Photonics21 Annual Report - Final

European photonics strategy development & implementation
Setting Photonics Research and Innovation topics for Horizon 2020 Work Programme
2016/2017
The process to discuss and define photonics research and innovation priorities for Horizon 2020 Work
Programme 2016/2017 already started in 2014 with consultation meetings of the Photonics21 work
groups. The final Photonics21 work group priorities were presented in the Board of Stakeholders meeting
in autumn 2014 followed by a vote by the Board of Stakeholders. Based on the outcome of this vote the
Photonics PPP Partnership Board put forward a proposal on how to include the photonics priorities into
the call text of Work Programme 2016/2017.
This proposal was approved by the Photonics21 Board of Stakeholders in March 2015. In the following
process the European Commission translated the proposal into the call text for Horizon 2020 Work
Programme 2016/2017. The Horizon 2020 Work Programme 2016/2017 was published in autumn 2015.
The Photonics21 secretariat informed the European photonics community on the publication of the
photonics calls and corresponding call deadline.
Photonics Public Private Partnership Annual Meeting
The Photonics Public Private Partnership Annual Meeting 2015 Photonics solutions for the European
society on the 28 and 29 May 2015 gathered more than 250 photonics experts from industry, research
organisations and politics. Commissioner Günther H. Oettinger opened the General Assembly on the 28
May 2015 with his keynote speech. He announced the three winners of the Photonics21 Student
Innovation Award 2015 Burak Guzelturk, Tobias Schwab and Fabian Stutzki, commending them for their
excellent industrial-related photonics research works.
Photonics21 president Michael Mertin outlined the first year of the Photonics Public Private Partnership
and the way forward for the future. Wolfgang Boch, Head of the Photonics Unit, gave an update to the
photonics community on European photonics strategy in a changing landscape. Following his
presentation Photonics21 Board of Stakeholders member Eugene Arthurs introduced the US National
Photonics Initiative. Photonics21 Executive Board member Giorgio Anania presented an overview on
photonics venture capital and European initiatives in this field.
At the end of the General Assembly Michael Mertin introduced the thematic sessions Photonics for smart
cities and buildings, Photonics for the secure society, Photonics for resource-efficiency and green
transport and Photonics for health and food security. Here the invited representatives of the European
Commission, Public Private Partnerships, and European Technology Platforms provided input
presentations.
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