Introduction from Professor Sir David Payne, Director of the Optoelectronics Research Centre at the Univ. of Southampton UK, to the SPIE Photonex Industry Talks session on Advances in Resilient Photonics Manufacturing: The Future Photonics Hub.

Ion implantation into silicon results in a large refractive index change, which in turn can be tuned via thermal treatment to manipulate optical devices. In particular, devices such as Mach-Zehnder interferometers, directional couplers and ring resonators can be tuned, either to improve their performance, or as building blocks to “programme” them into a specific operating configuration. In contrast to several other programmable circuit techniques, this approach is non-volatile and therefore requires no additional power source to maintain the operating configuration once programmed. In paper the team discuss this approach to “programmable” or “configurable” photonic circuits in silicon photonics platforms.

Selective laser melting (SLM) is routinely used in the additive manufacture (3D printing) of high value, geometrically complex components from a variety of metal alloys and plastics. This is currently achieved through galvo-scanning a high power, fixed wavelength laser to melt successive powder layers. I will introduce an alternative approach to SLM based on the application of a high-density array of semiconductor lasers, with potential to radically improve productivity, flexibility, efficiency and cost. The broad spectrum available in the semiconductor laser palette allows lasers to be matched to the absorption peak of the material being processed, and opens a wealth of opportunities for new integrated photonic solutions.

Industry compatible methods for fabricating 2D materials generally rely on Chemical vapour deposition (CVD), Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) or Molecular Beam Epitaxy (IBE). These methods although compatible, they do not allow for highly uniform, large-scale and high-performance layers at the same time. The reason is that the layer thickness, stoichiometry and crystallinity are controlled by one process. Dr Zeimpekis and the team have demonstrated a method that combines ALD and multistage annealing to decouple the control of film characteristics. This method has allowed them to fabricate 2D Thin Film Transistors (TFT) on flexible substrates and achieve superior performance metrics such as fast subthreshold slope at 80 mV/dec, high mobility at 55 cm2/V s and on/off ratios of more than 5 orders.

In recent decades, the story of the growth in photonics across a wide range of consumer and industrial applications is also the story of compound semiconductors. From data storage to optical communications, advances in compound semiconductor technologies are driving the revolution on photonics enabled devices that will be central to next generation applications from 5G communications to driverless vehicles and from machine vision to a host of healthcare diagnostics and treatments. Behind all of these technological developments a globally important technology powerhouse has been quietly evolving in the UK, centred around South East Wales. This growing cluster has been centred around a strong industrial base of global semiconductor businesses including IQE, Newport Wafer Fab and SPTS, backed by world-class academic expertise at Cardiff and Swansea Universities. This presentation will discuss how compound semiconductor and photonics technologies are intertwined and will continue to be powerful partners for generations to come.

In this presentation Dr Strain will outline recent research advances made under the EPSRC Programme Grant, Heteroprint. This project is developing new micro-assembly technologies for the hybrid integration of multiple materials onto single chip-scale systems. The presentation will cover important aspects of the project including nanoscale accurate transfer printing, epitaxial materials design, growth and processing, and automated measurement of large device populations. Examples of photonic devices fabricated using this hybrid integration technology in diamond, III-V and silicon materials will be presented.

High power fibre lasers have established their strong presence in the manufacturing sector and for scientific applications. The key to the power scaling of fibre lasers can largely be attributed to the progress in large-mode-area (LMA) fibre designs by offering a higher threshold to the non-linear effects and development of high performance rare-earth doped fibres. In LMA fibres, a guiding discrimination between the fundamental mode and higher-order modes can ensure an effective single-mode operation. In this talk, Professor Sahu will review the progress in rare-earth doped fibres suitable for efficient high power laser operation in the 1µm and 2µm wavelength regions.

Stephen Anderson will present an update of the SPIE core optics and photonics components industry profile with new data also covering the photonics-enabled markets in 2018. His industry outlook will also address the likely impact of the recent coronavirus outbreak on the photonics industry. The SPIE global industry profile has become a key resource for investors, business leaders, and government representatives who need a clear picture of the worldwide photonics industry, its size, and economic impact. The SPIE industry profile has found use supporting business strategies, guiding investment decisions, and in the development of national policies to drive funding, business success and economic growth.

What has been the practical impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the photonics industry and research in the UK?. Dr. John Lincoln, will present the results from two Photonics Leadership Group surveys from April and September 2020 capturing community feedback on the impact of Covid-19 on industry activity and academic research in the UK. The latest September survey includes the latest summary of community views on the impact a year from now.

The global Covid-19 pandemic has been hugely disruptive to our personal and professional lives. As we move into the recovery phase there are many new opportunities emerging within the numerous adjustments we are making. The panel will discuss the emerging changes to markets and ways of working and the opportunities they present for photonics, taking questions from the online audience.

With Brexit, Covid-19 and major focus on the importance of science and technology as a driver of economic growth, there have rarely been more exciting and interesting times for the innovation ecosystem in the UK. This session will look at the latest developments in the UK and Europe and will be an essential source of information for those from industry and academia looking to align themselves to the latest emerging trends and potential foci impacting future support.

On 1 July, the Government published its ambitious research and development roadmap to ensure the UK is the best place in the world for scientists, researchers and entrepreneurs to live and work, while helping to power up the UK’s economic and social recovery and level up the UK. Research and development are central to igniting the UK’s economic recovery, boosting productivity, creating new jobs and improving people’s quality of life. This presentation provides an overview of the UK's research and development roadmap, discussing the background and a summary of what's included in each of the roadmap’s chapters.

This presentation provides a brief introduction to Innovate UK and the main types of Innovate UK funding. A review of current Innovate UK funding opportunities will highlight potential funding for photonics projects.

Photonics is a key technology for the digitisation of the European economy and for Europe's future technological sovereignty. The priorities set by the von der Leyen Commission, in particular the Green Deal and the industrial strategy, will require even greater efforts and more public and private investment in photonics. Thus, the European photonics community - through Photonics21 - and the European Commission are currently preparing a Photonics Partnership in the next framework programme. With the recent Council decision to reduce the budget of Horizon Europe, photonics is facing a major challenge.

Join speakers from the Funding and Innovation Ecosystem industry session in a live question and answer session.

Join John Lincoln, Natalie Wheeler, Richard Carter, Rob Richards, and Kasia Balakier as they present a vision for the future of photonics, identifying the key topics that will be the focus of research a decade or more from now. Based on the collective input of 26 of the UK’s leading photonics academics, 70 key topics are highlighted for future research focus across materials, optical and physical phenomena, future manufacturing processes, device and systems. This unique horizon scanning exercise, jointly published with the All Party Parliamentary Group on Photonics and Quantum, aims to stimulate engagement from government, funding agencies and industry to shape future innovation strategy and to inspire the next generation of researchers.