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Lighting the way ahead Photonics21 Strategic Research Agenda Published by European Technology Platform Photonics21 Secretariat Photonics21: VDI Technologiezentrum VDI-Platz 1 40468 Dsseldorf, Germany Phone: +49 / 211 / 62 14-338 Phone: +49 / 211 / 62 14-478 Fax: +49 / 211 / 62 14-484 e-mail: [email protected] www.Photonics21.org Second edition, January 2010 Coordinating editors: VDI Technologiezentrum Katharina Flaig Markus Wilkens Special thanks to Tony Jones, copy editor Design and layout: pr+co. gmbh Agentur fr Kommunikation Fuchseckstrae 7 70188 Stuttgart, Germany Lithography: Reprotechnik Herzog GmbH 70439 Stuttgart, Germany Printing: frechdruck GmbH 70499 Stuttgart, Germany Cover photo copyright: Fotolia
Contributing authors: Jean-Thierry Audren, Sagem Dfense Scurit Jan Andersson, Acreo AB Roel Baets, University of Gent Susanne Bieller, VDMA Petra Bindig, European Optical Society Sbastien Bigo, Alcatel-Lucent Jan Blochwitz-Nimoth, Novaled Andy Carter, Oclaro Thierry Clapp, Dow Corning David Cotter, Tyndall Institute Matthias Dmmig, ZETT OPTICS Chris Dainty, National University of Ireland, Galway Sandro De Silvestri, Politecnico di Milano Carlos Dominguez, CSIC Jrg-Peter Elbers, ADVA Jim Everett, Ericsson Robert Fischer, Vrije Universiteit Brussels Pierre-Yves Fonjallaz, ACREO Andreas Friedel, Trumpf Laurent Fulbert, CEA-LETI Stphane Gosselin, France-Tlcom/Orange Labs Hans-Joachim Grallert, Fraunhofer Heinrich Hertz Institute Augustin Grillet, Barco Pietro Guiseppe Gucciardi, CNR Messina Eliav Haskal, Philips Research Hans Peter Herzig, Ecole Polytechnique Fdrale de Lausanne Alain Jalocha, CILAS Jean-Michel Jonathan, Institut dOptique Jean-Paul Judson, POPsud Stefan Kaierle, Fraunhofer-Institut fr Lasertechnik Markus Klemmt, Laser Zentrum Hannover Wolfgang Knapp, Centre des Matriaux Mines Paris, Paristech Eric Larkins, University of Nottingham Michael Lebby, OIDA Thomas Mayerhfer, Institut fr Photonische Technologien e.V. Daniel Milanese, Politecnico di Torino Jrgen Mohr, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology Bruce Napier, Gooch & Housego Bimal Nayar, Ericsson Michael Parker, Essex University Tom Pearsall, EPIC Christopher Pickering, QinetiQ Angela Piegari, ENEA Jrgen Popp, Institut fr Photonische Technologien e.V. Roberta Ramponi, Politecnico di Milano Detlev Ristau, Laser Zentrum Hannover Thierry Robin, Optineos Wolfgang Sandner, Max-Born-Institut Laurent Sarger, Universit Bordeaux 1 Bruno Smets, Philips Lighting Meint Smit, Technical University Eindhoven Frank Stietz, Carl Zeiss Katarina Svanberg, Lund University Hospital Hugo Thienpont, Vrije Universiteit Brussels Lars Thyln, KTH Royal Insitute of Technology Lluis Torner, ICFO The Insitute of Photonics Sciences Marc Tremont, Carl Zeiss Alfredo Viglienzoni, Ericsson Peter Visser, Philips Lighting Mike Wale, Oclaro Godehard Walf, Fraunhofer Heinrich Hertz Institute Stuart Walker, Essex University Berit Wessler, OSRAM Opto Semiconductors Ulrich Wittrock, University of Applied Sciences Mnster
President
Martin goetzeler, ceo, oSraM Bernd Schulte, executive Vice President and coo, aixtron Malgorzata Kujawinska, Warsaw University of technology giorgio anania, chairman, cube optics
Vice Presidents
Working Group Chairs Information and Communication Industrial Production/ Manufacturing and Quality
alfredo Viglienzoni, head optical Products, ericsson eckhard Meiners, ceo, trumpf Laser Marking Systems Ulrich Simon, ceo & President, carl Zeiss Microimaging Klaas Vegter, cto, Philips Lighting Jean-Francois coutris, Vice President, SageM dS Mike Wale, director active Products research, oclaro roberta ramponi, Professor, Politecnico di Milano Vdi technologiezentrum
Lighting and Displays Security, Metrology and Sensors Design and Manufacturing of Components and Systems Photonics Education, Training and Research Infrastructure
Secretariat Photonics21
contents
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education, training and research infrastructures in photonics implementing the Strategic research agenda
6.1 Conclusions 6.2 Key challenges 6.3 Key recommendations
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glossary
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executive summary
1.1
about Photonics21
Photonics is the science and technology of the harnessing of light. Photonics encompasses the generation of light, the detection of light, the management of light through guidance, manipulation and amplification, and most importantly its utilisation for the benefit of mankind. Photonics bears the same relationship to light and photons as electronics does to electricity and electrons. It has been defined as a key enabling technology by the European Commission. Photonics21 is a European Technology Platform founded in 2005 with the support of the European Commission to develop a coordinated strategy for the photonics community in Europe. The members of Photonics21 are representatives of the European photonics industry, research institutions and universities. Membership has grown from 250 in 2005 to more than 1400 in 49 countries, including all 27 member states of the European Union. Photonics21 is organised in seven working groups, the Board of Stakeholders and the Executive Board. In 2006 Photonics21 published its first Strategic Research Agenda which set out research priorities for the next four years. Photonics21 has now developed the second Strategic Research Agenda this document to further develop European scientific, technological and economic leadership in photonics. Photonics21 believes that now is the time to focus on photonics applications and on its potential to address the challenges facing European society. In a real sense, our future will be made by light.
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ics, most of them SMEs. The core sectors are lighting, production technology, medical technology, defence photonics and optical components and systems with market shares ranging from 25 to 45%. Europe has particularly strong positions in industrial laser technologies, information and communication, biophotonics and lighting. Photonics companies themselves employ about 290 000 people in Europe, with subcontractors employing many others. The sector is based on SMEs, where growth in demand will create proportionally more jobs than in a sector made up of big companies. If Europe gains the technological lead in photonics this will create new jobs in industrial manufacturing of new consumer goods. New photonic technologies will keep manufacturing jobs in Europe.
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industrial technologies
information and communication
Information and communication technology (ICT) contributes to improvements in healthcare (e-health), government (e-government) and education through increased web access. It also benefits our social lives. Photonic technologies are at the heart of the ICT infrastructure, which relies heavily on fibre optic communications. Photonics will increase the reliability and pervasiveness of ICT. Access to photonics-enabled web-based services and the speed and quality of those connections will contribute to the competitiveness of people and communities. We recommend that research focus on using optical technologies to make future networks more transparent, more dynamic, faster and consume less energy. Everybody in the EU should have access of at least 1 Mbit/s at home for fast communication. This will include a large-scale action to create digital villages where high-speed internet systems can be tried out in realistic conditions.
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Key recommendations
The photonics community has drawn up the following seven key recommendations which are addressed to the photonics industry, research institutions, the EU member states and the European Commission. They describe actions which should be taken at the European level to prepare the way for future photonics applications.
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6. We must cooperate with other parts of the world to develop green photonics
EU member states and the European Commission should set up a framework for international cooperation especially with the United States. This cooperation should concentrate on selected areas in green photonics, principally solid-state lighting and photovoltaics. Close international cooperation will drive further advances in R&D and stimulate the growth of the photonics industry. It will also set the standards required for widespread adoption of the new lighting and photovoltaic technologies.
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Photonics in europe
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Photonics is everywhere in our lives
oday, photonics is everywhere in our lives. We largely rely on photonic technologies when we switch on the light at home or in the office, when we surf the internet, watch a laser show or pass through the security check at the airport. Photonics underpins many of the technologies our society has come to depend on. In the twenty-first century, the photon will increasingly guide us towards a sustainable future within Europe. If we just think of global climate, energy efficiency, mobility, healthcare as well as of a modern European factory, the use of the photon is a constant key driver for technological innovation and progress.
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The Second Photonics21 Strategic Research Agenda aims to further develop Europes scientific, technological and economic leadership in photonics. As we need a common European approach for research and development in photonics in order to respond to the social challenges of the future, the SRA pursues the following objectives: establishing strategic links among mainly SME-based photonics industries as well as with key user industries and aligning common R&D efforts accordingly; ensuring that knowledge generated through research is transformed into leading-edge technologies and processes, and ultimately into marketable products and services which are competitive in the global market; agreeing on a common European photonics R&D strategy to tap the full economic potential of photonics; providing for the necessary research environment capable of accelerating photonics research, enhancing cooperation, increasing public and private R&D investment and ensuring the mobilisation of a critical mass of resources; responding to urgent questions of energy efficiency and sustainability; providing photonic solutions to support an ageing population; supporting the further development of the knowledge society; responding to urgent questions in the fields of safety and security; presenting new photonic technologies for the most important challenges and needs of European society.
We need a common European approach for research and development in photonics to respond to the social challenges
Information and communication Industrial manufacturing and quality Life sciences and health Lighting and displays
Applications
Cross-sectoral issues
Preparing for our future: Developing a common strategy for key enabling technologies in the EU, Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee, and the Committee of the Regions, September 30, 2009
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Fig. 2.2.1 Optical fibers are indispensable for the knowledge society Fotolia
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and George E. Smith, the inventors of digital imaging chips. Kaos work showed that optical technologies and photonics are essential to the future of telecommunications. His scientific work laid the foundation for our modern information society. 1 This historic revolution in photonics made a significant contribution to the development of our global communication system and made possible the development of the global knowledge society in which Europe plays a leading role. This progress in information and communication was based on the properties of light as well as on the understanding of the interactions between light and matter. In the years to come the revolutionary insights of photonics will further shape the future of our continent as well as of the whole planet. In 2010, researchers in photonics and optics as well as representatives of industry and politics will celebrate 50 years of the laser and 50 years of photonics. The laser is an important optical tool which will feature widely in the media and in international conferences. The anniversary reminds us of the enormous development of photonic technologies and solutions within the last five decades and its impact on progress in medicine, lighting, information and communication and manufacturing. The great public interest in 50 years of the laser shows the huge potential of the new photonic technologies and applications that lie ahead.
The revolutionary insights of photonics will further shape the future of our continent
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Fig. 2.3.1 The economic impact of photonics goes beyond the output of the photonics industry Fotolia
Optech Consulting, 2009, data for the photonics market in Europe and the global photonics market
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At the same time photonics will significantly contribute to solving the most important challenges Europe is facing such as the transition towards a low-carbon economy, environmental protection, border security and public health. Today, the technological leadership of photonics is evident in the application of laser systems for material processing in the automotive, aeronautics and microelectronics industries. Photonic components are used within larger systems such as the lasers that lie at the heart of any DVD or CD device. Many other high-tech consumer products rely on photonic technology as well. Photonics clearly has a leverage effect because it creates different systems and products that multiply the value of the photonic components and technologies many times over. Europe is strong in several different photonics sectors and industries. The European lighting industry holds a share of about 40% of the worlds lamp market. The further technological development of solid-state light sources (LEDs and OLEDs) and of energyefficient lighting systems taking place in Europe will give us a leading position on the world lighting market. Europe leads the international market for industrial laser technologies. Many of the worlds largest laser companies have their headquarters in Europe. In order to stay competitive with Asian companies, we have to further invest in innovative laser technology and to guarantee the high quality of European laser systems and components. European companies play a leading role in healthcare and life science and their current market share is more than 30%2. The further development of optical components and systems will help Europe to maintain its leading position in the global market. Technological progress in materials science, microelectronics and information technology will help European manufacturers to offer better and more innovative products and services to their customers. Innovation in production processes will change the scale
2 Photonics21, Optech Consulting, Photonics in Europe Economic Impact
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Fig. 2.3.3 Laser processing system for cutting and welding TRUMPF GmbH + Co. KG
of manufacturing as well as the organisational pattern in industry. Photonics as a key driver of technology will offer various solutions for European manufacturing in the future. Laser-based production processes offer an enormous potential for highly flexible production on demand. Technological progress in lighting will also increasingly stimulate the manufacturing sector.
employment
Photonics has a large impact on employment in Europe in three ways: 1. The photonics industry is mainly based on SMEs. Growth in demand will create proportionally more jobs in SMEs than it will in any sector made up of big companies. 2. New photonic technologies will secure the competitiveness of existing industries and so maintain jobs in manufacturing which are threatened by companies moving production to low-wage countries outside the EU. 3. Gaining the technological lead in photonics will enable us to create new manufacturing jobs for novel consumer products such as solid-state lighting (LEDs and OLEDs) and multimedia devices.
Today, the photonics industry employs about 290 000 people all over Europe, not including employment with subcontractors. In comparison to 246 000 employees in 2005, this enormous increase shows that photonics is a significant creator of jobs throughout Europe.3 As a cross-sectoral technology, photonics has a strong impact on numerous other industries. It triggers important innovations in areas such as mechanical, automobile and aircraft engineering, microelectronics and the medical devices industry, where
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Europe holds particular expertise. This clearly illustrates the enormous importance of photonic solutions and technologies within Europe. Photonics contributes greatly to the European economy. We must ensure that the photonics sector continues to grow in order to secure employment and to guarantee the continuing competitiveness of our economy in the face of global competition. If we promote and support the manufacturing of high quality products in Europe, we will guarantee the further creation of employment in photonics throughout Europe.
impact on society
According to the Lund Declaration of July 2009, Europe must focus strongly on the grand challenges of our time. This means that European research institutions and industry are expected to offer solutions to problems such as global warming, the ageing society, public health and security.4 If we think of the urgent need to improve healthcare and prevent disease, photonic technologies directly come to mind. Their enormous potential to offer technological innovations in medicine and life science will further contribute to the good health of European society. Information and communication play a vital role in every society. The information society strongly relies on photonics and will only make further progress if we invest in these key technologies. As a driver for technological innovation, photonics will lead Europe to the knowledge society of tomorrow. The need to save energy and reduce carbon dioxide emissions has become an imperative. Truly energy-efficient lighting systems cannot be developed without photonics. Photonics technologies will contribute to the well-being of the environment and of society. Safety and security for the citizens of Europe also rely on photonic technologies and solutions. If we increase public security in Europe with the help of innovative photonic applications and components, then we will be addressing a major challenge of the twenty-first century. These various fields where light plays a major role clearly illustrate the growing importance of photonics in Europe and its impact on our society. If we continue to invest in photonic technologies, we will see still more benefits in the years ahead. The following chapter explains how large-scale, coordinated actions in photonics can tackle some of Europes most pressing needs.
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Optech Consulting, 2009, data for the photonics market in Europe and the global photonics market The Lund Declaration is available at http://www.se2009.eu/polopoly_fs/1.8460!menu/standard/file/lund_declaration_final_version_9_july.pdf
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Fig. 3 The future generation will rely on energyefficient lighting solutions Philips
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3.1
towards a low-carbon economy Public opinion has shifted decisively towards the imperative of addressing climate change
According to the 2007 report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)1 human activities could raise the mean temperature of the planet by between 1.4 and 5.6 degrees Celsius by the end of the century. The year 2007 marked a turning point for the European Unions climate and energy policy. Europe took the lead in tackling climate change by facing up to the challenge of dependable, sustainable and competitive energy and in turning the European economy into a model for sustainable development in the twenty-first century. Public opinion has shifted decisively towards the imperative of addressing climate change by cutting greenhouse gas emissions and developing our renewable, sustainable energy resources. The European Union committed itself to the following targets. Within the Kyoto Protocol the EU committed itself to a reduction of at least 20% in greenhouse gases by 2020, rising to 30% if there is an international agreement committing other developed countries to comparable emission reductions and economically more advanced developing countries to contributing adequately according to their responsibilities and respective capabilities. A 20% share of renewable sources in EU energy consumption by 2020.2 European research and industry will play an active part in improving energy efficiency and sustainability. The manner in which we produce and consume energy is of crucial importance because energy is closely related to each of the three dimensions of sustainable development the economy, the environment and social welfare. If energy is to become an integral part of sustainable development, then we need to develop new policies.
European research and industry will play an active part in improving energy efficiency
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will certainly increase, the effects on healthcare expenditure are not so clear. Ageing populations will have different healthcare needs because more people will be affected by cancer, fractured hips, strokes and dementia.5 So earlier diagnosis is essential if illness is to be prevented.
Only concerted investment in nextgeneration technologies will guarantee the prosperity of European society
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Climate Change 2007, the Fourth Assessment Report of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change 20 20 by 2020 Europes climate change opportunity, Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions, 2008 Investing in the future: an agenda for addressing Europes Demographic Challenge, Commissioner Joaqun Almunia: Summit Europes Looming Demographic Crunch The Search for New Labour and Welfare Policies, 2008 Projecting OECD health and long-term care expenditures: what are the main drivers?, OECD 2006 How can health systems respond to population ageing? Policy brief 10 World Health Organization 2009 and World Health Organization, on behalf of the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies 2009
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Fig. 3.2.2 The laser has revolutionised manufacturing processes Rofin-Sinar Laser GmbH
Europe has excellent research institutes which focus on R&D in photonics. Industry, science and government should strengthen their cooperation and adopt public-private partnership models to systematically explore the full potential of photonics in these areas. One such important instrument will be the implementation of large-scale campaigns.
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Fig. 3.3.1 Overview of the green photonics market. Source: OIDA, Green photonics market data 1
These predictions show that green photonics will contribute to increases in manufacturing industry volumes and that will further stimulate employment. Europe needs to invest further in green photonics and to guarantee its competitiveness by supporting the next generation of green photonics solutions and applications.
OIDA, Green Photonics Market Data available at http://www.oida.org/news/oida-news/2009/377 and Michael Lebby, CEO of OIDA, available at http://www.photonics.com/Content/ReadArticle.aspx?ArticleID=35146
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Fig. 3.3.2 Organic light-emitting diodes from Novaled: OLEDs a green and clean technology efficiently providing near-natural light Novaled AG Fig. 3.3.3 A pool at Lake Garda, illuminated by green LEDs Zumtobel
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3.4
energy-efficient lighting
Modern society relies heavily on lighting, whether at home, in the office, in schools and universities, in other public buildings and spaces or on streets and motorways. Thus lighting accounts for a significant share of worldwide energy consumption.
Fig. 3.4.1 The share of lighting in global energy consumption. Source: International Energy Agency and OSRAM
Global market Lightings share of total primary energy consumption Electricitys share of energy consumption Electricity production for lighting
On a global scale, lighting generates 1900 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions each year.1 In Europe, the use of energy-saving light bulbs alone could save 45 billion kWh of electricity and 19 million tonnes of carbon dioxide.2
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In the summer of 2008 an ad hoc advisory group on ICT for energy efficiency was established by the European Commission in order to investigate to what extent different ICT-based technologies could contribute to the goals defined in the Strategic Energy Technology Plan4. In the famous Vattenfall 5 analysis on the abatement costs of carbon reduction, lighting offers the second largest potential for cost saving, close behind improved insulation. Both technologies have reached a stage of development where saving carbon goes hand in hand with saving costs. It is clear that technologies associated with lighting offer the biggest opportunities to save energy in the short run, giving more time for the development of renewable energy sources in order to safeguard Europes energy independence in the long run. The energy savings potential was worked out in the Photonics21 advice to the Commission. Figure 3.4.2 shows four different scenarios for the energy used for illumination purposes over the coming decades.
