the European Photonics Venture Forum (EPVF), taking
place for the 1 st time in Rome. More than 20 start-up companies
were presenting. EPVF was initiated by the FP7 Lightjumps project
and organized by e-unlimited. Next to Giorgio Anania, Photonics21
Executive Board member Roberta Ramponi was in the Programme
Committee of the event. The European Commission , Wolfgang
Boch and Ronan Burgess, provided keynote speeches at these
events.
Strategic Photonics Projects
13 Photonics National Technology Platforms joining forces
for implementing the PPP strategy
National Technology Platforms (NTP) cooperate in the EuroPho21
project (Photonics21 secretariat support action) to implement the
Photonics PPP Strategy. Many of the NTPs have developed national
strategic research agendas based on the Photonics21 strategy, but
tailored to member state community specificities and strengths.
One of the activities within the project will focus on tapping
synergies between Photonics in Horizon2020 (PPP) and the
European Structural and Investment Fund in regions. The NTPs
will provide the critical link between the European and the
regional level. Activities will firstly focus on those regions that
have identified Photonics and Advanced Manufacturing as
investment priorities. Subsequent to an expert meeting held at
the 5 th May a further meeting with regions will be held at the
Laser Fair in Munich on the 24 th June 2015.
Activity Report 2014/15 Page 5