SPONSORED: TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT
been actively involved in the commercialisation of large- scale integrated devices since 2019. My PhD was focused on the development of a high-yield micro-assembly technique for wafer-scale opto-electronic systems manufacturing. The innovative approach I have led involves continuous roller transfer-printing, enabling the parallel integration of semiconductor devices onto functional systems, particularly targeting applications such as micro-LED displays. My main focus on this
course and at the show is sensing the commercialisation opportunities. It’s very exciting, as what I am working on is an emerging technology. It can have many applications, covering a huge market. The programme has been
fascinating. The challenge, I have found, is communicating what you do. How can you explain your research in simple terms? The main skill I have developed is around networking. I feel more confident in presenting now. We all have different backgrounds, so that has been inspiring and has helped me. Coming to Photonics West
was the first time I have been to an event that is so big. It was very exciting! Apart from the talks and panels I attended, I found talking to the companies exhibiting here really useful. When you come to a conference such as this, you can see the opportunity gap.
Grant MacGruer, University of Glasgow I am developing new gas imaging systems based on quantum technology. I’m working on a real-time methane imaging camera, and motion stabilisation for drone-mounted devices. I’m now getting ready to trial my research in the field. I joined Quantum Leap to explore the commercial opportunities of my current project and to learn more about what it really takes to make it as an entrepreneur. What has resonated is the
importance of other people – a science approach will get you so far, but you need someone with business focus to help
www.electrooptics.com
“I feel I have a lot more confidence now and have made connections that will really benefit my career going forward”
you, so developing those skills has been critical. I have been to smaller exhibitions, but Photonics West is something else. I have got a few ideas to go back with and a clearer view of what jobs are available, but some of the more interesting conversations I had were at the Consulate. My technology development is getting close to being a product, so I need to stop fretting about some of the details and just get on with it!
Peter Mekhail, University of Glasgow My research area focuses on novel optics for emerging healthcare markets. I have found the programme insightful, accessible and it has enabled an understanding of the training objectives from an early stage. Learning about patents and the step-by-step process to commercialisation has been incredibly useful. I now realise you can go to market a lot sooner than you think – you don’t have to perfect everything before you start seeking investment. Previously, the steps in between the stages of development were completely opaque to me, and these are now far more defined. Photonics West is the place to be. It brings together all the key contributors to address the challenges of today’s society and it’s been rewarding to meet so many people interested in my area of research. I particularly benefited from visiting the SRI International research institute during our visit, learning about commercialisation and technology development, and I have definitely been inspired to apply new approaches to my own research.
Abhinav Prasad, University of Glasgow I’m an applied physicist developing affordable gravity sensing solutions. For the past six years, I have been
developing ‘Wee-g’, the world’s most sensitive MEMS gravimeter. I have taken the sensor from the lab all the way to Mount Etna, where an array of Wee-gs are now tracking volcanic activity. Working with a range of collaborators, our team has used the sensor to monitor the water table and to find buried tunnels. I joined the Quantum Leap
programme to develop my entrepreneurial skills, and the next step for me is to bring the sensor to market. I have just secured a £500,000 grant focused on Wee-g’s commercialisation, targeting the seismic and gravity market, so watch this space for more updates! The programme has been a rewarding experience. One thing I realise is now important is focusing on the IP strategy very early on. How have I found Photonics
West? My field is MEMs – a smaller field than optics – but there’s a lot of interest and overlap between the two fields. I was able to talk to a
lot of companies about the stabilisation of cameras. I am planning to visit the show again next year, as a lot of people who invest in these technologies come here. I got some interesting ideas and met a couple of US investors, so I will follow that up when I get home. I have spent all my life in research but, after taking part in this programme, I now feel I
am more skilled at presenting my work to different audiences.
Osian Wolley, University of Glasgow I’m a PhD student working in quantum imaging. I am interested in how quantum sources and holography can be applied to reduce noise in images. The goal? To develop some of the world’s most sensitive microscopes. I came into this course with
zero knowledge of business, but I now know more about how to go about the process of starting up a company. One of the most useful parts of the course was learning to pitch. If you had asked us what we do previously, we would have given 10-minute academic answers. We can now pitch our technologies more engagingly and that is really useful. What has been rewarding about coming to the show has been helping to find a use case – I have a pretty good idea now. I met researchers doing similar work and it has been great for me to learn how to network more effectively. I feel I now have a lot more confidence and have made connections that will really benefit my career going forward. QuantIC brings together academia and industry to collaborate on the next generation of imaging technologies. More information:
quantic.ac.uk EO
Three of the group, pictured with other course participants and Ian Tracey (far leſt), were chosen to deliver their technology pitches to a panel of investors during the Start-up Challenge event
March 2024 Electro Optics 19
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