Greenhouse gas abatement: large positive returns for transition to efficient lighting
Figure 3.4.2 Projected overall energy use for lighting in different scenarios
Lighting energy use, PWh per year
Source: Report of the European Commission Ad Hoc Advisory Group for Energy Efficiency
8 6 4 2 0 2010 2020 2030 2040 2050 Status quo Existing technology Market dynamics Assertive scenario
Status quo scenario This scenario reflects the extrapolation of the present situation based on the forecast of the International Energy Agency (IEA). Nearly 70% of the lighting energy used today, however, goes to lamps for which a better alternative is available. Existing technology scenario Switching to the best alternative available with existing technologies would save 30% of the energy needed for illumination with respect to the status quo scenario, but would not reverse the trend towards higher energy needs. The amount of light needed is increasing, however, and hence the luminaire market is steadily growing. Only if we fully
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International Energy Agency: Lights labour lost, Policies for Energy Efficient Lighting, (2006). International Energy Agency, European Commission Ad Hoc Advisory Group ICT for Energy, Consultation Group on Lighting & Photonics Technologies (2008) SET Plan. The European Commission has presented a strategic plan to accelerate the development and deployment of cost-effective low carbon technologies. This plan comprises measures relating to planning, implementation, resources and international cooperation in the field of energy technology.
See www.vattenfall.com
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adopt digital lighting6 as depicted by the remaining scenarios will we be able to cope with the increasing demand for lighting over the coming decades without increasing its energy usage. Market dynamics scenario In this scenario the present rate of replacement of illumination sources with LEDs and OLEDs is taken into account. Assertive scenario In the assertive approach public authorities and industry team up in a joint effort to promote and demonstrate on a large scale what intelligent LED and OLED lighting can do for our economy, and so to speed up market acceptance. Because all electrical lighting will be based on intelligent LED and OLED systems by 2050, energy consumption at that time is expected to be the same as in the market dynamics scenario. But the cumulative energy consumption is significantly less. The energy savings forecast with intelligent LED systems will result in a global annual saving of 1 300 TWh in 2030 and 3 000 TWh in 2050. Because we are dealing exclusively with grid-based lighting this can be translated immediately into the annual output of 650 to 1 500 medium-sized, 200 MW electrical power stations delivering 2 TWh of energy a year. 190 to 450 billion a year will be saved on our global fossil fuel bill between 2030 and 20507 and can be invested in economic growth instead. LEDs last much longer than conventional light sources and this will add to the sustainability of this solution. The superior optical performance of SSL compared to gasdischarge lamps will substantially reduce light pollution at night, with a positive impact both on the ecosystem and on each individual. Gas-discharge technology relies to a large extent on the use of mercury. If we adopt LED and OLED technology, no hazardous substances such as mercury will be introduced into our ecosystem. But one billion people around the world will probably never be connected to the electricity grid. They rely on kerosene to generate light, which is very expensive, produces poor illumination and is hazardous to health. LEDs do not need the high voltages supplied by the grids for their operation. They can be connected directly to low-voltage systems consisting of photovoltaic cells and batteries. In this way good quality, affordable lighting will become available to this large group of people as well. The social impact of LEDs, and intelligent SSL systems in particular, can best be described as creating greater visual comfort at less cost to the user and the environment. Saving energy always pays for itself over an acceptable period. Providing quality light when and where it is needed creates a much more pleasant environment. Good quality light will improve well-being and personal performance. Users will be able to adapt the light to their personal preferences much easier than with todays lighting technology. SSL lighting also offers new freedom in the design of fixtures, making lighting a thing of beauty in many ways. Seizing the initiative in these emerging technologies from an early development phase will give Europe an economic advantage. At the same time it will help us respond to the challenges presented by the low-carbon economy and climate change. These economic and social imperatives are well aligned with the technology thrusts described here. If we look further down the road, OLEDs will become increasingly important and will complement LEDs. The special features of OLEDs make it possible to create highly
6 7 This expression refers to intelligent light management. Assuming an oil price of 100 euros per barrel.
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efficient, homogenous light sources that emit from a large area rather than a point. The technology behind area light sources is still developing, but in the coming years OLED light sources in the form of tiles mounted on walls or ceilings will create large and uniform light-emitting surfaces. OLEDs also lend themselves to innovative lighting applications, such as structured light sources for signage or variable-colour, transparent and flexible sources. For general lighting purposes it is important to improve the efficiency of OLEDs and extend their lifetime. To take advantage of this potential, Europe must develop mass manufacturing equipment and processes. At present, Europe leads the market for lighting and luminaires (light fixtures). European companies dominate the lighting market and there are more than one thousand luminaire companies. Other countries are also investing heavily in this area and comprehensive governmental programmes from basic and applied research to market access activities have started in the past few years. Countries like the United States, China, and South Korea all have strategic and focused solid-state lighting research and deployment programmes. Many countries are investing billions of euros in tackling this area systematically. As the shift towards semiconductor lighting is already under way, now is the right moment to seize the opportunity to save energy and create jobs in Europe. We need a strategic, pan-European approach to solid-state lighting as none of the EU member states on its own has the critical mass to compete with the massive investments being made abroad. It is therefore urgently necessary to launch a combined and strong effort involving industry, the European Commission and the EU member states to quickly come up with reliable, high-performance LED and OLED technology that looks good while being cost effective and saving energy.
Fig. 3.4.3 A vision for the future: Transparent OLED windows OSRAM Opto Semiconductros
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Fig. 3.4.4 Energy-efficient lighting concepts contribute to a modern architectural design OSRAM
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SSL through lower energy bills and a better living environment with less light pollution at night and more natural-looking artificial lighting during the day. Benefits will extend beyond the lighting industry itself. Companies in the upstream markets, such as producers of materials and system components, as well as those in the downstream market, including producers of high-end applications and devices employing SSL solutions, will all profit from this action. Apart from the general lighting market, where the biggest impact is expected, other products and applications will include: lighting and illumination systems based on SSL, including automotive lighting; architectural lighting; off-grid lighting; intelligent light management systems to tap the full potential of SSL; large area (LED and OLED) displays for outdoor use; safety signage; digital projectors of all sizes, from pocket-size to high brightness (LED and OLED); TV and display backlighting (LED).
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According to EPIA a 12% market share of the EU electricity demand for photovoltaics in 2020 is an achievable objective
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Europe is asked to achieve three important goals by 2020 and support solar energy and photovoltaics. Europe should encourage the development of solar cells to improve their efficiency by 30%. European industry should achieve costs below 0.10 per kWh for electricity from industrial scale photovoltaic systems. The share of photovoltaic electricity in the EU electricity market should be more than 10%, compared with less than 1% today. These three objectives in photovoltaics will help the EU meet its ambitious goal of a 20% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions by 2020.
Fig. 3.5.2 The future generation will rely on renewable resources Fotolia
Europe will only be competitive in future if it manages to significantly increase efficiency and productivity
1/2 SET For 2020, Report, EPIA, 2009 3 4 PV resources annual review displays development of utility-scale PV power plants: all-time records in capacity and growth, available at http://www.solarserver.de Solar PV Builds Momentum across Europe, available at http://www.emerging-energy.com
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Edge isolation Laser grooved buried contacts Texturing (etch barrier ablation) ID marking Cutting Wafer inspection Defect repair
Selective ablation (openings) Wrap-through (emitter, metal) Dopant diffusion (selective emitter) Laser-fired contacts Singulation (CPV cutting) Interconnection (module soldering)
thin-film cells
Only two laser applications are in widespread use today edge isolation for c-Si and patterning for thin-film panels. Most of the processes in the table are still at the proof-ofconcept stage or in laboratory-scale demonstrations. A lot of research has been put into ways to increase efficiency, many of them using lasers, but the record efficiencies attained in laboratories cannot be reproduced on the production line. A consistent, commercial laser production technology is still not available for all the manufacturing steps required. A successful deployment of those steps requires: access to a wide range of laser sources with different wavelengths, pulse widths, repetition rates and power levels; expertise on laser processing (and machining) and knowledge on how to transport laser beams and modify beam profiles from laser output to sample including scanning options; characterisation of solar cells after laser processing to predict final cell performance in a production environment.
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Although several issues have been addressed in R&D projects across Europe, there remains an urgent need for a large-scale holistic approach to pave the way for laser applications in solar cell production. There are two priorities. First, we need to match the roadmaps of the laser and photovoltaic industries. The demand now is for more compact, more reliable lasers with faster throughput (higher repetition rates). Novel, laser-enabled design concepts require new laser architectures and a sound understanding of mechanisms related to process and materials. Laser systems will include compact lasers of high average power delivering ultra-short (sub-nanosecond) pulses, as well as improved beam delivery systems to carry the laser light to where it is needed. New concepts for novel laser wavelengths and frequency conversion (green, ultraviolet and deep ultraviolet) and for spatial and longitudinal mode control have to be developed. Novel strategies such as remote and scanner technologies or multiple-beam processing are needed in order to raise productivity. Second, we need to make more use of automation to cut the time from R&D to production. Such innovations should make full use of the advantages lasers can offer. For example, high-speed robotic systems used in conjunction with high-performance vision systems will shorten cycle times. R&D activities should be accompanied by demonstration projects and measures to support the qualification of pilot production lines. Market dynamics within the photovoltaic industry drive each of the different thin-film and c-Si cell architectures. Laser processing is a basic prerequisite for high-volume, low-cost manufacturing of thin-film panels. In the production of c-Si cells laser systems allow much thinner silicon wafers to be processed and so drive down the costs of silicon feedstocks. They also raise processing speeds and improve the efficiency of the cells. Thus, laser applications in photovoltaics meet the demand for higher efficiency of solar cells and lower cost per watt. This large-scale action on new photonic tools for photovoltaics offers a unique opportunity to promote R&D and deployment and help European companies stay at the forefront of technology in solar cell production. It will help maintain and further strengthen Europes strong market position in the photovoltaic industry and so support European competitiveness, employment and the reliability of the energy supply.
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3.6
Fig. 3.6.1 The number of older people in Europe will grow considerably in the coming decades Fotolia
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healthcare in europe
Good health and good healthcare are very important factors for European society and each individual. We expect to be protected against illness and disease whether we are at home or at work and while we are travelling. We want to bring up future generations in a healthy environment and demand a safe and hygienic workplace. The EU health strategy, Together for Health: A Strategic Approach for the EU 2008-2013, was adopted in 2007 and is a strategic framework for work on health at the EU level. According to this strategy, health is a central factor in peoples lives and we need to support it by effective policies and activities in member states, both at European and global levels.3 Article 152 of the Amsterdam Treaty of the European Union says that a high level of human health protection shall be ensured in the definition and implementation of all Community policies and activities. This article shows that public health in Europe is a very significant issue. We can regard health as the greatest wealth 4 which means that a healthy European population is a prerequisite for economic and social prosperity. New technologies are revolutionising healthcare and methods of predicting, preventing and treating illness. Photonic solutions and applications have an important role to play and can contribute to the future sustainability of health systems in Europe.
Fig. 3.6.2 Molecular imaging reveals a cancer tumour Zentrum fr Neuropathologie Mnchen
1 2
Eurostat population projections published on the International Day of Older Persons, September 29, 2006 The impact of ageing on public expenditure: projections for the EU25 Member States on pensions, healthcare, long term care, education and unemployment transfers (2004-2050), Economic Policy Committee and European Commission (DG ECFIN) 2006, European Economy, Special Report No. 1/2006
3/4 Commission of the European Communities, Together for health: A Strategic Approach for the EU 2008 -2013 5 Eurostat regional yearbook 2008, available at http://www.eurostat.org
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the current diagnosis of disease Two thirds of all diseases today cannot be treated by tackling their root causes
Two thirds of all diseases today, among them dementia and some ophthalmic diseases, cannot be treated by tackling their root causes. This is not only a global but a European challenge. Many diseases can only be diagnosed relatively late in their development, so we need better diagnostic tools and methods to further develop efficient treatments. Changing patterns of illness call for more preventive medicine and earlier diagnosis. Research in life science to support preventive medicine will contribute to a significant reduction of healthcare costs. The application of photonics in healthcare could reduce costs by as much as 20%. Photonic solutions help to diagnose severe illness patterns and to cure patients at an early stage. Early diagnosis by photonic technologies and applications will help prevent illness and so have a beneficial effect on patient health, on the healthcare system and on society. As demographic change and the ageing society in Europe push healthcare costs upwards, photonic solutions may help to reduce these costs and to improve quality of life.
Fig. 3.6.3 Cancer diagnostics improve healthcare in Europe Pathologisches Institut der Ludwig Maximilians Universitt Mnchen
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Fig. 3.6.4 The elderly generation should play a full part in our society Fotolia
the development of methods and tools. This process needs to be coordinated to avoid duplication of effort and to broaden the transfer and exchange of ideas. In many cases completely new methods will not be necessary. An appropriate combination of existing photonic (and even non-photonic) methods could quickly lead to better solutions than the current gold standards. We can expect more precise and faster diagnosis, better forecasts of the likely course of the disease and improved recommendations for treatment. The new techniques should also have the potential to follow-up and control the treatment regimes. Patients and patient organisations must be involved at all stages in this work. This will help to ensure that the resulting solutions are practical, gentle on the patient and therefore likely to be widely accepted. Once the solutions have matured they will be subject to clinical trials in at least twenty to forty medical centres. Industry must be strongly involved in the development processes alongside the universities, research institutes and hospitals to ensure that these new diagnostic tools are rapidly transformed into marketable products. At present the time to market (and, therefore, the time to the patient) is much too long. Legislative action at a European level would help ensure the success of this proposed European large-scale action.
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3.7
Photonic solutions and applications will help develop the European knowledge society
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E-mobility describes the development of contracts and business processes via the internet. Operations can be organised in the virtual space with the help of machine-to-machine communication detached from the mobility of a person. European Commissions Digital Competitiveness Report, available at http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/newsroom/cf/itemlongdetail. cfm?item_id=5146
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Activities Use of broadband internet Interactive activities such as communication and online financial services Use of eGovernment services
Fig. 3.7.1 Use of the internet in Europe. Source: European Commissions Digital Competitiveness Report.
The internet offers enormous opportunities for future economic growth but it will require development of the next-generation information infrastructure. Information technologies tend to be associated with productivity improvements, so the exploitation of the latest technologies will give European industries a competitive advantage and so protect and create jobs. But information and communication technology also uses large amounts of energy the internet is said to consume as much energy as international air traffic. Europe has a strong responsibility to promote energy efficiency in information and communication by way of photonic technologies and applications.
Today, the major highways of communication and information flow are optical
Fig. 3.7.2 Made by light the internet relies on optical fibres Fotolia
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Fig. 3.7.3 Information & communication technology connects the globe Fotolia
The internet, as the biggest machine in the world, will become a photonic engine
embedded in our homes and places of work as well as in our equipment. We all now depend on this infrastructure for our communication, business and entertainment needs and look forward to the next stages of its evolution, whether they be in new services, enhanced connectivity, lower cost or infotainment. This evolution is essential to a sustainable future. Genuine broadband communications, available everywhere, will continue to revolutionise all aspects of society, relieving pressure on areas as diverse as energy and transport, particularly as communication and visualisation technologies overcome barriers of distance and geography. As the World Wide Web grows by the day, optical solutions for communication will become more important and the internet, as the biggest machine in the world, will become a photonic engine. In 2020, the internet will be mainly used with mobile appliances and will link mobile phones, PCs, domestic appliances, machines and vehicles.
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We propose to create digital villages where residents can enjoy very highspeed internet access
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3.8
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We must also improve the general reliability of products, systems, buildings and infrastructures with the support of photonic solutions and applications. They also help to minimise the risk of human error in the operation of technical systems. All these diverse fields of application show that future photonic technologies and solutions will help make Europe a safer place.
Photonics can contribute to the design of the sensors themselves, their communications and their sources of power
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coordinated, large-scale action to bring this technology to fruition at prices the market will accept. The benefits to Europe will not only be in more secure borders, but in the wider market for video surveillance systems of all kinds.
An open basis: for surveillance solutions for sensor developers for energy developers
Operational use
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The main challenge of the wireless sensor network lies in energy management at each sensor node. It may be overcome through generating and storing electrical energy in each node and by drastically reducing energy consumption. Energy generation may come from various sources such as solar and wind but will always remain limited and irregular. Energy consumption by the sensor node has three main origins. The sensors themselves: This is a challenge for sensor research. Communication: Energy used in communication can be reduced and one challenge of this action will be to select and develop the best technological solutions. But any energy savings will always be limited by the amount of information to be exchanged. Computing: Another challenge is therefore to use low-power local computation to reduce the need to transmit data between the nodes of the network. This will require embedded intelligence tailored to the application. Figure 3.8.4 shows how these various challenges depend on each other. It indicates that an integrated but open approach to the problem is essential.
Sector
Autonomy
Flexibility
needs
hardware Sensor
Innovative hardware
Systems
Sensor intelligence Information fusion at sensor level
and standards
application
Network
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The output of the action will be: architecture for a basic wireless sensor node and its standards; design and demonstration of a first batch of sensor nodes; demonstration of a first wireless video surveillance system. Partners in the action will be: end users to drive the first application; video surveillance integrators to drive technical needs and standards and integrate the demonstration; research centres to work on embedded intelligence; industries to define the architecture, design and build demonstration equipment; sensor providers (including photonic sensors) and research centres to provide leading edge sensors.
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4.0
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4.1
Over the last five years the information age has changed the way many people live their lives. Young people are now on the third or fourth generation of mobile phone technology, have progressed through text messages, instant messaging platforms such as MSN, to personal web space offered by Myspace and on to social networking sites such as Facebook and Bebo. Sites like Linkedin and Plaxo are now used by many communities of professional people to network, stay in touch with former colleagues and find new jobs. Many connected people will have access to many gigabytes of online storage, carry a feature phone with processing power equivalent to mainframe computers of 20 years ago and have gigabytes of storage on their person in the form of USB memory devices and phone memory. In addition to the benefits to our social lives we are starting to see great improvements in healthcare, government and education through increased web access. These aspects of e-health and e-government will have longer-term benefits as the reliability and pervasiveness of ICT increases.
Fig. 4.1.1 Fibre will be a key technology for Next Generation Broadband Deployment Fraunhofer Heinrich Hertz Institute
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Figure 4.1.2 the changing shape of networks what the future might look like
IPTV forecast growth by 2011: 160 million terabytes pa (based on > 50 million subscribers; ~5 Mbit/s per user; 4 hours/day)
Source: Ericsson
300 ExAbyTES (1 Eb = 1018 b) HDTV IPTV VIDEO Media streaming & VoD Gaming Network devices Group & multimedia communications Web communities Downloads & file sharing Browsing, e-mail, messaging VOICE 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
High-bandwidth services with strict demands on QoS Broadcast VoD Downloads Peering video
Fixed and mobile multimedia broadband HIGH-SPEED INTERNET Information retrieval Gaming Social networking
Commodity
All these factors have helped to make us the most connected and informed society ever. We see instantly pictures and video from almost anywhere in the world, wherever there is mobile phone and internet access. Turning off access to these services is seen as the act of a repressive regime and so network access is now considered to be one of our basic human rights. The importance of mobile technology should not be underestimated in assessing the growth of the communications sector. Whereas the penetration of landline telephony has remained constant over the last ten years, at 47 lines per 100 residents in the EU-27, the number of mobile phone subscriptions has risen from 12 to 106 per 100 residents. In other words there are now more mobile phones than people. Access to web-based services, including mobile-based services, and the speed and quality of those connections can have an important bearing on the ability of people and communities to be competitive. Areas with poor broadband can be seen as disadvantaged compared to areas with high-quality services, and ultimately as less productive. Photonics is the link between all of these developments and the underlying communications networks. European institutions and companies have a key role to play in the photonics industry. All of the above services and communication tools are leading to a continued growth in network traffic of around 40-50% (compound annual growth rate). This growth will be further strengthened in future by novel broadband services (Figure 4.1.2). The amount of data now being stored (and so available for access via the internet) is approaching 500 billion gigabytes, which is equivalent to two top-of-the-range iPods for every person on the planet. From all of this frenetic activity come the drivers to build faster, more dynamic networks to access this data, optical networks which are transparent to light throughout, lower-power solutions to reduce the carbon footprint of the internet, and cheaper components and systems to extend these services to everyone.
