Value proposition

The European Technology Platform Photonics21 represents the photonics community of industry and research organisations

Photonics21 is the European Technology Platform (ETP) for photonics – a technology encompassing all of the products and processes around the emission, manipulation and detection of light. It is integral to a wide range of industries that include the medical, healthcare, transport, manufacturing, and telecommunications sectors. In December 2005 "Photonics21"​ was set up to bring the community of photonics professionals and industries together.

In September 2009, the European Commission defined photonics as one of five European Key Enabling Technologies (KET's) and shortly after the European Research & Innovation Program "Horizon 2020"​ invited Photonics21 to become a "Public Private Partnership"​ (PPP). In November 2013 the "Photonics 21 Association"​, a legal entity under Belgium law, became the private contract partner in a Public Private Partnership (PPP) in conjunction with the EU Commission.

Today Photonics21 represents more than 4,000 personal members from all over Europe. Our members are experts in the photonics industry, research organisations and universities who actively engage with us to develop a joint photonics strategy for future research and innovation in Europe.