The Netherlands has a strong position internationally in applying photonics. This innovative light technology contributes to the solutions for societal challenges in ICT, manufacturing, semicon, health, agri-food, environment & energy. To accelerate the opportunities of photonics technologies, the National Photonics Agenda was recently published. The agenda describes how the Netherlands can further strengthen its global top position in the coming years. This fits seamlessly into the innovation and top sector policy, knowledge institute TNO reports in a press release.
On 13 July in The Hague, Benno Oderkerk, chairman PhotonicsNL handed over the National Photonics Agenda to Mona Keijzer, state secretary for Economic Affairs and Climate. This photonics agenda was drawn up partly at the request of the Ministry of Economic Affairs by PhotonicsNL, Dutch Optics Centre of TNO and TU Delft and PhotonDelta. Together with the agenda, the plan for PhotonDelta, the public-private investment and research programme around photonics, was also handed over. René Penning de Vries did so partly on behalf of the provinces of Noord-Brabant, Overijssel and Gelderland.
State Secretary Keijzer (Economic Affairs & Climate): "Photonics is faster and more energy-efficient than traditional electronics. That is why this is an important key technology in our Top Sector policy. Photonics is going to help us solve societal challenges. For instance, because this technology will allow us to make better diagnoses in healthcare and map our subsurface in more detail. Dutch entrepreneurs are already leading the way in this, with almost 300 companies already using this technology. By betting on photonics, we are betting on the future."
Key technology
Photonics is the technology that focuses on generating, transporting and detecting light waves and light particles (photons). It is already applied in a wide range of products and processes in which light plays an important role. Think of ever-improving cameras in mobile phones, sustainable lighting and high-speed internet connections via fibre optics. Photonic solutions are an answer to the growing need for fast reliable communication and digitisation of industry. It is used for imaging, spectroscopy and metrology. But its application also extends to food production, home comfort, and health technology, making an important contribution to solving societal challenges. A new development concerns miniaturisation and integration in chips; so-called integrated photonics. Europe has indicated its intention to invest heavily in photonics as a key technology. Not only to achieve European industrial leadership and economic growth, but also to stimulate long-term high-quality employment.
Market-oriented clusters
The global growth of the photonics industry is estimated at 40% in the next five years. The technology plays a major role in the success of the Dutch high-tech industry and is a driving force for maintaining the competitiveness of our economy. Almost 300 Dutch companies, many of which are SMEs, work directly on the development and application of photonics products. The estimated total turnover is more than four billion euros. A total amount of EUR 60 million per year is planned for the investment initiatives in the Netherlands, which will be partly publicly and partly privately funded. This is to reinforce the hundreds of millions already invested in photonics by the market.
Arnold Stokking, director TNO Industry: "It is of great importance for the Netherlands to invest vigorously in this new technology. For a successful positioning in the European and global market, it is necessary for the Netherlands to present itself as one coherent photonics region. The Dutch Optics Centre, TNO and TU Delft's expertise centre for high-tech optics and optomechatronics, supports the application areas with key technologies such as imaging, spectroscopy and metrology. It is good news that PhotonDelta, active in the new field of integrated photonics, will be given the resources to develop further. Our ambition calls for a single agenda and a capstone for photonics initiatives in the Netherlands. This agenda is therefore an invitation to companies, knowledge institutions and governments to join in the acceleration of photonics."
Current applications
Currently, a wide range of new photonics technologies are rapidly developing that offer opportunities for the Netherlands:
More powerful light sources and other wavelengths
For example, VCSELs for fibre optic telecommunications and Extreme UV (EUV) sources for more accurate measurement and making of chips.
New shapes for optical components and optics on a chip
For example, new forms of mirrors, lenses and chips such as free-form optics, micro-optics, adaptive optics and integrated photonics.
Manufacturing techniques for ultra-compact optical systems in large series
For example, improved manufacturing techniques such as 3D printing, injection moulding, diamond turning and robotic polishing.
New synthetic materials
For example, semiconductors, glasses, metamaterials, photonic crystals, nanostructures, quantum dots, and new biological materials.
Smaller, more energy-efficient sensors
Photonic structures, often integrated into fibres or optical circuits, are used, for example, to measure displacement, voltage or acoustic waves and for 3D imaging systems for autonomous vehicles.
New technology combining photonics and software
For example, further development and application of Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality and Computational Imaging (CI). In Computational Imaging, also known as 'lensless imaging', computer algorithms are used to improve the performance of an imaging system while the lens maintains the same specifications.
The full National Agenda Photonics can be read here.