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4.1.2
Over the last thirty years the use of optical components has grown to the point that the global telecommunications market has come to depend on this key technology to link all its backbone services and also to link into the access network. The next step has already started, with the fibre network being taken to the home, the office or at least to the end of the street with the various options of FTTx (fibre to the curb, home, and so on). Because of this dependence on fibre, optical components and optical systems, photonics is considered an enabling technology for the global communications market. In this section we examine this market and the individual segments for fibre, components and systems in the context of a European vision of maintaining a leading position as both suppliers and users of this technology. The worldwide telecoms market reached $ 3.4 trillion in 2008, a growth of 3.2% over 2007 (Figure 4.1.3). The projected growth profile shows this market expanding to nearly $ 6 trillion by 2020.
25 20 15 10 5 0 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020
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The leverage provided by the optical network equipment and components industry is very large and supports the overall telecom services market. The European market is following the overall trend and is expected to exceed $1.6 trillion by 2020.
10 8 6 4 2 0 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020
Total for 2000 Passives, ROADMs and amplifiers Transceivers / modules Lasers
optical components
The explosion in internet growth and the expansion in network build in the late 1990s caused exponential growth in component sales, which then dropped dramatically during the dot-com bust of 2001-2002 (Figure 4.1.5). However, this can now be seen as the start of the recovery process and subsequent development work has focused on reducing costs and moving toward volume production, something that was not always present in previous development activity. The expansion of the high-speed communications market has provided many opportunities for development of associated component technologies. This has benefited the European photonics industry (Figure 4.1.6).
Fig. 4.1.6 Automated on-wafer testing of tuneable integrated laser MachZehnder modulator chips (T-ILMZ) for 10 Gb/s applications Oclaro
Market leverage
The vitally important worldwide telecoms industry is underpinned by the optical network equipment and optical component industries on which it depends. Whilst the global market estimates in Figure 4.1.7 are conservative, and subject to some 10 % variation between analysts, they nevertheless indicate the relative sizes of these market segments. They demonstrate the immense leverage provided by the underlying optical equipment and component markets.
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Overall telecom market 2008 Optical network equipment market 2008 Optical component market
Fig. 4.1.7 World telecom, optical equipment and components market Source: OIDA Global Optoelectronics Industry Market Report and Forecast 2009
These figures are relatively conservative and have been subject to some harmonisation because of the analysis by OIDA (Optical Industry Development Association). Some analysts are quoting figures as much as 10% higher, but nevertheless it does highlight the importance of these market segments both in the EU and in worldwide markets.
4.1.3
The financial crisis of 2008-2009 may have slightly reduced expenditures on network builds, but the forecast from analysts such as Infonetics is that this market will continue to grow at 8% CAGR from 2010. Many of the major companies active in optical communications are based in the EU or have extensive development activities here. The telecom market in Europe is very strong and telecoms are a major employer with over a million people on their payrolls. This figure has remained between 1.1 and 1.0 million for the past twelve years.
europes position
Figure 4.1.8 index of turnover for telecom services compared with industry as a whole
Source: Eurostat (STS)
150 140 130 120 110 100 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 Telecom services Industry as a whole
Figures from Eurostat (Figure 4.1.8) indicate that the index of turnover for telecom services in the EU-27 member states showed uninterrupted growth during the period 20002006 despite the total industry index rising much more slowly with almost zero growth for 2001-2003. Much of this expansion has been driven by the growth in the mobile sector. Arising from this continuous growth in network capacity is an opportunity to coordinate and optimise the use of different technologies no single technology will have a monopoly or be seen as the right solution in all cases.
Europe has very strong leadership in communications technologies. Within Europe there are: network operators with world-wide presence; major system houses which are European or maintain strong European presence and are technology leaders (mobile and landline);
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large numbers of component houses SME suppliers to large global players; many direct and indirect employment opportunities for European workers. The worldwide optical network hardware market in 2008 was $15 billion (OIDA, Infonetics). EU companies or companies with significant EU operations have 45% of that market, worth $7 billion. Sales in Europe were $2.3 billion and exports came to $5 billion.
Telecoms are a major employer with over a million people on their payrolls
250 200 150 100 50 0 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 Other Cable DSL
In Europe several companies are developing detailed commercial plans for mass deployment of fibre to the home
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Research on behalf of the FTTH Council Europe reached the following findings: European broadband speeds are rising at more than 50% a year; high-end broadband usage is growing at 20% a year; FTTH broadband homes in Europe drive three times more traffic than ADSL. Since their introduction thirty years ago, photonics technologies have greatly contributed to the massive development of communication networks. It is highly likely that they will underpin most of the network revolutions to come, as unrivalled cost-efficient and power-efficient enablers of new applications that need a lot of bandwidth. Rather than gradual and incremental steps, the rapid pace of development in photonics will continue to lead to the radical increases in network capacity and performance that are necessary to support innovative applications.
4.1.4
An analysis of the market forces which drive the use of photonics suggests that four challenges need to be considered: making networks more transparent; making networks more dynamic; making networks faster; making networks greener. These paths correspond to four market drivers that push simultaneously but that cannot all be satisfied at the same time (Figure 4.1.10). It is therefore important that European industry benefits from research along all four paths in order to preserve its leadership. The overarching challenge is to make networks affordable over the long run, by dramatically reducing the overall cost per digital bit.
Make it
FaSter t r a n S Pa r e n t dynaMic
Make it
greener
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Ph oton ic s 21 Stra te gic Re s e a rc h Age n da
Make it more
Make it more
There are other challenges in photonics which are not included here. Security, for example, is important. Although techniques such as quantum cryptography can be employed at the photonics layer, it is the end-to-end security criteria that must be considered. Hence the security level could be increased by using more secure encryption algorithms at the IP (internet protocol) transport layer.
The potential of photonics technologies to manipulate light by themselves remains largely unexploited
Fig. 4.1.11 Fibre connections in a street cabinet Franois Marchal for France Tlcom Orange
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Fig. 4.1.12 Fibre connections in a street cabinet Franois Marchal for France Tlcom Orange
Transparent networks will be able to handle many different types of optical signals
For example, longer distances will need to be bridged across a greater variety of fibre types than we see today. This will require novel link designs with appropriate dispersion maps to mitigate the affects of impairments in the fibre. All the performance estimators which are already obsolete will need to be reassessed. Interactions between signals at various bit rates, travelling across a variety of fibre types will cause new propagation impairments (primarily nonlinear effects) that have to be characterised and contained. The accurate assessment of the distortions stemming from transparent nodes, such as crosstalk or filtering, will need to be included in this picture as well. Coherent detection and massive digital signal processing may help to contain these spurious effects and will deserve particular research attention. The all-optical processing techniques for signal regeneration (preferably of all the wavelength-multiplexed signals at once) or for wavelength conversion are also promising. They could not only help to further extend transparency, but also to bring about wavelength agility (the ability to rapidly change wavelength) and, hence, further save on the number of terminals. The requirement for more transparency also apples to optical access networks and home networks for one simple reason: transparent networks will be able to handle many different types of optical signals and so cope with all types of traffic in a cost-efficient and energy-efficient way. Radio-over-fibre techniques, for example, will be key for more transparency in optical access and home networks, leading to convergence of fixed and mobile networks. Long-reach optical access networks (up to 100 kilometres) will allow convergence of metropolitan and access networks, with WDM and cheap optical amplification as a common denominator and colourless customer modules (which do not have remotely configurable tunable components) as a prerequisite. This trend towards more transparency may largely rely on the use of wavelength or subcarrier multiplexing techniques, or both, which can be combined with transparent optical or radio-frequency processing,
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alleviating the need to perform digital processing in all parts of the network. Hence, the convergence of metropolitan and access networks could be eased if the aggregation and distribution of signals were to be performed by optical means. Similarly, the convergence of home and access networks would benefit from the introduction of optically transparent home gateways, which remain to be developed. Transparency has the additional advantage of contributing to more energy-efficient networking without decreasing flexibility and agility. Bit for bit, optical transparency will save both money and energy.
The dynamicity of the optical network contributes to automatically controlling and managing connections
Future optical access networks will be able to provide on-demand broadband access connections
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a promising solution for future generations of passive optical networks. In the longer term, optical burst or packet switching is considered a solution for convergent access and metropolitan networks, opening the way to end-to-end all-optical switching in the entire network. Future use of home area networks will also require a high level of dynamicity. As home broadband and digital storage devices become more common, it will be possible to transfer content at high data rates either from remote servers or between devices distributed throughout the home. This will require agile, multi-format optical home networks based on multipoint-to-multipoint topologies. These advanced architectures will largely benefit from wavelength division multiplexing and subcarrier multiplexing techniques, so as to easily manage multiple access to the network as well as various formats and services including data, video and wireless.
Component design naturally links to architectural aspects such as implications for the control plane. This can then be expanded to understand how to achieve and manage the growth in core network capacity required to support the projected explosion in IP traffic and bit rates at the network edges. This growth will lead to the development of component technologies for robust 100 Gb/s systems, including 100 Gb/s interfaces using, for instance, multilevel modulation formats, with the associated management requirements. Ultimately this will lead to even higher transmission rates with the next step being predicted to be 400 Gb/s. It is likely that the development of coherent technologies will increase the need for the implementation of real-time digital signal processing to mitigate optical impairments. This processing is likely to require the development of complex ASICs and ASSPs from silicon design houses. This is another area where European companies have significant strengths. There have been many lab and field demonstrations of technology at 40 Gb/s, 100 Gb/s and faster, but none of these has come close to delivering the radical reduction in costs needed. The increased data rate drives complexity, dispersion problems, power consumption, packing density and many other factors, including the reduction in transmission distance as rates increase. All of these contribute to an increase in bit transport costs compared to multiple 10 Gb/s channels. The focus of the research activity must be to reverse this situation, allowing European system pro-
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viders, component manufacturers and operators to take the lead in manufacturing and deploying these next-generation systems. The key technologies to be developed include: sources, receivers, optical coding schemes and electronic methods designed to mitigate dispersion; packaging and manufacturing technology to reduce the transmit and receive costs and increase functionality and packing density, including multiple channel assembly. To enable low-cost switching and regeneration, other all-optical components may be essential, including switches, gates and non-linear devices. The target must be to enable 40 Gb/s transport at or near the costs of 10 Gb/s transport today meaning at least a fourfold reduction in cost per bit. As a follow-on from the research priority on ultra-high-speed access networks there is an assumption that if the access network evolves to 10 Gb/s and beyond, then there will be upward pressure on the metropolitan and core networks to continue to evolve to rates of 100 Gb/s and above. The consensus within Photonics21 and in the world telecommunications industry is that the demand for bandwidth will continue to grow at a superlinear rate, fuelling the growth of new services, new ways of doing business and novel infotainment applications. The component and systems industries are the enablers of this growth and potentially massive wealth creation. The consequences of Europe not being at the centre of this are most severe. We need to lead in standards, lead in the availability of bandwidth and give our applications industries the best possible platforms from which they can lead. It is clear that this will only work if the industry can deliver more managed bandwidth for less cost on a year on year basis. The capability of the optical transport layer must carve out its own Moores law of scaling, with cost being the most important parameter. Europe is already falling behind in the definition, systems and technology development for 100 Gb/s transport. This is not primarily a question of inventing new technologies or pushing technologies to the limit, it is about involving all the nodes in the supply chain to tackle engineering problems that seemed insurmountable only a few years ago. The Framework Programme is a core instrument to facilitate this and make possible panEuropean cooperation at the pre-market phase. This should be achieved by increased efforts in photonic integration technologies, which are essential for providing the functionality needed for the advanced modulation formats required for 100 Gb/s transmission. The impact of this activity will be felt on many levels: leadership of European industry in telecommunications; leadership in standards; European ownership of key intellectual properties and patents; industry and academia working towards a common agenda in photonics systems and components, with academic leadership restored; systems leadership culminating in demonstration islands, enabling development of new applications ahead of the rest of the world; leadership in the emerging field of generic photonic integration technology.
It is necessary to deliver truly cost-effective transport at 40 Gb/s, 100 Gb/s and beyond
expected impact
Fig. 4.1.14 Development and testing of 160 Gb/s transmission systems NTUA, Greece
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greener optical networks Photonic networking and transmission for energy efficiency in information and communication technologies
The energy consumption of communication and data networks is strongly affected by the existing network architecture. It has energy-inefficient components, an unfavourable distribution of active network elements and a suboptimal balance between routing and transport. Energy efficiency is an essential consideration for next-generation networks. To achieve significant improvement, energy efficiency must be included from the beginning as a major criterion in the design and assessment of new network architectures. Various technologies have to be combined to form an overall view of the energy-efficient architecture. Optical networking solutions have considerable potential as the longer transmission spans need fewer active network elements. This is even more important, since energy is consumed not only by the communication equipment itself, but also by ancillary systems such as air conditioning, ventilation and transformers. Optical techniques help to achieve much greater energy efficiency. The optimised optical access network has an especially high impact on the energy efficiency of the overall network. The requirements to be fulfilled are extended maximum reach of more than 100 kilometres, a high per-client bit rate in the range 1-10 Gb/s, and the use of simple and passive optical technologies as far as possible. Photonics is the only transmission technology able to fulfil these requirements. Fibre to the curb, building, or the home (FTTx) networks are now on the way to being implemented. The replacement of DSL solutions by optical techniques reduces energy consumption in access and in-house networks. Planning tools for such FTTx networks are needed to choose the appropriate solution under different conditions. The optimised optical access network can eliminate sites completely or at least reduce their complexity by removing much of the active electronic equipment required. It allows aggregation layers to be eliminated and consolidated. Layer 2 and layer 3 switching and routing functionalities are concentrated in fewer sites. Besides simplifying the network, this is also expected to significantly reduce power consumption.
More power
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KiloStream PSTN DPCN
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ISP
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More power
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DMux 80 Conv
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Transport networks already use optical transmission to a large extent, but there is still a need for more capacity and further improvement of energy efficiency. A vision of the future transport network is that of a packet transport network, optimised for cost and energy, scalable to 100 Tb/s throughput per needing much less power. A big challenge is that the traffic volume is growing much faster than the processing power. IP look-up and forwarding engines will be the biggest energy consumers in the networks. So despite semiconductor technology improvements, power consumption is still growing with bit rate and volume. This challenge can only be solved with novel architectures and technologies, namely optical technologies. As in the access network, the number of network elements, such as routers and switches, can be further reduced due to longer and more efficient transmission links. This in itself already makes a major contribution to energy savings (Figure 4.1.15). Novel multi-layer switch architectures that allow photonic bypassing of electronic processing achieve scalability towards 100 Tb/s throughputs per node, and at the same time reduce the complexity, power and cost of processing. Multi-layer optimisation of such networks to achieve the best mix of photonics and electronics at lowest cost and power will be an important field of future research. In general, switching at the lowest possible layer and lowest granularities will reduce bit and packet processing and save energy (Figure 4.1.16). The lesson learned from these considerations is that optical transmission and optical bypass are key to energy-efficient ICT. The placement and the dimensioning of data centres and their interaction with the dimensioning of the network also have to be taken into account. The integration of optical techniques and wireless systems (base stations) is promising. Novel techniques for the generation and distribution of microwave signals could reduce the energy needs of 3G/4G systems. Improving the equipment used, in terms of both performance and energy consumption, is a direct path to energy efficiency. This applies to chip sets, network processors and
The optimised optical access network has an especially high impact on the energy efficiency of the overall network
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all the other hardware in routers and base stations, for example. This is also true for new and integrated photonic components. The new developments described for energy-efficient network architectures, with photonics as the major part of the solution, should be accompanied by managing the remaining active network resources for power efficiency rather than being continuously powered. This introduction of low-power modes should be considered at all levels, from chips to systems and even at the network level. Such sleep modes are not well understood on the network level. On this level one could think of switching off a whole network node, transferring its function to other nodes. There are strong similarities to the restoration mechanism which is triggered by the breakdown of a node. Research is needed into a number of different areas. It is important to have a clear understanding of how fast the network can return to full performance when the load increases again. There may also be trade-offs between performance and energy consumption which will need to be investigated. The potentially instable behaviour in higher network layers caused by the deactivation and activation mechanisms would need to be understood. The implication of these mechanisms for network design, defining the right trigger criteria for initialisation or termination, and algorithms for energy saving modes are all items for research.
4.1.5
The key drivers outlined earlier in this section provide the underlying key areas that need to be addressed by any research activities in optical communications. The following two key challenges are relevant in 2009 and it is expected the integration of optical functions will continue in the same way as seen in silicon. The initial development of transistors opened up new opportunities. Today we have integrated photonic devices with a few functions; in future we can expect to see much greater numbers of functions being built into a single device.
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slow market penetration is the huge fragmentation in integration technologies, most of which have been developed and fully optimised for specific applications. Due to this fragmentation most technologies address a market which is too small to justify further development into a low-cost, high-volume manufacturing process. And new technology development or optimisation is required for each new application, which makes the entry costs high. This is very different from the situation in microelectronics, where a much bigger market, larger by several orders of magnitude, is served by a smaller number of integration technologies (mainly CMOS) which can address a wide variety of applications. This leads to extensive cost sharing for the large investments required to develop a powerful integration technology. Europes key academic and industrial players in photonic integration technology have been cooperating in ePIXnet, a Network of Excellence in the Sixth Framework Programme. The steering committee recommends applying the methodology of microelectronic integration to the field of photonics by developing a small number of generic integration technologies with a level of functionality that can address a broad range of applications.1 Such technologies, which should be made accessible via foundries, can address markets that are large enough to recover the development costs. The recommendation has been followed by a number of activities working towards a foundry model for three major integration technologies: InP-based integration technology, silicon photonics technology and a dielectric waveguide technology which covers the whole wavelength range from visible to infrared. These activities, in which academic and industrial partners are closely cooperating, have provided Europe with an early, internationally recognised lead in this field. The Framework Programme should further strengthen Europes position in this emerging technology, which will become the dominant technology in photonic integration. The approach should be holistic, including the development of software design
Photonic integration technologies are of key importance for lowcost, highperformance components
We should apply the methodology of microelectronics to photonics by developing generic integration technologies
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kits with powerful component libraries and a generic approach toward packaging. Chip dimensions should be standardised along with the positions of the optical and electrical input and output ports. Finally the Framework Programme should stimulate the formation of an ecosystem of users, designers, chip manufacturers, equipment manufacturers and software developers. Here it can build on the start that has been made in ePIXnet.
optical interconnects
Photonics finds some of its most challenging applications in the access, metropolitan and core networks connecting equipment situated many kilometres apart. But photonics is also a key enabling technology in short-reach optical communications used to interconnect devices within equipment, for short-range, free-space optical communications and for very short-reach optical interfaces at high bit rates. Optical fibre connections are also used in various data networks such as local area (LAN) and storage area (SAN) networks. They play an increasingly important role in computer networks in data centres or server farms, for instance. The connections vary in length, from a few metres to around 10 kilometres. As already observed in telecommunication networks, the transmitted data volumes are expected to increase at high growth rates. Data rates in the Tb/s range for a single connection appear realistic in five to ten years. Cost efficiency plays a significant role in this type of application, as does the drastic reduction of energy consumption. Optical technologies dissipate less heat and so need less cooling and ventilation equipment. Potential R&D topics include: increasing the single channel rate the current 10 Gb/s to 100 Gb/s and above; parallel transmission based on TDM and WDM; high-bit-rate transmission systems based on multimode fibres; high-bit-rate transmission systems based on plastic fibres (POF); high-capacity, short-range, free-space optical transmission up to Tb/s. The technology is being considered for micro-, short- and medium-range communications, including (but not limited to) on-chip communications within computers, inter-chip communications, backplane connections within servers and switches, communications between boxes, connectivity in the consumer and business electronics environment.
context
Photonics will find effective and profitable applications wherever conventional electronic interconnections meet intrinsic limitations caused by attenuation, power consumption and crosstalk. This is happening more and more often in ICT equipment where an enormous quantity of data has to be processed and transmitted over very high density, very high speed lines. As an example, within the next decade the traffic capacity on a multi-core CPU is foreseen to reach several tens of Tb/s. Copper links used in chip-to-chip, board-to-board and equipment-to-equipment connections require sophisticated I/O buffers, including complex equalisation circuitry at the price of costly power dissipation. They have to be mounted on PCBs and backplanes with several constraints on the design of the layout.
