Joint photonics launch of Horizon 2020

Photonics21 have officially launched Horizon 2020 at their annual general meeting in Brussels.

The launch event will include a panel discussion on ‘Reindustrializing Europe’. Panel member Gareth Jones, chief executive of Gooch & Housego, an integrated supplier of critical photonic solutions, commented: “Photonics is at the heart of Horizon 2020. The main strands of development will focus on improving efficiencies in areas such fibre laser based manufacturing, data communication and medical diagnostic technology.

“As global leaders in acousto and electro-optic laser control systems for industrial and medical lasers, fibre optic modules for space telecoms and components for medical imaging systems, Gooch & Housego can play a vital role in ensuring that socioeconomic goals of the programme are achieved.”

Photonics is an enabling technology, fundamental to the successful development of solutions to the major economic and social challenges facing Europe. These include improving resource efficiency in areas such as food, energy and security. Photonics research in Horizon 2020 will include developing increased efficiencies in satellite communications, materials processing and medical diagnostics.