FOCUS BUSINESS NEWS


IN BRIEF


Eagleyard Photonics has appointed Dr Dirk Schumann as its new CTO, taking over from Dr Thomas Laurent. Schumann has 20 years of experience working in executive positions for technology companies such as BMW, U2t photonics, and Siemens.


Hübner Photonics has expanded its international sales channels, appointing Lahat Technologies in Israel, Laser Lines in the UK, DynaSense Photonics in China and Optoprim in France.


NKT Photonics’ mid-IR supercontinuum source, the SuperK MIR, was awarded the Laser Technology Innovation prize at the Ofweek 2017 conference in China in September.


Skorpios Technologies, a silicon photonics integrated chip maker, has acquired Novati Technologies, a semiconductor integration company and fab located in Austin, Texas. The combined corporation will be called Skorpios Technologies.


General Motors has acquired Strobe, a three-year-old lidar company, to advance autonomous vehicle development.


Brolis Semiconductors has announced it will open a new research division in Ghent, Belgium, which will focus on the development of integrated photonic systems.


The Jiangmen technology park in Guangdong is actively attracting laser companies


NEWS FROM EPIC By Carlos Lee, director general, EPIC


A glimpse of Jiangmen’s ambitions as a laser hub


I


travelled to China seven times in 2017, attending all of the major photonics exhibitions and industrial conferences and visiting more than 50 companies. I can say that I’m impressed by the rapid development and growth of the photonics industry there. Most recently, I attended a laser and


manufacturing exhibition in Jiangmen, a city in the South of China, which was mainly driven by local public authorities. What really caught my attention in this area, were the authorities’ efforts to attract photonics companies. They took me around the city, and also showed me a plot of empty land where they intend to build an advanced industrial centre, which will include laser companies. It made me think of the development of Shanghai and Shenzhen 20 years ago. Jiangmen is located in the Southern


Electro Optics


For more news stories and original analysis and opinion pieces go online: www.electrooptics.com


8 Electro Optics November 2017


province of Guangdong, which is also home to the industrial metropolis of Guangzhou. With a population of ‘only’ 4.5 million, Jiangmen’s economy is smaller compared to its neighbour Guangzhou, which is ranked third in China in terms of GDP and has a metro population of 44 million, an urban population of 20 million, and a city administrative area of 13 million. Jiangmen’s GDP ranks 88th in the country. Despite being a relatively young


city, having only attained cityhood in 1951, Jiangmen has an established


manufacturing industry that caters to various sectors, including furniture-making, household appliances, and motorcycle manufacturing. Last year alone, Jiangmen made more than 2.5 million motorcycle units (on my last trip I had the chance to visit a wheel manufacturer and a bike maker). It is therefore logical for the city to attract photonics and laser companies to invest in their planned hub because manufacturing relies heavily on enabling-technologies like lasers to improve production.


“Devices will need to be manufactured in large volumes if they’re going to address the various challenges ahead”


It is exciting to witness the photonics industry’s rapid growth in China as a whole. Europe needs to pay attention to this development; companies should ensure flexibility and speed to take full advantage of the opportunities not just in China, but globally. EPIC is prepared to take an active role in helping its members capitalise on China’s fast-growing photonics industry and ensure there is mutual benefit. In addition, EPIC is also exploring the potential in other regional markets such as Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, Israel, India, Russia, Brazil, and some regions in the US and Canada.


@electrooptics | www.electrooptics.com


Carlos Lee / EPIC


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