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Figure 4.1.20 revenue and unit forecast for active optical cables
Source: IGI Active Optical Cables Market Report 2009
80 60 40 20 0
Cables (millions)
In many cases in the development of the new generation of electronic equipment, the fundamental limit found above speeds of 10 Gb/s has already been encountered. Optical interconnections have practically unlimited bandwidth and an absence of crosstalk, which is why such technology is seen as the best solution. Active optical cables (AOCs) are optical communication links using digital electronic interfaces. Optic-electronic conversion is made inside the connectors. AOCs are well adapted to links running at or above 5 Gb/s, as well as to applications demanding extended cable lengths beyond 2 to 5 metres at these speeds. Copper-based cables are already experiencing significant challenges in this performance range, thus offering AOC providers an opportunity to move into this market. As shown in Figure 4.1.20, very high volumes are expected in the coming years. AOCs are expected to generate significant business growth over the next five years in several key segments: mainframe and supercomputers; desktop, notebook and portable personal computers, high-definition television and consumer electronics devices. Most of todays active cables are based on 850-nm VCSEL laser sources. Discrete elements such as VCSELs, drivers, photodiodes and transimpedance amplifiers are assembled and placed inside the connector. A few companies in the world are now developing a silicon photonics technology platform for active cables. It allows the integration of several complete fibre optic transceivers at each end of the cable.
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4.1.6
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Interconnects
Power consumption increases as speed increases. Reach limitations due to OSNR and impairment challenges. Components technology availability and evolution DSP algorithms and chip-sets Operation over mixed fibre types Equipment footprint
Power consumption increases as speed increases. Seamless replacement of copper links by optical links Scalability
Make it transparent
Wireless and land line convergence Metro and access convergence Reduce O-E-O conversions Operation over mixed fibre types Variable bit rate
Network convergence Network responsiveness to changing traffic demands Protection and restoration Insertion of new equipment
Make it greener
Total energy usage in end-to-end network Trade off between spectral efficiency and energy dissipation per bit Avoid O-E-O conversions. Move power-hungry switching to the edge of the network. Eliminate vertical stacks of purpose-built platforms.
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Communications and networking Spectrally efficient transmission Modulation formats DQPSK, OFDM Coherent detection 100 Gb/s 10 Gb/s optical access DSP and soft photonics Managing nonlinear impairments Forward error correction 1 and 10 Tb/s Ethernet
Interconnects Integration of photonics with electronics High-speed modulated lasers (direct or external modulation scheme) Integrated digital signal processing Decrease cost of Gb/s to compete with copper links.
Make it transparent
Network convergence New network architectures Meshed transparent networks Different data formats e.g. QPSK, SCM, OFDM Coherence and the use of DSP Increase reach Long reach access networks Link design Optical bypass Next generation ROADMs All-optical processing e.g. regeneration and wavelength conversion
Fast provisioning and reconfiguration Control plane and routing algorithms Network self-reconfiguration self-learning and auto-discovery of resources zero-touch photonics Impairment-aware, energyaware software for establishing connections Variable bit rate Optical cross-connects Adding and dropping sub-bands in/from multicarrier signals Optical packet switching Flow switching
Photonics/electronics integration: use of electronics to improve the performance and functionalities of photonic functions at negligible cost
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Make it greener
Uncooled and high-temperature devices Minimise energy dissipation Power saving strategies e.g. turning off unused resources Passive devices in particular for street level devices Traffic bypass implementation using ROADM technologies Long reach WDM-PON Photonic integration Energy-efficient network architectures with end-to-end perspective Energy-aware photonic networks planning
Photonics/electronics integration: use of electronics to compensate for fabrication dispersions and thermal drifts Decrease pJ/bit energy consumption to compete with copper links Low cost integrated transceivers Low power consumption modulators
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4.2
4.2.1
Traditionally Europe holds a leading position in industrial laser technologies, both in research and in business strength. The economic leadership is based on leading roles in developing, supplying and applying lasers and laser systems. Figure 4.2.2 shows the principal segments of this market. Although the market for laser sources used to process materials has had a persistent and significant 10% annual growth rate in the past decade (Figure 4.2.3), the world financial and economical crisis will lead to a shrinkage of 30 to 40% in 2009 compared to the previous year. Based on 2008 figures this will mean that the world market volume for laser materials processing systems in 2009 will be roughly 4 billion. Depending on further market development and a stabilisation of macroeconomic factors, laser suppliers will face rough conditions in 2010 as well. Leading laser market experts are anticipating, after economic revival, a continuation of the solid growth rates seen before the crisis. The main drivers for the use of laser technology in future applications are new wavelengths, higher output power (both average and peak), shorter pulses, higher power efficiencies, smaller components and lower costs. In order to maintain and improve the
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Figure 4.2.2 World market for laser materials processing systems 2008 by application
Total: EUR 6.4 billion Source: Optech Consulting (March 2009)
Microprocessing
22 %
Low-power macro, fine processing
51%
12 %
Marking, engraving
15 %
leading position of laser science in Europe and the competitiveness of its laser industry, solid funding for research and development is needed to meet the future needs of applications in Europe and worldwide. Future high-volume applications will generate a demand for laser systems to process high-strength steels, lightweight and crash-safe car bodies, photovoltaics and semiconductors, tubes and profiles, and miniaturised components in medical technology. There will be lively demand for technical, laser-made surface structures in many markets. Furthermore the trend towards customisation and the growing importance of industrial design, for example in consumer electronics, will require new methods for making new product shapes and lot size one production capabilities, with which single items are manufactured. The most challenging problem in manufacturing laser sources is price pressure, resulting from low-cost competition primarily in Asia. In response, the manufacturing sector in Europe must invest in high-quality, highly automated workstations and processes.
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Fig. 4.2.4 Laser welding with a TruFlow laser TRUMPF GmbH + Co. KG
If Europes laser industry can maintain its competitive edge, then there will be an opportunity to deliver equipment to the Americas and to Asias emerging markets. In this case, the laser sector will make a positive contribution to Europes trade balance and employment.
4.2.2
Europe holds leading position in the world market for photonics in industrial production
Europe holds a leading position in the world market for photonics used in industrial production. The worlds largest laser companies have their headquarters in Europe (RofinSinar, TRUMPF, and so on) as do many manufacturers of key laser components. Europeans benefit from a broad education, at high average academic achievement levels, provided by a dense network of universities, research institutes and other educational facilities. These cover all aspects of practical and theoretical skills while providing an adequate educational system for people of various talents. Several leading researchers in photonics were born in Europe and have established excellent research facilities here with expertise in key areas. They are now in a unique position to transfer know-how to industry. Industry itself has made major efforts to support these facilities, in addition to their own R&D activities in photonic technologies. While major R&D efforts today are limited to larger companies, smaller companies have always been innovative and would profit tremendously from a strengthened European initiative in photonics. Europes lead in laser technology is vulnerable to competition from Asian companies able to compete on price. Suppliers from China, Japan and emerging economies have secured a share of the market for smaller installations and bulk orders. These companies are improving their quality all the time, leading to a situation where prices are falling while one of Europes main competitive advantages shrinks. For now, Europes laser technology is still ahead in terms of innovative technology and optical excellence.
europes position
4.2.3
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manufacturing can only be secured by constant innovation, with new photon sources and engineering solutions promising faster and more flexible production techniques and even completely new methods. This constant quest for new photonic technologies will also have to consider the social and economic benefits. The environmental impacts of new components, processes and products will have to be assessed from the very beginning of the design phase and consider the entire life cycle, right through to the recycling of the final products. Difficulties are not rooted in basic physical laws but stem from the technical shortcomings of the optical components and systems in use today. Science will need to address the physical and technical limits of materials used in optical components as well as the deficiencies of the manufacturing process itself. In future, the quality of goods and products will take account of their impact on the environment. In future the main research and engineering efforts will focus on more efficient lasers (more light output for a given energy input), longer-lasting components that can be readily recycled, and maintenance-free manufacturing equipment. The increasing integration scale of components to ensure quality management and traceability of the final manufactured product will make all the difference to future mass-manufacturing installations. The markets for new light sources, new processing strategies and new photon transmission systems will be addressed. Better integration of the system components and the processes resulting from these efforts will ultimately drive innovation in science, technical engineering and industry. The physical and technical limitations of todays optical components can only be overcome by interdisciplinary research efforts in manufacturing technologies, microsystem engineering, nanotechnology, telecommunications and optics. More fundamental limitations must be tackled by basic research on the interaction between light and matter, on novel materials and on structures with revolutionary photonic properties. This will require work in materials science, quantum optics, thermodynamics and solid-state physics. All this research will open the way to groundbreaking new optical components and the corresponding technologies for their fabrication which, in turn, will lead to new photonic processes in manufacturing. These new processes will be more flexible, more functional and more productive. They will strengthen Europes leading position on the world market for photonic technologies and mechanical engineering and sustain this position in the future. The industrial partners in Photonics21 believe that the manufacturing industry has hardly begun to exploit the potential of photonics. A complete redesign of the underlying processes will make possible radically new manufacturing solutions. The challenge for industry is to develop and implement these solutions. In the next decade the photon will be used in many fields of production, some of which are already known but most of which are new. They include: macro- and microprocessing; lithography; optical quality control; optical sensing; new materials dedicated to photon processing; biotechnology; medical applications.
Europes leading position in engineering and machinetool manufacture can be maintained only through constant innovation
Market sectors
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These markets and applications will grow as the new photonic tools become more sophisticated. New opportunities for design and manufacturing will require highly qualified personnel at all levels. Demand for skilled staff will continue to increase and special efforts in education and training will be necessary to meet this demand. The creativity of skilled individuals will be a key factor in ensuring innovation and maintaining Europes leading position in photonics manufacturing.
research areas
The choice of primary research areas derives from the process of technological evolution necessary for successful product development. We propose a strategy which covers all steps in the manufacturing process, from basic research and development to the products themselves and their market penetration. Sustainable success in the market requires a broad and deep understanding of photonic manufacturing processes. The potential of photonics emerges both from current applications of photonic tools and from completely new applications that will be discovered as a result of the photons unique properties. Beam sources such as lasers play a major role in these applications. We need to further improve existing beam sources and develop new ones, and do the same for related technologies such as beam delivery and beam manipulation. Further development of optical materials used in beam sources is required, along with optical systems. The aim is to create industrial-grade systems that can meet tomorrows demands. Another focus is on the process itself, where the interaction between light and matter defines its intrinsic properties. Improved or advanced processes will need a complete understanding of the interplay between the laser beam, the material and the surrounding atmosphere. Finally, diagnostics and quality assurance must be addressed. Intensive development of sensor technology is necessary to meet these demands. A further challenge is to integrate and scale down todays solutions so as to broaden their applicability. Materials such as ceramics and plastics are promising candidates for new applications along with classical metal processing. A closed development cycle consisting of beam source, process and quality assurance has to be established to embark upon a path towards superior solutions for the manufacturing processes. Besides successful research and product development, the manufacturing sector needs to be educated about the potential that laser-assisted fabrication can offer to a particular application. We need to strengthen existing laser institutes and application centres and their interaction with industry. In Eastern Europe, for example, there are only a few institutes capable of transferring to local companies knowledge about laser processing of materials. This is becoming even more crucial since many of the manufacturing steps in the automotive industry have already been moved to Eastern Europe or will do so in future. Research priorities in machine vision and photonic quality assurance are relevant to an extremely broad range of applications covering the entire field of industrial production, manufacturing and quality, including assembly, robot vision and metrology. Therefore a major potential for improvements in production technology needs to be tapped by developing more sophisticated machine vision components and systems than those available today.
Fig. 4.2.6 Femtosecond lasers can be used for creating nanoparticles and microcomponents, or for structuring materials for cochlear implants Laser Zentrum Hannover
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Fig. 4.2.7 Optically pumped, vertical cavity, surface emitting lasers (VCSELs) Institute of Photonics, SUPA, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow
Great emphasis will have to be given to the development of new 3-D imaging technologies. Current techniques still have technical restrictions and are relatively expensive, so 2-D solutions are often used where 3-D solutions would be clearly preferable. New 3-D techniques (such as those based on time-of-flight principles) would extend the technological leadership of the European machine vision industry and have a significant impact on the competitiveness of its products. Another important research priority for machine vision is the use of multiple sensors, which combine the imaging of different physical effects invisible to the human eye. This will allow a wide variety of parameters to be measured in the production process, including the chemical composition of workpieces or substances. True colour measurement systems will further enhance innovation and competitiveness in manufacturing. In very general terms, machine vision systems will have to become faster, more compact, more precise, more robust and more easily applicable. The following discussion of research topics, with special emphasis on the next five years, has been divided into the domains Photon sources and optical components and Process development and manufacturing systems.
high-power lasers with improved performance in power, beam properties and efficiency
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The driving forces in laser development are saving energy in high-end manufacturing and high productivity rates to facilitate reconfigurable production units. Highly competitive and affordable laser sources will help broaden the acceptance of the laser as an industrial tool. Emphasis should be placed on development of continuous wave (CW) lasers with premium beam quality at 10 kW of power and above and wall-plug efficiencies exceeding 25%. Diffraction-limited short and ultra-short pulse lasers with repetition rates up to 100 MHz and pulse energies in the 10 J range are needed, as are high-brilliance diode lasers with power in the kilowatt range and nearly diffraction-limited beam quality. More generally speaking, industry needs lasers with better spatial and temporal control and stability. The development of reliable lasers needs simulation tools adapted to the different sectors. This is especially true for solid-state lasers where the wave propagation has to be characterised to anticipate the thermo-optical effects.
The 10% annual growth averaged over the past decade was attained almost exclusively with lasers operating at one of two wavelengths: 10.6 m and around 1 m. An expansion of the available wavelengths will multiply the growth potential of the laser systems market and make it easier to optimise the processes required by the manufacturing industries. Short-wavelength lasers can be used to improve the efficiency of the process or to measure faster and more precisely. Reliable and versatile frequency conversion systems are needed, as are high-power laser sources of variable wavelength for manufacturing and quality control. Looking at other wavelengths will also facilitate the production of high-power, eye-safe lasers for photonic manufacturing and measuring processes.
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The ability to tailor the wavelength of a laser to the required manufacturing process remains a major challenge. Simple and reproducible methods for assembling lasers could help to reduce cost and make high-power laser systems more reliable. The precision required to assemble reliable laser sources is a major technical challenge and an important cost factor. We need technologies and processes that will allow systems to operate unattended but reliably for long periods at precision better than one micrometre. A precision process to assemble all the parts of a laser is crucial because it has to be done reliably and cheaply. Microlasers have been manufactured successfully at a high level of integration but are limited in power. One way to reach a similar level of integration for high-power lasers would be to build them as single blocks. This technological challenge will need new, stable materials and assembly methods but could lead to more reliable sources. Fibre-optic beam delivery is one of the most frequent reasons for using modern solidstate lasers. This key advantage would be lost if advances in fibre-optic beam guides were not to keep up with advances in the laser sources themselves. This could lead to a severe weakening of the solid-state laser market. While the great majority of fibres are designed to operate from the visible to about 2 m wavelength, many applications, including manufacturing, require transmission in the 2 to 10 m range. Possible approaches to a low-loss, infrared fibre include new chalcogenide glasses, extrusion of polycrystalline silver halide fibres and photonics bandgap structures with an air core. Todays fibre-optic beam delivery systems are usually point-to-point connections. True laser-on-demand systems in modern laser-sharing manufacturing will require adaptively reconfigurable beam delivery networks. This results in a need for reconfigurable production equipment at lower investment costs. Fibre-optic beam delivery is very attractive for laser-sharing applications in large production facilities. Fibre-integrated components such as optical isolators, beam switches, fused fibre-optic components and tapers required for flexible beam delivery networks are not sufficiently developed today. Hence we need optical fibres for the delivery of multi-kilowatt diffraction-limited beams and pulsed laser radiation in the millijoule range with low loss and low mode mixing down to
optical fibres with novel wave-guiding concepts and fibre-optic / integrated optical components
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bending radii of 200 mm. The development of integrated optical isolators, active beam switches and taper structures goes along with this task.
Beam shaping, phase control, beams tailored temporally and spatially, highly dynamic focusing optics
Being able to adapt the properties of the laser beam to the process at hand will open up completely new process strategies and significantly increase the efficiency of the process, improve the quality of the manufactured product and also help to reduce cost. To do this, we need to develop adaptive components to shape the beam intensity, the beam polarisation states as well as the temporal pulse shapes to suit the application. Components that are thermally compensating will be crucial for a wide dynamic range of operation. They will also help negate thermal lensing effects which become extremely problematic in high-power laser delivery systems. Passive components such as specific diffractive optics will also be required.
Fig. 4.2.10 Yb:YAG, 400 W average power, femtosecond amplifier Fraunhofer-Institut fr Lasertechnik
Optical components can be damaged if the power passing through them exceeds a certain value. Raising this damage threshold and reducing the absorption of light by optical materials improves the degree of integration and significantly extends the life of optical components. It also reduces costs and increases the reliability of high-power systems. This could lead to robust manufacturing systems with low maintenance costs. Materials with very high damage thresholds and wider spectral acceptance are required. Some of the issues included are tailored absorption, reflection, scattering, dispersion and refractive index. Optical materials with ultra-low absorption are a major challenge. As the limiting damage threshold is often located at the optical interface of the material, the processing and coating of the surface are key to providing components with maximum performance. Material processing techniques to reduce sub-surface damage present one of the major challenges in reducing scattering losses in each optical component (passive as well as active). Closely related to the increasing requirement for more stringent surface quality is the requirement for ultra-high-power coatings. Higher energy densities are placing ever greater demands on coating specifications. Absorption within the coating must be considered in the development of new coating materials and techniques.
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The operating envelope of active intra-cavity components such as acousto-optic and electro-optic Q-switches needs to be increased to enable high performance operation (and indeed system shipment) under harsh environmental conditions such as extremes of temperature. This will allow systems to operate in remote geographical areas as well as in hazardous environments such as hard radiation or high-power UV laser radiation.
investigations of interactions between light and matter, process efficiency and laser processing of new materials
Process diagnosis at shorter spatial and temporal scales and online control of production processes
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feedback systems. These will make possible a holistic, real-time approach to quality control before, during and after the processing stage.
