Newsletter
No. 1 -- July 2006
Dear Members and Friends of Photonics21,
Now that the busy, sometimes hectic starting phase of the platform mostly lies behind us, the Photonics21 secretariat will from now on provide you with a newsletter on a regular basis. For this, we kindly ask you to inform us about all ongoing activities relevant to Photonics21, so that we can circulate the information throughout the community. In addition, we ask you to regularly check the Photonics21 website (www.photonics21.org) for news and information.
The first 7 months of Photonics21 have been very successful. Based on the results of the workshops held in Brussels in December 2005, the Strategic Research Agenda was prepared within only 4 months and it was officially presented to Commissioner Viviane Reding at Photonics Europe in Strasbourg on the 4th of April 2006. The Photonics Strategic Research Agenda has been very positively received by the European Commission, national authorities and the European photonics community. Since then a lot of effort have been invested from the work group chairs and members to further specify priority research topics for FP7 and present them to the relevant departments of the European Commission.
Many thanks to all of you who contributed during the workshops or in the subsequent process and thus enabled the success achieved so far!
Sincerely yours,
Photonics21 Secretariat c/o VDI Technologiezentrum GmbH
Photonics21 News
Photonics21 research priorities for the first calls in FP7
On the basis of the Photonics21 Strategic Research Agenda the individual working groups have defined research priorities with a special relevance for the European Research Area. The priorities constitute the first input from Photonics21 to the 7th framework programme. The complete lists of the identified priority research topics can be downloaded from the member area of the Photonics21 website. In early May 2006 Photonics21 President Alexander von Witzleben provided the Photonics21 research priorities to Commissioner Viviane Reding. Moreover, in June and July 2006 delegations of the work groups have presented the research priorities to selected heads of units relevant to photonics within the European Commission. A few remaining meetings are scheduled for July.
So far, meetings took place with heads of units in the following domains:
'Technology for innovation; ICT industries and E-business' (Constantin Andropoulos, DG ENTR, Unit D4) 'Communication Technologies' (Rainer Zimmermann, DG INFSO, Unit D1) 'Products, Processes, Organisations' (Christos Tokamanis, DG Research, Unit G2) 'ICT for Health' (Gerard Comyn, DG INFSO; Directorate H; Unit H1) 'Biotechnology and Applied Genomics' (Stéphane Hogan, DG Research, Unit F5) 'Materials' (Jose-Lorenzo Valles, DG Research; Directorate G: Industrial technologies, Unit G3) 'Micro and NanoSystems' (Augusto de Albuquerque, DG INFSO, Directorate G: Components & Systems, Unit G2) 'Nanoelectronics and Photonics' (Dirk Beernaert, DG INFSO, Directorate G: Components & Systems, Unit G1) 'Research Infrastructures' (Hervé Péro, DG Research; Directorate B: Structuring the European research area) 'Research training networks' (Bruno Schmitz, DG Research; Directorate D: The human factor, mobility and Marie Curie activities; Unit D3)
The overall response from the Commission was quite encouraging. In general, there is a strong interest from Commission side to set up and establish an ongoing dialogue with respect to future research topics for FP7. Up to now, the main achievements were:
A clear willingness has been expressed by the units "Nanoelectronics and Photonics" and "Communication Technologies" to use the Photonics21 research priorities in the FP7 research programme (2007-2008).
Further input from Photonics21 (comprehensive topics list, multi-annual plan, etc.) has been requested by the EC, e. g. for the domains "Materials" and "Products, Processes, Organisations".
A clearly improved position of Photonics in FP7 compared to FP6 can be expected.
For more details on the outcomes and possible follow-up actions please contact the delegation members (see website/member area) or your WG chair.
Number of Photonics21 members nearly doubled
The numbers of platform members nearly doubled within the first seven month of existence of the platform. Now, Photonics21 has more than 400 members from all over Europe and beyond. Worth noting is the strong engagement of SMEs. This impressive number clearly demonstrates the need for this initiative and furthermore reflects a strong commitment towards the European Research Area.
Photonics21 at IST Event 2006
Preparations have been started for Photonics21's official participation in the IST Event 2006 to be held in Helsinki from November 21 to 23. The IST Event is the most important European Information Society Technologies (IST) event organised annually by the DG INFSO. It is expected to attract about 4000 participants from all over Europe. Proposals have been drafted for a Photonics21 information stand as well as for a Photonics21 networking session. [Further Information]Next Photonics21 meeting scheduled for the end of 2006
A general meeting of Photonics21 (together with a meeting of the Board of Stakeholders) will be organised for November or December 2006 in Brussels. In conjunction with this, we are also organising a special Information Day on Photonics Calls in FP7 (2007-2008), with the support of the European Commission. As soon as we have more details we will let you know!National Technology Platforms in Photonics
"Fotonika 21" established in Slovenia
As Janez Renko of Electronics and Electrical Engineering Association at the Chamber of Commerce (GZS) said, the platform represents a bond between development and research, with a goal to find new long-term opportunities. The platform, established by different companies and research institutes, will focus on the fields of laser technology, optoelectronics, medical devices, communication technology, contemporary electro-optics, quantum electronics and new materials, Renko explained. For Slovenia to remain competitive, new parallel technologies must be developed, Renko stressed, adding that they plan to draw funds from the state budget and partly also from the European structural funds. Photonics is one of the most successful fields in the European and global industry, the GZS believes. ( http://www.uvi.si/eng/slovenia/publications/slovenia-news/2988/3006/)
"SwissLaserNet" founded
The national Technology Platform "SwissLaserNet" has been established in Switzerland. The aim of SwissLaserNet is to bundle and coordinate the existing know-how on laser material processing in Switzerland. So far, nine research institutes are members of SwissLaserNet. Due to Gabriel Dumitru, representative of the Technology Platform, it is now intended to significantly involve Swiss photonics companies as well. SwissLaserNet seeks a close alliance with Photonics21. For more information please visit: [ www.swisslaser.net ].
