ANALYSIS: UK PHOTONICS
more convergent than ever, with resilience, sustainability, security and inclusivity being key drivers. This is exemplified by Horizon Europe, where the key role of these drivers is woven into the fabric of the programme, differentiating it from Horizon 2020 and influencing all the calls, activities and projects that will emerge from it. Horizon Europe is being designed to be much more challenge focused. Direct funding, for enabling technology such as photonics, is subject to tough negotiation and will sadly be reduced. But, as a cross-cutting technology, photonics will impact many, if not all, challenges, providing opportunities far beyond direct photonics calls. The challenge for all of us will be identifying those opportunities. They will no longer be in a few pages of the ICT calls, but scattered among the thousands of pages that will make up the complete Horizon Europe work programme. UK innovation funding has been challenge focused, excessively so from the perspective of photonics, for many years. The UK photonics community has had to adapt and seek out opportunities in such an environment. We are happy to share these experiences and adaptations with our friends in Europe – ideally over a beer, but that sadly will have to wait a while yet.
Our friends and colleagues in
Europe have made it clear they are as happy as the UK photonics community that we will be part of Horizon Europe. We can also expect strong support from the UK Government to get back into European programmes. Our fear is that support will be excessively focused on balance of payments. Almost everyone who participates in EU programmes identifies the relationships, trust and awareness that is built between partners as the main benefit, supporting growth across all parties – few focus on the money. Opening by focusing on ‘getting one’s money’s worth’ is not a good route to building relationships, and not a good way to build back partnerships. We trust photonics innovators
www.electrooptics.com | @electrooptics
on all sides will look to the wider benefits of collaboration. To be a confirmed partner in Horizon Europe, just as this new seven-year journey begins, is a huge opportunity. We call on the UK community to grasp that opportunity by reaching out and re-engaging with our European friends and networks. Get active once more in Photonics21, explore and refine
the work programmes, rebuild relationships and work together across Europe to understand challenge-led opportunities. To our European friends, we reaffirm our friendship, confirm we are committed to collaboration and are in Horizon Europe and all EU programmes for the long term. Together we can be much more than the sum of our parts. Covid-19 will make building
relationships easier and harder. Comfort with remote meetings helps digitally shrink the continent, but there is nothing like a warm handshake and shared smile over an anecdote of experience. We look forward to meeting in person once again! EO
John Lincoln is chief executive of the UK Photonics Leadership Group
Wavelength Measurement and Spectral Analysis for Mid-IR Laser Applications
• Operation from 1 - 12 µm • For use with CW and pulsed lasers • Accuracy as high as ± 0.0002 nm • Spectral resolution of 4 GHz
Accuracy. Reliability. Confidence.
info@bristol-inst.com
bristol-inst.com
March 2021 Electro Optics 9
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