Hybrid processes combine laser energy with other forms of power. They can enhance speed, quality and productivity of specific applications and so increase the efficiency of the process. Added product functionalities due to surface treatment are also possible. New forms of combined processes like laser-plasma, laser-current, or laser-magnetic field will create new applications and therefore open up new markets. Reduction of wear and friction in parts subjected to tribological loading is a further issue to be addressed. An early assessment of the suitability of novel materials for production processes avoids the risk of expensive breakdown of entire production chains due to incompatible materials. Advanced materials that are continuously introduced in new products are also a major challenge for photonic manufacturing systems. In future they should be examined for their suitability for the photonic manufacturing processes. Based on the experienced gained in processing new materials (see above) the common specifications used in conventional processing methods for the mechanical properties of novel materials should be extended to the requirements of laser processing. Additive laser processes, those that deposit material rather than remove it, can be used to repair expensive tools quickly and cost-effectively. They can also be used to manufacture complete tools and serial products and for faster prototyping and rapid tooling of mechanical machine parts. Research topics include coatings and material build-up, with customised properties such as strength, thermal characteristics and porosity. Optimised shaping and surface
Fig. 4.2.12 Single-sided tube cutting with fibre laser TWI Ltd
Fig. 4.2.13 Surface modification by laser-induced movement of molten material TWI Ltd
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Fig. 4.2.14 Cutting and welding an automotive component with a laser combination head in one setup Fraunhofer-Institut fr Lasertechnik
treatment on the micrometre scale are then required to manufacture individual parts without further processing. Today, much effort and emphasis are placed on developing intelligent manufacturing systems. Since photon sources are extremely flexible tools, they are very well suited for setting up complex production systems. They can produce small batches according to the mass customisation principle in which the running-in and testing phases are kept to a minimum and each part produced can be regarded as an individual product. This requires a high degree of autonomy for the manufacturing system, incorporating intelligent sensing and control components, process planning tools, and closed-loop feedback of the manufacturing results. The development of this technology requires hat the research priorities of the Manufuture European Technology Platform be applied to laser manufacturing systems. A logical step towards this challenging goal is to integrate versatile and adaptable laser sources into flexible and intelligent beam delivery networks (laser on demand) for process-adaptive and autonomous manufacturing systems. In the long term, intelligent manufacturing systems will avoid lengthy and costly run-in phases and allow the photon factory to adapt to the changing needs of the market. The different fields of industrial manufacturing and quality will then come together to implement the vision of the photon factory.
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Photon sources and optical components Reliable, reproducible and precise methods for automated assembly of photonic devices Lasers with improved performance in as well as better spatial and temporal control and stability, all at lower costs Adaptive photon sources, e.g. tailoring the wavelength of a laser to the required manufacturing process Adaptively reconfigurable beam delivery networks capable of high powers and intensities
Process development and manufacturing systems Prediction of process parameters and machine-independent self-optimisation of laser manufacturing systems; reconfigurable production units ment to ensure zero-fault production Laser on demand for process-adaptive and autonomous manufacturing systems Enabling cost-effective use of lasers in production lines by increasing the duty cycle from todays 30%
power, beam properties, and efficiency Real-time process control and adjust-
Research areas
Novel assembly technologies Advanced/adaptive laser sources New laser wavelengths Novel wave guidance concepts and fibre-optic/integrated optical components Tailoring material properties such as absorption, dispersion and refractive index Temporally and spatially tailored beams, highly dynamic focusing optics Higher damage thresholds, tailored light, and increased reliability thanks to new optical materials, components and coatings
Basic studies on the light-matter interaction, process efficiency and laser processing for new materials. Process diagnoses at shorter spatial and temporal scales and online control of production processes Hybrid technologies in macro-, microand nano-processing and laser processing of novel structures Integration of adaptive laser sources with intelligent sensing and control components, process planning tools, and closed-loop feedback
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4.3
Fig. 4.3.1 A surgical microscope being used for optimal vision in neurosurgery Carl Zeiss
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imaging together with metabolic imaging will help to decipher the set of chemical reactions that constitute the metabolism and thereby open the door to advanced therapies. The combination of diverse but complementary methods, including non-photonic methods, is seen as especially promising. From an early stage European institutions and companies have played a leading role in photonics for healthcare and life science (biophotonics1). European companies hold more than 30% of the market in this field, are net exporters and have an extensive R&D base within Europe. In Germany, for example, more than 80% of product value generation is within the country but more than 60% of revenues come from outside. Europes excellent position has to be protected by constant innovation.
9.1
20 %
7%
8%
driver of biophotonics industry and research: demographic change leading to a greying society
The main driver for the growing role of photonics in healthcare and life science is one of the major social trends: demographic change leading to an ageing society and in turn to drastic increases in healthcare costs and reduced quality of life. In developed countries the so-called elderly dependency ratio (EDR), the number of people aged 65 or more, expressed as a percentage of people of working age (15-64), will increase from 24% to 33% in the next forty years. Combined with a further strong population increase in developing countries, these changes will lead to an older society all around the globe and the associated immense costs for modern healthcare systems. Chronic and lifestylerelated diseases are also becoming more prevalent.
1 Biophotonics is a multidisciplinary research area that utilises light-based technologies in medicine and life sciences. The vision behind biophotonics is to gain a full understanding of the origins and molecular mechanisms of diseases to either prevent them or, at least, diagnose them early and precisely, followed by a treatment which is specifically adapted to individual needs. Since human health is strongly influenced by external parameters such as food, water and air, monitoring and controlling their purity are also included in biophotonics research.
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25 20 15 10 5 0 1997 1999 2001 2003 3005 2007 2009 2011 + 7 % p.a. * 2013 2015 2017 $ tn % of GDP
* A A G R t hro ug h 2 0 18
Global spending on healthcare is estimated at $ 5 000 billion a year, a substantial portion of the gross domestic product (GDP) in developed countries. In the U.S., spending on healthcare is expected to reach 20% of GDP in 2020. This trend holds true for European countries as well. Economic catch-up in developing countries will create further demand for cost-efficient healthcare solutions. To contain or even reduce healthcare costs while maintaining quality of life, a paradigm shift is needed. Today, illnesses are treated according to the symptoms they present; in future, illness could be detected and cured before any symptoms appear. Ideally, the development of a disease will be averted by early detection. Photonics can play a major role in this area for the following reasons. Innovative microscopes and endoscopes will help us to understand cell processes, tissues and model organisms and so support the development of drugs tailored to a given patient. These are urgently needed for personalised medicine. Screening and medical imaging methods based on photonics will strengthen preventive medicine and the early detection of diseases. Non-invasive or minimally invasive treatments, such as therapeutic laser systems, will help to improve the health and mobility of patients and could lead to substantial cost savings. By combining microfluidics with photonics we can make ultra-sensitive lab on a chip biosensors. These sensors can measure minute amounts of substances in small sample volumes, and make it possible to assess patients rapidly at the bedside.
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4. The focus area affects large numbers of people and will do so for the foreseeable future. A significant improvement in the quality of life or the safety of the patient can be expected, along with a major impact on society, substantial cost savings and a high market potential. 5. The focus area employs and strengthens an existing industry and research infrastructure within the EU. Using these criteria, the following four main focus areas have been defined: 1. Cancer is one of the biggest challenges associated with the ageing society: in 2007 7.6 million people died of cancer and it is expected that this number will increase by 2% each year, to 17.5 million by 2050. With 12 million new cases worldwide every year numbers are expected to continue to rise sharply2. Early detection of cancer is the key factor, since the earlier the detection the more likely a cure will be possible. A WHO study, for example, shows that 30% of all cancer cases could be cured if detected early enough. Photonic technologies are already applied relatively widely in laboratory testing for diagnosis, but their use for in-vivo diagnosis and treatment is limited to photodynamic therapy and to fluorescence endoscopy to detect tumour lesions during surgery. This is likely to change within the next few years since optical technologies offer clear advantages over established technologies such as X-ray and ultrasound: they have better resolution, are more specific and can produce results in real time. New diagnostic and treatment markets will emerge from innovative optical technologies, especially by the combination of existing photonic and non-photonic imaging methods such as positron emission tomography (PET).
2. Eye-related diseases are another major problem directly related to the ageing society. Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the primary cause of severe loss of vision in people over 60. About 37 million people around the world are affected by AMD and this number will rise further as the population ages. Glaucoma is another leading cause of blindness, affecting around 65 million people today and more than 80 million by 2020.3 Since the eye itself is an optical system, the application of optical technologies in diagnosis and treatment is a quite natural and this market is already dominated by optical technologies. 3. Older people are more likely to need longer stays in hospital and more invasive surgical procedures. Therefore sepsis is common among elderly patients. As patients are often critically ill and have weakened immune systems, the disease is usually more severe
2 3 Global Cancer Facts & Figures 2007, http://www.cancer.org Market Scope, LLC, The Worldwide Glaucoma and Retinal Diagnostic Equipment Market, April 2006
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than in younger patients. In the U.S.A., sepsis is the second-leading cause of death in non-coronary patients in intensive care units, and the tenth most common cause of death overall.4 Sepsis affects 1 to 3% of hospital patients and its pathogenesis is often severe. In the U.K., for example, one out of three beds in intensive care units and hospitals is occupied by sepsis patients.5 In Germany about 154 000 patients fall ill with sepsis every year and more than half die as a result. About 20 to 35% of patients with severe sepsis die within the first month as do 40 to 60% of patients with septic shock, the more severe form of the disease. Even patients who survive the acute phase can still die from inadequately controlled infections, immunosuppression, complications resulting from intensive care as well the patients primary disease or injury. The unmet need in cases of sepsis is to diagnose the pathogen much faster than is possible with todays methods, including culturing and polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and, ideally, to obtain information about its resistance. 4. An understanding of processes in cells, tissues, and model organisms is a prerequisite for developing innovative solutions for early diagnosis and treatment. As a consequence, the preclinical research market covers a large variety of applications and products. From the holistic understanding of life processes down to the cellular and molecular level, there is a strong trend towards high-throughput cell sorting and gene sequencing systems calling for photonic technologies. Key requirements include high resolution in two or three dimensions, long-term and stable monitoring of molecular processes, and miniaturised laboratory tools. An understanding of cell processes on the molecular level is also needed for the concept of personalised medicine, where available genetic information, such as that obtained by innovative optical imaging systems, is used to tailor check-ups and treatment to the needs of individual patients. Topics that may become more relevant in the future as more advanced biophotonic tools become available are neurodegenerative diseases, cardiovascular diseases, pharmaceuticals and food safety, the identification, isolation and characterisation of pharmacological agents, stem cell therapy and infectious diseases. Although not prioritised in this report as focus areas for the next few years, the technological challenges that currently limit the use of optical technologies in these applications will also be described in the section on preclinical research.
overview of the biophotonics market In 2008 the global healthcare industry was worth $ 917 billion
In 2008 the global healthcare industry was worth $ 917 billion with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6%6. This market can be segmented into pharmaceutical products, biotechnology, and life science tools and services. As described above, major drivers of growth are demographic change, rising costs of healthcare and technical innovation. Biotechnology is growing at 10% a year and life science at 15%. The market for optical healthcare equipment was worth 23 billion in 2007 and is expected to grow by 8% a year to 43 billion by 2015 (see Figure 4.3.5). This market includes eyecare systems as the largest segment, followed by microscopes, endoscopes, medical imaging devices, therapeutic laser systems and laboratory med-tech systems. The main eyecare products are spectacle lenses and contact lenses. The microscopy segment includes both laboratory and surgical microscopes. The endoscopy segment covers fixed and flexible endoscopes as well as components such as cameras and video
4 5 6
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Emergency Medicine Journal: EMJ, September 2006, 23(9):713-717 Datamonitor Studies 2009: Pharma, Biotech & Life-Science, Biotechnology, Pharmaceuticals, Life-Science Tools and Services
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22.7
4%
10.0
10 %
8%
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5%
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equipment. Medical imaging includes computed radiography systems, optical coherence tomography systems (such as those for diagnosis of eye-related diseases) and fluorescence diagnostic systems but excludes techniques such as X-ray and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Examples of therapeutic laser products are refractive lasers used for eye surgery and photodynamic therapy (PDT) used for cancer treatment. The fastestgrowing segments are laboratory med-tech systems and medical imaging. Lee et al. estimated7 the biophotonics market to be worth $53 billion in 2004 (projected to be $107 billion in 2007) though they included techniques such as X-ray, PET and ultrasound in their analysis. According to another study by Kalorama the global biophotonics market was estimated to be $11 billion in 2006.8 The authors predicted a yearly growth rate of 31%, forecasting a market of $133 billion by 2016. The study focused on microscopy and accessories and their application in the life science research market. The extraordinarily strong growth stems, the authors say, mainly from the development of applications. Basic research is seen as a minor factor. As the obstacles for entering the market are seen as low, the study predicts growing pressure from competition. The cancer drug therapy market is huge with total revenues of $ 47.3 billion in 2008 and an expected growth of 19% CAGR until 2013. The largest segments are target therapy ($22.9 billion in revenue) and chemotherapy ($14.3 billion).9 The market for photodynamic therapy (instruments and drugs) amounted to $ 9 billion in 2007, of which drugs make up $7 billion. The cancer diagnostics market is worth $ 7.4 billion in 2009 with an anticipated growth rate of 11%, of which in-vitro diagnostics make up $7 billion.10 The application of photonic technologies in cancer diagnosis and treatment mainly focuses on fluorescence endoscopy to detect tumours during surgery and on photodynamic
7 A Study of Biophotonics: Market Segments, Size and Growth, Gabriela Lee*, Kaiyi Chu, Lisa Conroy, Lauren Fix*, George Lui, Chris Truesdell, M.B.A. students and alumni, Consulting, Center at the Graduate School of Management, UC Davis, CA (M.S. in Biomedical Engineering, UC Davis), Optik & Photonik, June 2007, No. 2, p. 30 ff, 2007 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim 8 November 2006, published by: Kalorama Information, A division of MarketResearch.com, 38 East 29th Street, New York, NY 10016, www.KaloramaInformation.com 9 BCC Research, Cancer Therapies: Technologies and Global Markets, May 2008 10 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention U.S.A., 2008
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therapy. Although optical technologies account for only a small fraction of the cancer diagnostics and therapy market, this share is expected to grow in the coming years. Optical technologies offer clear advantages over established technologies such as X-ray and ultrasound due to their better resolution, higher specificity and real-time capability. As a consequence, new segments of the huge cancer diagnostics and therapy market will emerge from innovative optical technologies that offer early diagnosis and gentler treatment.
The ophthalmic diagnostics and surgical equipment market was worth $7.5 billion in 2007 with anticipated growth of 9%, yielding a market of $15 billion in 2015. Since the eye itself is an optical system, the application of optical technologies in diagnosis and treatment is quite natural and so this market is already dominated by optical technologies. The worldwide market for retinal and glaucoma diagnostics amounted to $1.5 billion in 2008 and is expected to grow to $ 3 billion by 2015. Another essential segment of the ophthalmic market, intraocular lenses, accounted for $ 2 billion in 2008 and will reach $ 4.7 billion in 2015 with a 13% annual growth rate.11 Along with the use of photonics technologies for diagnosis and treatment of eye-related diseases, experts see tremendous potential and incipient markets for technologies that use the human eye as a window for detecting other disorders such as diabetes and Alzheimers disease (see page 103). So far photonic technologies have had very little impact in the sepsis market as the gold standard is the examination of pathogens via culture. PCR has been shown to be a much more effective method, but is still far from what is required with regard to speed and accuracy and has not yet been standardised. For these reasons the sepsis market is still regarded as a pharmaceutical market, and seen as high-risk because of the complexity and the many expressions of the disease. Nevertheless, due to the high number of cases and the gravity of the disease, photonic technologies have an immense potential, especially as accurate diagnosis will lead to much more effective and targeted treatment. The direct costs alone for sepsis treatment amount to 1.7 billion a year in Germany and $ 4.5 billion in the U.S..
Sepsis market
Figure 4.3.6 Segmentation of the ophthalmology surgical market 2008 ( including diagnostics )
in billions of USD Source: Carl Zeiss (2009) Others ( + 10 % ) Systems (+ 7 % )
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Viscoelastics (+ 11 % )
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Glaucoma and OCT ( + 15 % )
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IOL (+ 13 % )
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Expected growth rates for the next few years are given in brackets.
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As mentioned above, an understanding of cell processes, tissues and model organisms is a prerequisite for developing innovative solutions for early diagnosis and treatment. Currently, the global market for instruments for life science research is estimated to be $10 billion, with a growth rate of 7%.12 Microscopy tools for biomedical research account for 1.2 billion at a growth rate of 5%. Life science research is also essential for the development of personalised medicine.
Fig. 4.3.7 Photonic technology (an endoscope) used during heart surgery Prof. Lichtenberg, University Hospital, Jena
In 2008, European industries kept their leading position with a 30% share in the worldwide biophotonics market. Europe produced 5.7 billion worth of photonics for medical imaging and life science in 2005, representing 33% of the corresponding world market and 13% of the entire European photonics production.13 On a less aggregated level, European market presence ranged from more than 50% in light microscopy down to less than 20% in in-vitro diagnostics and medical imaging systems. Therefore, joint European research efforts and funding are strongly recommended in order to strengthen market positions and overcome weaknesses in some areas. Over the past few years, biophotonics has developed into an autonomous scientific discipline which is still advancing rapidly. European industry, researchers and institutions are playing a leading role. Some of the most important trade fairs and biophotonics conferences are held in Europe, above all the LASER World of Photonics, where biophotonics is one of the key subjects, and the European Conferences on Biomedical Optics (ECBO), which is strongly coupled to the LASER. With about 500 scientific papers, ECBO is the worlds second largest conference in the field after the BiOS conference, which is part of U.S.-based Photonics West. European researchers are significantly involved in BiOS as well, not only by contributing scientific papers but also by chairing conferences and as members of programme committees. Other European congresses generating worldwide interest include the annual meeting of the European Optical Society (Paris), which has a subconference on biophotonics, and Photonics Europe, which is organised by SPIE and is also connected to a trade fair. Moreover, one of the two
12 Strategic Directions International, Inc., Instrument Business Outlook, Vol. 17, No. 19, January 15, 2009 13 Optech Consulting, 2007. From the report Photonics in Europe, Economic Impact, published by Photonics 21.
europes position
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leading scientific journals dedicated to biophotonics, the Journal of Biophotonics (JBIO), is published in Europe. Many governments around the world recognise the economic, scientific and social importance of biophotonics. Their funding programmes (Figure 4.3.8) are stimulating further advances in the field and strengthening competition between research institutions, regions and countries. With extensive funding, the United States and Singapore have established national research centres on biophotonics. These institutions are unparalleled in Europe, where biophotonics research is driven mainly by numerous research groups in university hospitals, universities and other research institutions. Interdisciplinarity the close collaboration required in biophotonics between medical doctors, natural scientists and engineers seldom occurs within these institutions, but is typically realised by cooperative efforts like research projects conducted jointly by medical and scientific institutes. National funding programmes have significantly driven such collaboration.
Main focus
Budget
Imaging techniques, cancer diagnosis, 25 million molecular imaging, Raman spectroscopy, optical coherence technology, breath analysis, fluorescence microscopy, SPECT
Germany
Forschungsschwerpunkt Biophotonik
Microscopy (3-D, high-resolution) Spectroscopy Optical micromanipulation Cancer diagnostics Cardiac infarction Fine particulate matter Germs in drinking water
Scotland
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Spectral imaging In-vivo sensing and imaging Multi-planar imaging microscope Micron-sized sources and nano-optics with single photon (quantum dot) sources and detectors
approx. 14 mil-
Ireland
NBIPI
Molecular imaging Live cell and histology imaging 3-D reconstruction and stereology Small animal in-vivo imaging Human diagnostic imaging Numerical and computational image analysis
U.S.A.
Bioimaging Cellular and molecular biophotonics Medical biophotonics Education and human resource development Knowledge transfer
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U.S.A.
Create and foster a global consortium Develop a worldwide network Develop a strategic roadmap
Japan
Large-scale research Molecular imaging research programme: and development (R&D) projects initiated by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), and the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) Knowledge cluster initiative (e.g. Hamamatsu Optronics Cluster): Next-generation imaging devices, which feature a dynamic range of previously unattainable width and smart imaging, enabling efficient acquisition of only the necessary image information Highly functional microscope systems, endoscope systems, and surgery support systems Camera device for high-energy rays used in non-destructive inspection and X-ray CT lifestyle-related diseases Molecule imaging equipment for malignant tumour therapy support
Canada
Biophotonics as one of three main focal CellLab: The living cell as a laboratory Advanced photonic technologies on a chip for single cell analysis therapy Integration of digital micro-mirror devices with confocal macroscopy for improved genetic microarray reading and tissue imaging Biophotonic systems using high resolution and diversity imaging Improved femtosecond laser-based approaches for cellular imaging in live tissue
Australia
Development of time-resolved fluorescence instrumentation for ultrasensitive microbial screening Laser-based biochemical assays to instantly recognise heart attack Extraction of commercially significant fluorescent proteins native to Australian reef corals Specific microorganisms in complex environments such as industrial waste using high-level multiplex fluorescent probes
A$ 2 million (2004-2009)
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Australia
Centre for Biophotonics and Laser Science (at the University of Queensland)
Fundamentals of light-matter interactions Biological imaging and sensing Biological spectroscopy and devices Laser manipulation Biomedical and clinical applications ?
Taiwan
Singapore
Biomedical Sciences Institute of Bioengineering and (BMS), Biopolis initiative Nanotechnology: Nanobiotechnology Delivery of drugs Proteins and genes Tissue engineering Artificial organs and implants Medical devices Biological and biomedical imaging Singapore Bioimaging Consortium (SBIC) Mission: build a coordinated national programme of imaging research and bring together the substantial strengths in the engineering and physical sciences with those in the biomedical sciences. SBIC seeks to identify and consolidate the various bioimaging capabilities across research institutes, universities and hospitals. Its mission is also to foster closer collaboration in bioimaging amongst researchers and medical practitioners. Four technology platforms have been identified for core research programmes: Optical imaging Image processing and management Small animal imaging with magnetic resonance Development of chemical/biological probes These technology platforms will be used to support research in areas such as cancer, metabolic medicine and regenerative medicine.
Biopolis 20032006: approx. $570 million (infrastructure only) approx. $ 600 million venture capital (via Agency for Science, Technology and Research A*STAR) $ 4 million
China
Laser manipulation
Optical brain imaging and neuroinformatics ? Optical molecular imaging and systems biology Digital life and biomedical informatics Optical probes and nanobiophotonics Multimodal biomedical imaging and tissue optics
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One example of such an initiative is the National Biophotonics & Imaging Platform Ireland. Its mission is to provide a structured research and training framework for Irelands investment and infrastructure in advanced imaging applied to the life sciences. To that end it has strong partnerships with industry and brings together the twelve major biophotonics and imaging research centres in Ireland. In Germany the government has launched a dedicated funding initiative to support the development of optical solutions for medicine and the life sciences (Forschungsschwerpunkt Biophotonik). Since 2002 more than 120 partners from science and industry have joined forces in collaborative projects. The initiative supports rapid embodiment of new scientific findings in marketable applications that benefit patients. Following up on project results, several products have already been introduced to the market, including an on-site monitor which can, within seconds, identify single, previously unknown bacteria in the air. Despite these examples and other national initiatives in Ireland, the Netherlands and the U.K., major activities at European level are needed to keep Europe in a leading position. These will require adequate and closely targeted funding. Close collaboration between academia and industry is needed to rapidly convert new scientific findings into products and services but this alone will not be enough. At the same time we need to support interdisciplinary efforts, an essential concept that is still not practiced as much as it should be. Funding must be employed to help scientists, engineers and biomedical end users (such as physicians and biologists) work closely together. This should also include suitable interdisciplinary education in the form of stand-alone courses or graduate schools. The aim is to ensure that future development of biophotonic tools and techniques will be purpose-oriented by basing that development on the specific needs of the end user. The European Commission has taken a first step in this direction by funding a European project in biophotonics which aims to bring together clinicians, biologists, engineers, physicists and chemists and and to help them undertake multidisciplinary work. This ensures that applications drive the development of technology (technology pull) rather than the more common experience of technology being pushed into applications. In concert with closer collaboration with industry, this will help to further strengthen the leading position of the European photonics sector.
Funding must be employed to help scientists, engineers and biomedical end users work closely together
4.3.3
challenges
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Fig. 4.3.9 Comparison of skin cancer under white and fluorescent light Prof. Katarina Svanberg, University Hospital, Lund
tissue is sometimes removed as a precautionary measure, without a precise diagnosis. As far as possible, screening and diagnosis should be minimally invasive and gentle on the patient. Diagnostics using ionising radiation should be kept to a minimum as some patients can develop cancer as a result. Certain genetic variations, such as the ataxiatelangiectasia (AT) gene, can multiply sensitivity to radiation by a factor of about 100. Once a tumour is detected, it is of the utmost importance to determine its precise boundaries either before or during surgery, especially where it is not possible to remove tissue liberally, as is the case for brain tumours. Otherwise there is a risk of the cancer reappearing. In the case of basal cell carcinoma, a common type of skin cancer, fluorescence spectroscopy has revealed that clinically judged boundaries of the tumour can be unreliable and that neighbouring areas, which may not look suspicious to the eye, can also be malignant. In summary, photonic tools and methods must be further developed to improve specificity and sensitivity for detecting cancer earlier and more gently and to allow their use for screening, staging, grading and delineation of tumours. While certain general features of tumours can be exploited for optical diagnosis, the challenge will be to find and clinically verify very tumour-specific, optically addressable signatures to reach the necessary levels of specificity and sensitivity. In the treatment of malignancies it is desirable to employ techniques which are minimally invasive and have minimal side-effects. Ideally, that means being able to identify the boundary of the tumour as precisely as possible while it is being removed. If further treatment is needed, such as chemotherapy, it should be possible to individualise it for each patient to ensure the best possible outcome while keeping side effects to a minimum. Photonic technologies and methods will be the key to achieving these goals but they need to go substantially beyond their current state of development. At a more fundamental level we need to understand the formation, growth and spread of cancer. Advanced methods of analysis are needed to reveal patterns associated with the onset and growth of cancer by uncovering cell type and signalling pathways, which might be best examined at the level of a single cell. To understand the formation, growth and spread of cancer in cells and sub-cellular structures, we need new and advanced tools and techniques. Improved flow cytometry and microfluidic devices based on the different varieties of Raman spectroscopy, for example, could allow spectroscopic examination of single cells and so determine the type of cell unambiguously and help us to understand cell signalling.
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Such fundamental understanding is a prerequisite for developing point-of-care technologies that could detect and identify a tumour based on the detection and quantification of certain molecular species. A common technique is to attach marker molecules to cancer cells to make them more visible. New and more versatile markers must be developed, but the process is expensive and time-consuming and can only be justified where marker-free methods cannot yet be applied. Markers are similar to pharmaceuticals and requirements for clinical approval are stricter than those for medical devices. The costs associated with research, development and approval are therefore high. Marker-free imaging techniques such as infrared and Raman microscopy, Coherent anti-Stokes Raman Scattering microscopy (CARS), Stimulated Raman Scattering (SRS) and autofluorescence-based methods can detect cancer quickly and reliably. They must be further developed and improved, in particular at an application-specific level. This includes methods for identification and extraction of specific information from the complex signatures typically associated with such techniques when applied to the complex biological systems of tumours and their pathological processes. Equipment for screening and diagnosis must become more usable and less invasive. Many types of cancer can be efficiently cured in their early stages so gentler optical screening methods would not only benefit patients, but would also avert costs for more expensive treatment and later care. In lung cancer, for example, the survival rate falls from 60% in stage 1 to 1% in stage 4. Diagnostic tools should also be able to distinguish between mere inflammation and precancer or cancer, and between benign and malign lesions. In some cases biopsy will be unavoidable. To improve the specificity and selectivity of tissue diagnostics, existing techniques must be further developed or combined in a single instrument with multimodal and correlative imaging technologies. To meet rising demand, a high degree of automation will be required to reduce reliance on human labour at all stages, including sampling, recording and evaluation. This will require imageguided biopsy and computer-aided diagnostics. Treating patients will require more radical but less invasive surgical procedures based on photonic methods. By reducing recurrences of cancer and avoiding side-effects on normal tissue, these will help promote rapid healing and avoid long stays in hospital. Here, externally triggered, image-guided therapy seems to be a promising therapeutic option.
ophthalmology
There is strong evidence that early symptoms of age-related diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimers can be detected in the eye and not only within the affected tissues. One advantage of the eye serving as a so-called window on the body is that it is easily accessible and optical diagnostic techniques are minimally invasive. For example, blood counts can be obtained from the tiny blood vessels on the retina and some diseases can be detected due to tell-tale metabolic waste products inside the eyeball before symptoms become apparent. Fluorescence lifetime imaging can be used to distinguish the naturally fluorescent molecules (fluorophores) associated with these products. On the other hand the eye itself suffers from various age-related visual impairments that often lead to blindness, such as retinopathy or geriatric macular degeneration. With morphological and functional information gained from optical measurements these diseases could be diagnosed earlier and treated in a personalised way. One challenge is to develop novel optical techniques, suitable for clinical use, that address the functional and metabolic state of the eye, such as multi-spectral and lifetime
challenges
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Fig. 4.3.10 Optical tomography of the ocular fundus a quantum leap in retina imaging Carl Zeiss
imaging. These need to be clinically evaluated and used together with established and further refined methods for morphological characterisation, such as optical coherence tomography (OCT). Another challenge is the fast and ultrasensitive detection of the light returning from an optically sensitive organ. This will require better software for the correlation, evaluation and storage of multidimensional and multimodal data, so that features can be extracted from noisy optical images. New laser sources will improve minimally invasive therapies and surgical interventions for eye diseases.
research priorities
A high priority is to combine various optical technologies to create tools that can deliver morphological and functional information in a single measurement. The complex data acquired from such multimodal imaging must be analysed and the extracted features must be correlated with the development of the disease and transformed into clinically useful information. New and improved markers and enhanced (sensitive, highly specific and quantitative) detection of marker fluorescence and of endogenous fluorescence will strengthen the portfolio of imaging technologies available for research, for screening and diagnosis, and for the monitoring and control of therapy. Adaptive optics for imaging of the retina and other structures in the eye could improve resolution down to the cellular level. By correlating such data with morphological and functional information we will better understand the pathogenesis of eye diseases. It could also lead to more sensitive detection and earlier diagnosis of disease. For surgery to the front of the eye, the development of femtosecond lasers specialised for medical treatment together with real-time optical methods for improved therapy control could further reduce irradiation times of the sensitive retina and improve the accuracy of procedures.
Sepsis challenges
Second only to improved hygiene in hospitals, the battle against infectious diseases relies first and foremost on rapid identification of pathogens and the determination of their resistance. This is particularly relevant to sepsis, which kills 150 people a day in Germany alone. The first hour after the onset of sepsis is critical. In that time the hospital-borne infection must be detected, localised and examined, the microbiological findings
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interpreted and an appropriate therapy started, otherwise mortality increases drastically, to 50% and above. Yet the gold standard for diagnosis remains blood culturing, which takes 36 hours to deliver results and yields correct positive results in only 17% of all cases. The more recent alternative, PCR analysis, takes six hours and is two to three times more accurate. Neither of these is fast or sensitive enough to differentiate reliably within the first hour among the many different pathogens (bacteria or fungi) that can cause sepsis. Photonic point-of-care diagnostic tools combined with PCR may be able to identify pathogens within 30 to 60 minutes and detect resistances to certain antibiotics so as to adapt therapy in a personalised and reliable fashion (theranostics). If clinicians know the mixture of pathogens characteristic of their clinic before the outbreak of sepsis, an even faster diagnosis is possible. The individual composition of pathogens could be determined from pathogenic biofilms precipitated from ambient air before sepsis occurs and information about possible resistances can be gained. Photonic tools and methods must be further developed and combined with advanced microfluidic technologies and devices to develop a fast (30 to 60 minutes) and reliable method to differentiate between the various pathogens that might be responsible for the infection. Ideally the photonic point-of-care diagnostic instrument would be combined with PCR to detect resistances to certain antibiotics and to adjust therapy according to the result. This would allow individualised treatment and could drastically cut the mortality rate. Another challenge is to develop fast and automated tools or devices for the examination of pathogenic biofilms, which could allow the composition of pathogens characteristic of the individual clinic to be determined and also help with hygiene control.
research priorities
Preclinical research
The ultimate challenge in preclinical research is to develop photonic tools and methods that help us gain a holistic understanding of life processes on the cellular level. This requires continuous observation on all scales from organs and tissues down to the cellular and even sub-cellular level. The corresponding tools and methods must be non-invasive to allow for observation without changing or disturbing the processes to
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be observed. Observation should be possible in real time, as storage or processing of all the data obtained should also be. Knowledge gained from the topics described in this section will also benefit clinical research. An important area of preclinical research, which is increasingly being transferred back to universities and research institutes, is screening candidates for new active agents such as pharmaceuticals. Here the basic challenges are to speed up the screening process and improve handling procedures such as sample preparation. Another challenge is to meet the special needs of particular applications in preclinical research with instruments that can be used to study a wide variety of problems. These needs range from special geometrical requirements and supporting tools (such as sample preparation, loading and holding) through particular imaging modalities to adapted software solutions. The needs of researchers can change quickly, so photonic tools need to be adaptable to meet future demands. Cardiovascular diseases Due to growing wealth and globalisation, cardiovascular diseases are expected to be the number one cause of premature death by the year 2020. Basic research is necessary to better understand immunoreactions and the mechanisms of inflammation and to develop diagnostics and therapy. To that end, microscopic tools and the associated software have to be developed to enable in vivo imaging within heart tissue and inside pulsating arteries, at increased penetration depth. That will help us understand interactions between cells, identify micrometre-scale structures in arteries and perform functional assays in-vivo. For heart surgery, endoscopes must be improved to give the surgeon a wider field of vision (not just in the forward direction), to provide more information about depth, and to solve seemingly trivial problems such as the fogging of lenses. Neurodegenerative diseases Most neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimers and Parkinsons diseases arise from very complex metabolic mechanisms and generally correlate strongly with the age of the patient. It is well known that these diseases are caused by aggregation of certain proteins, but the exact mechanisms of aggregation and the factors that accelerate, prevent or stop it are not fully understood. Photonics and spectroscopy could become valuable tools for in-vitro studies of protein aggregation, especially if single molecules can be detected. Fluorescence methods, such as FRET, are specially promising here due to their angstrom-scale sensitivity which can detect protein misfolding and aggregation at very early stages. Knowledge gained from in-vitro examination may also be employed to develop in-vivo technologies for the early identification of affected areas of the brain. To that end, tools for non-invasive (or at least minimally invasive) functional imaging of the brain would be necessary. This is a challenge since optical methods are well adapted to dynamic neuronal imaging but brain tissue is relatively opaque to light. Basic research is needed to better understand cell organelles (such as the Golgi apparatus) and to identify where neuron targeting is disturbed. Electron microscopy is a useful tool but needs fixed cells and time-consuming sample preparation, both of which limit its value. So-called correlative microscopy, which combines the features of light and electron microscopy, is promising, as is high-resolution dynamic imaging by optical microscopy. It may also be possible to use multiphoton microscopy to detect and monitor small molecular probes that are able to cross the blood-brain barrier.
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Fig. 4.3.12 Cardiovascular diseases will increase over the next decade Fotolia
Identification of pharmacological agents Since the optimal dose of a drug and its potential side effects strongly depend on individual factors (the amount of the drug needed to achieve the same effect can vary tenfold between patients) it is highly desirable to measure the concentration of the drug at the target organ. This would assist in both personalised therapy and drug development. Current detection methods such as liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry are time-consuming and complex. Here, photonic point-of-care instruments could provide more flexibility and help to monitor the concentration of agents in blood, whilst the ultimate goal would be to develop a photonic technique to monitor ultralow concentrations (ng/ml) of agents in the target tissue. Sources of bioactive agents could be microbes isolated using optical tweezers. Optics is a key technology for isolating single microbes, which might be impossible to culture, and monitoring the bioactive compounds they produce. Safety of pharmaceuticals and food From developments over the past few years we can expect many more newly developed products from the pharmaceutical industry, especially monoclonal antibodies, vaccines and endovenous liquids. These new pharmaceuticals demand better control of the preparation process, improved detection, quantification and identification of protein aggregation, and better environmental monitoring, which optical technologies could deliver in the future. In the food industry, quality management must be further improved, including the detection and identification of single microorganisms as well as measuring their concentrations. Stem cell therapy Advanced photonic tools and methods could help ensure the success of cell replacement therapy by tracking cells and analysing their differentiation. In case of a heterotopic transplant they could also monitor the survival rate of transplanted cells and determine
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whether transplanted cells migrate to the damaged area, especially where cells cannot be labelled or destructively tested. Non-photonic approaches like magnetic resonance tomography (MRT), computed tomography (CT) and sonography all have specific problems such as injurious radiation and the disproportionate time and cost needed to obtain findings. Again, the challenge of using photonic tools for in-vivo investigations is to penetrate the tissue of interest without losing the cellular level of observation. For in-vitro work, photonic tools and methods could help control the isolation and culture of cells and to analyse cell differentiation. They could also be used in-vitro for optical selection and activation of specific cells and (possibly) in-vivo after transplantation. Using the cells own natural properties without having to label them would be a huge step forward in identifying and processing cells for transplanting into a patient. Photonic techniques can be invaluable in regenerative medicine for the design and testing of biocompatible materials and drugs related to the migration, division, interaction and differentiation of cells. In-vitro expansion of progenitor cells (such as from umbilical cord blood), whilst monitoring them to ensure they stay stem like, is of great importance because stem cells are so few in number when harvested from patients. For a holistic understanding of life processes down to the cellular level it is essential to extend the performance of optical and spectroscopic methods far beyond their current limits. This means higher spatial resolution (submicrometre to a few nanometres) in both the axial and lateral dimensions of the microscope together with major improvements in sensitivity, specificity and contrast. This will permit non-destructive 3-D microscopy of living cells in their natural context with molecular-scale resolution, high dynamics (many frames per second) and high depth-penetration. On the technology side the ultimate goal in preclinical research is therefore to expand the triangle of compromises: speed: detection in 3-D and in real time (30 frames /s), higher throughput, high-content screening, real-time processing, automation; resolution: filling the gaps between the macro, micro and nano scales, handling of large amounts of data; increasing sensitivity and specificity, higher penetration depths. New tools and approaches will have to be developed which are less invasive (preferably not invasive at all) with better molecular contrast, higher sensitivity, specificity and precision, and which can yield results on time scales commensurate with biological processes. These tools or techniques need to be able to process larger numbers of samples using methods adapted from other fields, such as high-throughput, array-based techniques for cell-based assays and rapid imaging and metrology tools for in-vivo studies. The tools must be independent of markers and dyes or at least use them in lower concentrations. To meet the requirements of biomedical researchers, the next generation of photonic devices will have to be multifunctional or multimodal tools, combining different optical, biological and medical techniques and providing readout for multiple parameters. In addition, photonic tools will be used to culture, isolate and distinguish different types of cells in a non-contacting and therefore gentle and non-destructive way. Similar progress
research priorities
Fig. 4.3.13 Fluorescent transporting proteins in human HEK cells Prof. Fromm, University of Erlangen
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has to be made with the software employed to control photonic tools and to analyse and evaluate the correspondingly larger amount of resulting data. Further technical challenges are to increase penetration depth of imaging while keeping high 3-D resolution, to miniaturise point-of-care applications, and to improve the signal-to-noise ratio. For the screening of active agents, better screening platforms have to be developed, with improved sample handling and higher throughput rates. For example: microscopes for automated, high-throughput screening (downscaling multiwells, parallel analysis through area sensors, faster scanning, etc.) employing biophysical techniques (FRET, TIRF, FLIM, FRAP); miniaturisation of microscopes (modular minimal microscopes), increased flexibility; refined analytical tools to investigate morphology; screening platforms should allow analysis of the slow processes of cellular plasticity including cell growth, migration, communication and differentiation. Active optical stimulation and control should also be possible to detect subacute toxicity.
The next generation of photonic devices will have to be multifunctional or multimodal tools
Fig. 4.3.14 Powerful biophotonics tools include microscope imaging and confocal laser microscopy Leica Microsystems
Contibutors to the Working Group 3 user workshops for the preparation of the Photonics21 Strategic Research Agenda: Prof. Dr. med. Michael Bauer, Dr. Georg Bison, Dr. med. Marcus Blum, Prof. Dr. med. Jrgen Brockmoeller, Dr. med. Frank Martin Brunkhorst, Dr. med. Jens Dawczynski, Prof. Dr. med. Martin Fromm, Prof. Dr. med. Andreas Habenicht, Prof. Dr. Knut Holthoff, Prof. Dr. med. Christian Hbner, Dr. Markus Lankers, Prof. Dr. med. Artur Lichtenberg, Dr. Klaus Neef, Prof. Dr. med. Axel Niendorf, Prof. Dr. med. Wolfgang Pfister, Prof. Dr. Michael Schfer, Dr. med. Christoph Schimmelpfennig, Dr. Ing. Oliver Schlter, Dr. med. Carsten Schmidt, Dr. Ing. Dietrich Schweitzer, Dr. Ing. Mario Stahl, Prof. Dr. Alexander Storch, Prof. Dr. med. Katarina Svanberg, Prof. Dr. med. Otto W. Witte.
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Oncology
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Preclinical research
Solutions for minimally-invasive screening and diagnosis (incl. staging and grading) Interactive therapy control
New laser sources for treatment New methods for functional and metabolic mapping Fast and ultrasensitive detection
Application-specific but flexible research tools Imaging with high penetration depth and high 3-D resolution Multiscale tools
(macro, micro, nano) Miniaturisation and coupling to analytical methods for point-of-care applications
Research priorities
Marker-free techniques (e.g. autofluorescence, Raman, CARS) and methand extraction of specific information New markers for cancer for earlier and improved differential diagnosis Optical biopsy exploiting multimodal microscopy approaches Point-of-care solutions including computer-aided diagnosis Less invasive surgical procedures
Multimodal techniques with optimised sensitivity and specificity for of morphological and functional information and methods for feature extraction New markers and improved use of autofluorescence Cellular resolution for addressing fundamental research issues and for more sensitive detection
Point-of-care devices for the identification of pathogens in body fluids and as biofilms
High-resolution imaging of living cells in their natural context (penetration, dynamics) Automated solutions including highthroughput, arraybased techniques New optical markers and associated techniques Multimodal imaging including optical stimulation and control New and improved
point-of-care modalities
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4.4
Fig. 4.4.1 OLEDs provide potential for power-efficient, large-area, warm-white light sources with revolutionary properties Holst Centre/IMEC
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Fig. 4.4.2 LED floodlight illuminates the Lagos Martinez complex in Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife Philips
LEDs are typically point sources, the perfect complement to another new lighting technology appearing on the horizon: organic LEDs (OLEDs). These are flat and diffuse, largearea light sources based on organic light-emitting molecules. R&D reports show that efficiencies of 50 lumens per watt (lm/W) or more have already been achieved in whiteemitting OLEDs1, augmented by unique lighting features: flexibility and transparency. Lighting is a global market. In 2007 the lighting market reported 58 billion in turnover. About 63% was accounted for by luminaires, the remaining 37% by components, including all kinds of lamps, LED modules and electronic controls and drivers. Lighting is also a growth market. In a recent paper based on historical and contemporary data spanning three centuries, six continents, and seven orders of magnitude,
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1 The IST-OLLA project (2008), www.olla-project.org
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Tsao and Waide 2 came to the conclusion that the consumption of artificial light is a linear function of the ratio between GDP (gross domestic product) and the cost of light. Over the last decade the demand for artificial light grew at an average rate of 2.4% a year3. The growth was slower in the IEA (International Energy Agency) member countries (only about 1.8%) than in the rest of the world (3.6%). An average global growth rate of 2.4% will raise lighting consumption by a factor of 1.4 by 2020 and 2.9 by 2050. Lighting applications already consume 19% of all electrical energy produced. Only by adopting innovative lighting solutions will it be possible to produce more light in a sustainable way. That is why in 2009 the European Commission issued a ban on inefficient incandescent lamps.
Fig. 4.4.4 LED lighting offers new design and form options, as well as new ways to reduce energy consumption Philips
Fig. 4.4.5 Ingo Maurer, Early Future, OLED lamp marketed in 2008 OSRAM Opto Semiconductors
In both of the conventional technologies, incandescent lamps and discharge lamps, European institutions and companies played a leading role from an early stage. As a result, the two major players in the lighting industry have a strong R&D and production base in Europe. This is an excellent starting position for Europes taking a global leading role in SSL but that position will have to be secured by constant innovation. There are numerous players in the lighting industry in Europe, from LED manufacturers to makers of lamps and luminaires and several suppliers of materials, equipment and electronics. According to the ELC (European Lamp Companies Federation) and CELMA (Federation of National Manufacturers Associations for Luminaires and Electrotechnical Components for Luminaires) the lighting business employs more than 150 000 people in Europe, generating a turnover of around 20 billion. The market for high-brightness LEDs reached $5.1 billion in 2008 and is expected to grow to $14.9 billion in 2013 4. In recent years much of this growth has been driven by the increasing use of high-brightness LEDs in mobile applications such as mobile phones and digital cameras, though this is expected to stabilise. With the appearance of LEDs in new applications such as automotive headlights, the market will grow
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Jeffry Y. Tsao and Paul Waide, Nature, July 21 2007 Lights Labours Lost Policies for Energy-efficient Lighting, International Energy Agency (2006) Strategies Unlimited, High-Brightness LED Market Review and Forecast 2009, Report OM-50,2009
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Figure 4.4.6 the market growth for high-brightness Leds Led summary forecast by application
Revenues in billions of USD
Source: Strategies Unlimited, High-Brightness LED Market Review and Forecast, Report OM-50, August 2009
16 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 Electronic equipment/other Illumination Automotive Signals Mobile applications Signs / displays
continuously up to 2013. The highest growth rates are expected in the market for signs and displays, with LEDs now being used as new sources for backlighting for laptops and LCD TVs (Figure 4.4.6). The biggest boost to the LED market, however, is expected to occur when LEDs emerge into the general lighting market, the megamarkets of the future. As LEDs are completely different light sources this also has consequences for the luminaire manufacturers. The luminaire market, which is dominated by SMEs, accounts for more than 60% of the overall lighting market and is today worth 36 billion. It is expected to grow by more than half again and exceed 56 billion by 2015. The transition to LEDs will start relatively slowly but will then rise rapidly to reach a total market of $ 5.3 billion in 2012 with a high CAGR of 28.5% (Figure 4.4.7). Residential and outdoor lighting will show the highest growth rates. The European lighting industry
Safety / security Consumer portable Residential Off-grid Outdoor Commercial and industrial Retail and refrigerated display Entertainment Architectural
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Panasonic (2006)
Worldwide forecast:
is set to defend and even extend its world lead by quickly pushing the transition to SSL and so create highly skilled jobs for Europe.
The market for OLED lighting began in 2008 with the introduction of the first European OLED designer lamp by Ingo Maurer, based on OLEDs made by OSRAM Opto Semiconductors. Since then, smaller quantities of OLED light tiles have been produced by Philips Lighting for demonstration and application studies, to pave the way for more OLED lighting products in the near future. The reactions to these early samples of this new light source have been positive, but at the same time the expectations for this novel, flat light source are very high. Market studies of OLED lighting predict a differentiated but strong growth for the next few years towards a predicted 4 billion market in 2016, equalling about 5% of the total lighting market. Inorganic LEDs have already achieved a 5% level of market penetration and this can be considered as the point of no return for market acceptance. Besides a massive R&D effort, this will require high investments in scaling up production platforms (which are also still under development) as well as in marketing and sales. It is widely expected that many more OLED lighting products will be commercialised from 2010 onwards, targeting demonstrations and special niche markets which are less sensitive to price. From this starting point, the OLED market will gradually spread into general illumination, with stronger growth once the efficacy and cost levels become comparable with fluorescent lamps. Several cycles of research and development will have to elapse before the market will be offered cheap and efficient OLED systems for general applications. The history of lighting has taught the industry that such a transition will take a long time, and that several types of lamp will co-exist for some decades. But the phasing out of less efficient lighting, such as incandescent and high-pressure mercury lamps, will help shorten this transition and offer Europe an excellent opportunity to strengthen its already strong lighting industry. If LEDs and OLEDs are to reach high market penetration, the biggest challenges are to improve quality and performance while reducing cost. Apart from the technological problems, the biggest organisational issue will be to manage the paradigm shift across the whole value addition chain. It must be stressed that SSL is a completely different light source from todays products and all the stakeholders will have to learn to adapt quickly. Luminaire manufacturers need to shift their
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Fig. 4.4.9 Newer display technologies enhance the visual experience and save energy in operation and at stand-by Philips
focus towards driver electronics and thermal management, installers need to be trained in control systems, light designers and architects need time to explore the many new opportunities offered in terms of forms. And last but not least, end users need to understand what SSL can offer in terms of energy consumption and total cost. The new SSL lamps can be dimmed and their colour adjusted. Broad-based demonstration campaigns and acceptance studies are needed to examine the effects on health, well-being and productivity. In modern societies, display technologies play a prominent role in communication, education and entertainment. Television sets fwere first marketed more than sixty years after the first cathode ray tube (CRT) appeared. Flat-panel displays (FPDs) meanwhile are replacing CRTs in the majority of applications such as laptops, computer monitors and television sets. Today, nearly 70% of all TV sets sold incorporate an FPD. Only in emerging markets such as China, Africa and Latin America are CRT televisions still being sold.
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Although in the past the majority of CRTs were produced in Europe, most display panels are now produced in Asia. In Eastern Europe some TV sets are still being produced using imported panels, accounting for about 30 000 jobs. On the other hand, Europe has established a strong presence within the markets for materials or devices used for displays (Merck, CDT and so on) and production equipment (such as Aixtron and Applied Materials). Figure 4.4.10 makes it clear that the world market for FPDs will stabilise at turnover of about $100 billion. The thinness of LCDs offers very attractive prospects, especially when coupled with LED backlighting, for TV sets and notebook PCs.5 This application will also boost revenues for high-brightness LEDs. The next and very promising flat-panel display technology will be based on OLEDs. OLED displays combine the best properties of LCD and plasma displays in terms of size, switching speed, viewing angle, colour gamut and energy efficiency. Unlike LCDs, OLED displays do not need a backlight, as the pixels produce their own light. They are even thinner than LCDs and can be printed on films to make flexible and unbreakable applications. Several Asian players have already shown OLED displays up to 15 inches and announced larger TV screens by 2010. The market for OLED displays is expected to remain below $10 billion until 2015 6 with most value coming from smaller displays such as those for mobile phones. After 2015 OLED-TV is expected to become the application generating the largest revenue.
However, this view on displays is less encompassing than it might be for European technology development. In the recent past several new display markets have emerged: signage and information displays in metropolitan spaces, advertising in retail premises and new mobile display formats such as e-paper for electronic books. Certain types
Fig. 4.4.11 Novel displays enhance the concert experience during the recent U2 360 Tour Barco
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18 16 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 Others LCD Plasma Rear projection Front projection LED text LED video Technology
of application are already widely deployed in automotive display instrumentation and in early developments of street furniture but, on the whole, the evolution of new displays reflects the importance and growth of data and information services in modern society. Future displays together with flexible electronics might create an intelligent environment that will help promote broad, intuitive and eco-friendly use of electronics. Technologies for interaction and collaboration (perhaps using networks) will create the fully immersive environments of the future, driving the demand for more and different kinds of displays, such as seamless tiled displays in any desired shape and format for entertainment and advertising. As this requires multidisciplinary R&D, Europe can certainly play a role in these developments. The market for signage and professional displays today represents more than 10 billion with steady, average annual growth of 15% in revenues, as depicted in Figure 4.4.12.
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This innovative market is characterised by lower volumes but higher-priced end products, where innovation is driven by image quality, conformability (the ability to be shaped to fit a chosen surface) and energy efficiency, but also by cost-effectiveness. Many technologies will continue to compete with each other, depending on the application. These include LCD, plasma, projection (pulled by the digital cinema transition), LED and OLED (digital billboards) and reflective (electronic paper). High growth rates are expected for reflective and OLED especially, as shown in Figure 4.4.13. Pico-projectors are arriving on Western markets today as stand-alone devices such as the pocket projector. Either scanning or 2-D imager technologies are being used, combined with solid-state illumination (LED or laser). In future these devices will be embedded in mobile devices such as phones, PDAs or digital cameras. By 2015 pico-projectors are expected to become a huge market of up to 100 million units a year 7 once limitations on brightness and image quality have been solved, power consumption reduced and satisfactory cost-effectiveness reached. Development of LEDs, laser diodes and CMOSmounted OLEDs could be the European response to these new markets.
Fig. 4.4.14 Share of luminaire production by European countries is quite fragmented
Fig. 4.4.15 Share of LED lighting fixtures revenue by region shows that Europe has a large share of the market
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europes position
Lighting
The European lighting industry has established a strong position with a share of about 40% of the world lamp market of 13 billion in 2005. OSRAM and Philips hold equal shares and General Electric (GE) in the U.S. occupies third place. OSRAM Opto Semiconductors is the worlds second largest manufacturer of LEDs with a market share of about 12%. Its main competition comes from Asia and the U.S.. Nichia is the clear market leader with a share of 21%. Other competitors are Cree and Philips LumiLEDs in the U.S. and Seoul Semiconductor in Korea. Many new LED factories are currently under construction in China. Philips Lighting is the number one player in both professional and consumer luminaires. In this much more fragmented market, with many SMEs, Philips is the only global player, with a 2007 market share of 11% in professional luminaires and 3% in consumer luminaires. The SME-dominated luminaire market is quite scattered across Europe 8 (Figure 4.4.14 and 4.4.15) with the main players in Italy, Germany, the United Kingdom, Spain and France. In 2007 European companies held a market share of around 35% of the LED lighting fixtures market. In summary, Europe has an outstanding position in the global lighting market due to its long-standing emphasis on energy-saving solutions. It has gained this number-one position based on incumbent technologies such as fluorescent and high-intensity gasdischarge technology. It was the first large economic region in the world to reach an agreement on banning incandescent lamps. This gives us a head start when taking up the challenge of transitioning to LED and OLED technology and strengthening our position as the global leader in lighting.
4.4.2
displays
The enormous factories for the mass production of displays and TV sets have left Europe and moved to Asia. In this vein, Asia is spending a considerable amount of private and public money on research and technological development, but with a different emphasis than in Europe. They are continuously striving to reduce the costs of production whilst increasing vertical integration and value-added development within their local countries.9 Asian research activities focus on the further development and refinement of technologies for mass production processes. In Europe, research in advanced displays is driven by radical process and technological innovation and by the creation of novel applications such as e-readers, pico-projectors and immersive displays. As a consequence the prime R&D target is demonstrating the feasibility of new technologies. As many basic inventions in the area of flat panel displays were made in Europe, Asian manufacturers used to depend heavily on European research and on European suppliers of materials, components, equipment and tools for FPD manufacture. While Europe still holds a great deal of know-how in regard to materials, there is a strong tendency for Asian countries to become independent of foreign suppliers and to increase their production depth and revenues by making key components and equipment in their home region.
8 9
CSIL study, The European Market for Lighting Fixtures, 2007 Taiwanese Industrial Economics & Knowledge Center, ITIS 2004 and 2008 Taiwan Industrial Outlook
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Moreover, this leading position in materials is in question since the EU is investing proportionately less than its main competitors in R&D and lacks world-class production as a source of ideas to drive innovation. While Europe has not capitalised fully on the success of FPDs in the last decade (at least not in production), the current trends towards ambient intelligence and omnipresence of information might offer new opportunities to regain economic clout. Innovative European companies such as Nokia, Thales, Barco and the European car industry are defining requirements from the user end of the value chain. The display market is currently in considerable turmoil with the rapid development of many innovative technologies and applications born out of the ICT revolution of the past decade. New, flexible display technologies combined with rapid prototyping, low-cost (printed) manufacturing techniques and multi-tiling concepts might offer a rare opportunity to refresh the European industrial and research base in displays.
4.4.3
Current and future performance requirements for applications in lighting and displays point to a number of main technological challenges. To meet these challenges several research areas need to be addressed. The following paragraphs describe both the challenges and the research priorities. Some of these challenges overlap. Both illumination and display technologies need new and better performing materials, new encapsulation methods to achieve flexible shapes and innovative methods to make production cheaper or better tailored to the end users needs. In this sense, the two sectors could benefit from each others efforts. Solving the lighting problems could help make Europes display sector more competitive. The lighting business is changing dramatically. LEDs and OLEDs are completely different light sources to those in use today and require a different attitude towards lighting. The traditional lamp replacement business will gradually disappear. The market today wants higher quality and more adaptable lighting, while regulations demand more efficient output. This will shift emphasis to the lighting system as a whole. It is not just the light source that determines efficiency of a lighting installation. Lighting control systems
Fig. 4.4.16 Examples of highbrightness LEDs for illumination OSRAM Opto Semiconductors
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will in future be interconnected with building management systems to operate blinds, heating and ventilation as well as the lighting itself in the interest of improving efficiency and reducing carbon dioxide emissions. SSL offers lighting designers new freedom to create a specific ambience with a large number of individually controllable light sources. The application of LED and OLED lighting systems in general illumination is expected to grow rapidly in coming years. Several technological challenges need to be addressed and significant effort will have to be invested in the corresponding research areas. These are listed separately for LEDs and OLEDs.
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green LEDs. Since this approach does not require any colour conversion, it is inherently more effective. The total output and efficiency of RGB power modules today is limited by the relatively poor efficiency of the green and yellow devices, caused by the green gap between the blue InGaN system and the red InGaAlP system. The performance of high-brightness LEDs in the green-yellow regime must be considerably improved if the ambitious targets for power and efficiency are to be attained. The corresponding research priorities are as follows. Increasing LED efficacy to 180 lm/W The efficiency of an LED depends on several factors, including the generation of light (internal quantum efficiency) and the extraction of light from the semiconductor (extraction efficiency). Both of these need to be raised to more than 90%. Ohmic losses in turn have to be reduced to a minimum. LEDs become less efficient at higher currents (droop) so III-V semiconductor structures need to be optimised for higher current and thus higher operating temperatures and better material quality. Materials that are more reflective and have higher refractive indices are required to increase extraction efficiency. Internal absorption needs to be reduced and surface texturing needs to be optimised. Improving conversion will require better phosphors. Along with exhibiting high quantum efficiency, they must also minimise scattering without decreasing homogeneity and remain efficient at high operating temperatures (thermal quenching is minimised). New methods for depositing phosphors on the chip need to be explored along with new matrix materials with high thermal conductivity for embedding the phosphor particles. Multi-chip LED modules with high-lumen packages To facilitate light mixing, very dense arrays of closely packed LED chips are required. Conventional wire-bond technology and even state-of-the-art soldering techniques will not be suitable. Innovative interconnection technologies, precision assembly and new soldering techniques are needed. As several thousand lumens are generated it is essential to dissipate heat from the small space occupied by such modules to avoid the efficiency of the LED falling as the temperature rises. Such high-flux applications will need novel interconnect materials with extremely low thermal resistance, low-cost carriers with improved heat spreading properties, such as carbon nanotube composites, and primary optics stable to high-flux light radiation. White LED components with high colour quality For high-quality LED solutions the key factor is to increase the colour rendering indices at various colour temperatures while maintaining high efficiency. That can be achieved with new phosphors that have broad emission spectra or emit at various wavelengths with minimised re-absorption. Colour consistency over time has to be guaranteed. Colour conversion requires temperature-stable phosphor solutions while RGB solutions require colour controls (see the discussion below on light engines) which compensate for the divergent ageing properties in LEDs of different colours. Phosphorless and monolithic white LEDs would offer many advantages. New principles that need to be explored are LEDs based on nanorods, quantum dots or RGB emitting layers in one chip.
The generation and the extraction of light need to be raised to more than 90 %
Fig. 4.4.18 LED solutions illuminate cultural heritage sites like Helmond Castle Philips
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Besides their superior performance, one of the crucial factors for broad market penetration of LED light solutions is moderate price. The initial costs for LEDs today are usually very high, even though total cost of ownership will be lower due to long service lives and high energy efficiency. The market price for LED lamps tends to be ten times higher than standard lamps with the same performance. To reduce the initial costs, LEDs must be manufactured on large-area and low-cost substrates in a highly automated production environment. High-throughput fabrication is a prerequisite for cutting costs. White LEDs of the same type vary in colour and brightness. This is due to the manufacturing processes (metal organic vapour phase epitaxy (MOVPE) and phosphor deposition). LEDs from each colour and brightness group are assigned to a specific bin at the factory. In many applications only selected bins can be used. Solutions for smart binning are urgently needed to make use of all the LEDs produced. The corresponding research priorities are as follows. Low-cost LED chip manufacturing Today, LED chips are usually manufactured on 4-inch substrates. To achieve significant cost reductions in production, LED chips need to be grown on larger size substrates of from 8 inch to even 12 inch and on other types of substrates such as low-cost silicon or glass. The technological challenge is to achieve high-quality epitaxial semiconductor layers grown by MOVPE on these substrates. New, easily controllable low-cost deposition methods would bring the cost breakthrough needed in the long run. Solutions for LED binning To use the full production range of LEDs new and simple methods for binning (colour mixing or blending, better control of the production processes) need to be explored to increase the yields in production and so lower the cost. Due to the long lifetime of LEDs, there will ultimately no longer be a market for replacement lamps. As a consequence the focus of the lighting market will shift towards initial LED light engines for luminaires, LED-based luminaires and systems. The system aspect will become much more important in future, as it is not only the light source proper that determines the performance of the lighting installation.
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Fig. 4.4.21 A street lit by high-pressure sodium lamps (left) after conversion to LED lighting (right) OSRAM Opto Semiconductors
To create a highly efficient light source we need to focus on the whole system, not just on the LED component. This includes thermal management, electronics and optics. In operation, the LED efficiency will drop significantly as the junction temperature rises. In general, the efficiency falls by 20% but in red LEDs it can drop by almost 50%. New concepts for sophisticated thermal management are the key. The LED itself, the light engine and luminaire must all deal effectively with the heat generated by the LED. A particularly attractive feature of LED light sources is the ability to regulate the colour mix by tuning the individual RGB drive currents. This offers completely new possibilities to control colour according to personal mood. It will become possible to create adaptable and even dynamic scenes for indoor lighting in bars, restaurants and homes and for outdoor architectural lighting. Due to their tiny size and unique form factor, LEDs offer great freedom to make design a discriminator in the market place. Electronic power supplies, though bulky, do give basic control of intensity and colour and are available in many versions. The challenge, however, is to optimise their functionality, reliability and efficiency as well as cost and, in particular, to reduce their size. The most important problem, though, is their lifetime. LEDs can easily last for up to 50 000 or even 100 000 hours, far longer than the 20 000 hours expected from conventional power supplies. This is now the limiting factor for the lifetime of LED light engines or luminaries. Light from an LED can be used more efficiently than from conventional lamps as it emerges in only one direction. The development of integrated optical elements will play an essential role in exploiting this advantage. One application where this directionality is extremely valuable is street lighting. The LED light can be focused on the street directly where it is needed, so reducing light pollution. Even today an LED street luminaire consumes far less power than a luminaire equipped with highly efficient, high-pressure sodium lamps (Figure 4.4.21). Further challenges for the optics are homogeneous light mixing (to blend the colours of the different LEDs), low losses, advanced beam shaping and glare reduction. For other emerging applications such as automotive headlamps, backlighting of large LCD panels or LED-based projectors, the combination of high flux and directional emission is key. Applications in which the light is imaged by an optical system demand much better directionality than the typical Lambertian emission profile. The corresponding research priorities are as follows. Advanced thermal management Novel concepts for thermal management are required, involving the use of new materials such as polymers, glasses, ceramics or composite materials which provide high
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thermal conductivity at moderate costs. In addition to passive cooling, special emphasis must be given to new active cooling systems as this is the only way to keep the light engines or luminaires small, even at high light outputs. They will need to be quiet and consume little power. Reliable driver electronics Electronics are needed to exploit the unique features of LEDs such as colour steering and dimming. Low-performance electronics may ruin the positive image of LEDs and so driver electronics should be highly reliable but also low-cost and quiet. Innovative driver architectures and circuit solutions that meet the requirements for longer lifetimes will enable successful introduction of new SSL-based lighting products. The electronic driver has to guarantee that colour coordinates remain stable over time for LED light engines and luminaires. The emission colour must be controlled by sensors and steered by smart microcontrollers. Integrated intelligent electronics can control colour and also compensate for ageing of individual LEDs in the module itself. The combination of the photonics III-V world with the silicon world is highly attractive in that respect. LEDs can also be dimmed. Special attention needs to be paid to the colour temperature adaptation during dimming since LEDs, as opposed to incandescent lamps, do not change their correlated colour temperature (CCT) with brightness. Acceptance studies are needed to determine users requirements. Low-loss optics and advanced beam shaping The optics will have to produce various beam shapes and put the light where it is needed, thus reducing waste and light pollution. We need to explore optically optimised solutions which cut losses to less than 10% and can be fabricated by highly automated, standard methods such as injection moulding. Special nano-coatings may enhance the performance of these optical elements. Colour homogenisation is extremely important if LED luminaires are to be accepted, so this is one of the major requirements of the optics. Colour fringes must be avoided. Sophisticated lenses, reflectors or a combination of the two have to be explored for the integrated primary optics of the LED light engine as well as for secondary optics of the luminaire. New ways are needed to mix light homogeneously while conserving the etendue. Standardised LED light engines A standardised LED light engine with a defined thermal and optical interface that could be used in various luminaires would stimulate the LED luminaire business and is essential to reducing cost. This will help European luminaire manufacturers adopt LED technology. Lighting accounts for 25% of the total energy consumed in commercial buildings and 39% of that in offices. The overall efficiency of lighting, especially in buildings, can be further increased by combining efficient SSL solutions with intelligent light management systems in which lighting is controlled according to the presence of people in the room or the ambient daylight. Some 20 to 50% of the energy used in buildings could be saved in this way. While individual systems and some sensors already exist, standardised communication protocols are lacking as are intelligent light control algorithms, integrated controllers and intuitive interfaces.
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The corresponding research priorities are as follows. Sensors Appropriate sensors and sensor networks must be developed before LED modules and luminaires can be incorporated into energy-efficient lighting systems. Sensors and algorithms should be smart and intuitive, creating a good user experience. Low-energy and autonomous wireless sensors could have a part to play. Standardised protocols Integrated controllers and standardised communication protocols guarantee the interoperability of components from different suppliers. User acceptance studies LEDs offer new opportunities, through controlled colour changing, to imitate the natural rhythms of night and day. Acceptance studies are needed to explore the biological impact and opportunities offered by these effects.
OLEDs open the way to large-area lighting built in to walls and ceilings
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front surface of the device, as required, but will be lost through waveguiding to the side. Efficient light-out coupling methods are needed, and this is the fastest way to improve OLED efficiency. Research priorities are as follows. Highly efficient OLED devices The highest priority should be given to maximising the external quantum efficiency at the long lifetime of OLEDs, with targets beyond 100 lm/W and 20 000 hours of lifetime (defined as T70 ) at brightness levels in the order of 5 000 cd/m2. With OLED tiles made to this specification, smaller and cheaper modules can be built for uses such as office illumination. This requires tremendous work in OLED stack development and integral solutions for luminaires such as OLED tiling concepts. Highly efficient OLED materials To reach these levels of performance, projects are needed to target breakthrough materials such as highly efficient emitters (especially deep blue), charge transport and injection materials, and materials specially suited for processing at high speed or optimised for high-temperature vapour phase deposition. This will shorten manufacturing throughput times. Materials with higher electrical conductivity are also desirable since they can be used in thicker layers to make more robust designs. Secondly, it would be interesting to speed up development by computer simulation of the various materials and stack options. Simulation tools with good predictive power for optical and electrical OLED stacks will help reduce the workload during stack development. Novel methods for predictive quantitative analysis of material properties are also needed and will support the screening of novel OLED materials. Special attention should be given to cost-effective alternatives to (printable) indium tin oxides (ITO), to transparent electrode materials and to low-cost bendable substrates for OLED lighting. These are needed if OLEDs are to be used in flexible and transparent light sources. Efficient light-out coupling Efficient and cost-effective light-out coupling for flat light sources could be tackled by exploring 2-D and 3-D nano-structured materials, or by including suitable plasmonic structures within the OLED structure. Theoretical studies show that this approach gives a large boost in external quantum efficiency but it needs to be evaluated in practice. OLED lighting products are still so expensive that massive action is required to bring the investment cost per lumen down to the level of todays LEDs, let alone the conventional lighting technologies used at present. Several types of action are needed. Priority should be given to all research and development that brings the OLED deposition costs below 100/m2 in a mass-production environment. The corresponding research priorities are as follows. Cost-effective OLED manufacturing methods More cost-effective methods of production could be based on low-cost gas-phase deposition with high material utilisation, manufacturing by lamination or printing of dif-
Fig. 4.4.22 The latest transparent OLED light source (17 x 17 cm) OSRAM Opto Semiconductors
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ferent layers, and ultimately by roll-to-roll (R2R) manufacturing. The thickness of the layers is crucial for the final efficacy of OLED devices, so special attention should be paid to aspects of R2R manufacturing, as well as know-how and development in processes for large-scale industrialised production, such as modelling and process control systems for fabrication. High-performance OLED materials suited for high-speed processing This will require the development of novel, high-performance materials suitable for high-speed vapour phase processing, as well as similar materials suitable for R2R processing. Materials need to be stable and optimised for the high temperatures used during vapour phase deposition. These novel materials have the same requirements for lighting and for displays. OLED reliability and lifetime In operation OLEDs tend to fail by short circuiting. Eliminating this failure mode will require further research and exploration on how devices perform in practice. This could be achieved with novel materials exhibiting higher conductivity, so that thicker layers can be used during processing. Another way to improve reliability is through more robust designs such as stacking or special fault-tolerant layouts. Both methods need to be studied in close relation to novel production methods. We also need to establish general engineering reliability practices for manufacturing. For example, dependable test procedures are needed to predict the behaviour of OLEDs during their life as well as studies of the root causes of failure in OLED materials and devices. For designers, the ultimate functionalities unique to OLED lighting are transparency and flexibility. This requires transparent electrodes with high conductivity, as well as suitable substrates and barrier layers to protect the sensitive OLED materials from degradation and scratches. To achieve this, the following research areas need to be addressed. Flexible substrates and transparent barrier materials It is necessary to examine substrates that meet the processing and product requirements for the changes needed in the design of the OLED stack and choice of materials. Encapsulation methods Reliable encapsulation methods for both rigid and flexible substrates will give future applications a shelf life of at least 10-15 years.
Fig 4.4.23 Visual inspection during OLED pilot production in Aachen, Germany Philips
display technology
Although Europe has ceded the flat-panel display market to Asia, there are still plenty of growth opportunities for Europe in areas related to displays. Many of these opportunities are in more advanced sectors such as high information density displays and 3-D, immersive or head-up displays. As these technologies mature, they are gradually moving from military applications into the consumer and automotive markets. The number of applications for low-information displays is also growing and some of these could be supplied in very large volumes. One example is displays integrated into
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food packaging which change colour when the use by date has passed or when the product has otherwise deteriorated. Europe should also be able to defend its leading position in the value addition chain especially in supplying materials or devices (LEDs for backlighting) and assembling special, high-value products. Constant innovation driven either by research on materials and equipment, or by a dedicated focus on the needs of customers and the market, is required to develop a market for speciality display products. In modern societies, displays will play important roles in communication and decision making involving people in different physical locations. More advanced, high-quality, highresolution displays will bring closer the advent of fully immersive environments. The challenge lies in creating displays that are truly immersive or photo-realistic to give individuals or multiple users the illusion of true, real-time interaction. It will also give rise to much more intuitive collaboration techniques, suitable for many other domains such as remote surgery. The first head-up displays are already being integrated into high-end cars. Although the time to widespread market acceptance is thought to be quite long in this case, the aging of the population could quickly bring about a need for information to be easily accessible while driving a car safely. Research priorities are as follows. 3-D stereo visioning Stereo vision requires the development of 3-D displays (including auto-stereoscopic viewing and its related computational rendering) or novel designs for head-up or headmounted displays. Full colour and size-adaptable displays Advanced information displays need to be adapted for quality or size. At present the colour gamut and refresh rate are barely capable of meeting the visual quality factors the eye can detect. OLED displays have an advantage over LCD displays in that respect. A constant focus on innovation could give European companies a firm foothold in the value addition chain for OLED displays. European players at the supply end of the value chain can contribute here as long as good relationships with Asian panel makers can be created. At the other end of the chain, European speciality and niche display makers (avionic, automotive, professional and industrial) may profit from state-of-the-art OLED technology, materials and lighting infrastructure available in Europe as long as they can maintain good access to OLED backplanes from Asia. Novel liquid-crystal materials New classes of liquid-crystal materials will be required to achieve the colour fidelity and speed required. Within Europe we have a very rich history of understanding the system-level challenges that such developments drive, as well as the measurement and understanding of the human factors involved. These areas all offer opportunities for European innovation to create new business developments and value within Europe and worldwide. Data management solutions Very fast and very high-resolution displays will create opportunities not only in content provision but also in data management,
A constant focus on innovation could give European companies a firm foothold in the value addition chain
Fig. 4.4.24 Electrowetting displays make new applications possible, like this socket power meter Liquavista & Daan Pothoven
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Fig. 4.4.25 Pico-projectors are energy-efficient, small and lightweight, and provide new ways of making largearea displays for mobile applications Fraunhofer IPMS
hardware distribution and communications. A modern display has over a million pixels. Moving towards tens or hundreds millions of pixels will create data management challenges at the systems level that will transform requirements for the backplane and system design.
A substantial market is also expected for low-cost flexible displays with medium to low information density. Some of these challenges are already being addressed and the European retail sector has engaged technology providers in field trials of such systems for point-of-sale labelling on edges of shelves and counter tops. However, much still needs to be done before these types of display can be further commercialised. The challenge for a fully reflective, full-colour display is immense. There is no such display available today that meets the needs of the wider market, even though European initiatives in chiral nematic liquid crystal displays have been subjected to trials. A market already exists for shelf-edge labelling and for information displays in street furniture and retail premises. Extending this to a wider deployment in packaging and in very large area displays for outdoor display advertising is a further challenge in a field where Europe has technological leadership and a powerful business advantage. This work will support complementary developments in distributed electronics and functional manufacturing platforms based upon printing. The following research challenges should be addressed to make this happen: displays with better image quality (for use in direct sunlight), higher reflectivity or higher contrast ratio; full colour capabilities (for advertisements); increased operating speed for better real-time interaction; minimised energy consumption for stand-alone or non-serviced applications;
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improved reliability and lifetime for rugged products that are also suitable for outdoor applications; development of novel liquid crystal technologies such as smectic-A, ferro-electric LC and chiral nematic LC; new printable transparent conductors and functional electronic inks as well as substrates and printing materials. Innovations in such technologies will also stimulate the design and graphic industries, as has already happened in some sectors of the architectural and advertising design communities. A second-order research area is to tackle the problem of screens of different sizes within interactive environments. Research on solutions for seamless tiling and smart interconnection of multiple high-quality displays would be welcome. A common technical challenge for all segments of the display market is the further improvement of energy efficiency. Much work has already been done on the stand-by energy consumption of displays. The average stand-by power has decreased from 3 watts in 1999 to less than 0.5 watt in 2007. Now the technological challenge is to limit energy consumption during operational use. Examples include e-paper and electrowetting displays, or projection systems based on lasers or LEDs. Special attention should be given to the environmental issues for mobile displays as more and more devices with larger screens appear on the market.
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Research priorities are as follows. Development of novel display technologies with minimal energy consumption, such as self-emissive OLED displays or reflective displays that do not need a backlight. This enables stand-alone operation for a very long time on batteries or renewable energy sources such as solar power. Development of colour versions of displays fore-readers, able to play content at video rate quality. In order to make laser-based projection a commercially viable display, there is great need for a green laser. This could be based on direct green emission lasers or on efficient frequency conversion of IR or Blue/UV type lasers. Highly efficient LEDs for mobile projection.
Fig. 4.4.27 Urban illumination with LED technology in Millennium Park, Chicago Hedrich Blessing
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4.4.4
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There is no such thing as zero risk in safety and in security, and no solution can be 100% safe or secure. The best results are obtained with: organisations or infrastructure designed to minimise any risk, such as using lessflammable materials in buildings or trans-border political cooperation to reduce illegal border crossings; improved situational awareness to an incident from becoming a disaster and triggering a crisis; well-prepared and equipped first responders driven by an efficient crisis management organisation. These measures must not infringe on citizens rights and should intrude as little as possible. Photonics can play a prominent role, especially in situational awareness, for three reasons. The use of light is ideal for remote, contactless detection and measurement that imposes no burden or load on the object being surveyed. The short wavelength of light can be used to sense the detailed geometry of objects for more reliable recognition and fewer false alarms. Molecular or atomic interactions with light can provide spectral signatures of substances, allowing a sharp distinction between acceptable and prohibited goods. New developments in photonic sources, such as quantum cascade lasers and novel terahertz sources, allow unprecedented, highly selective detection of organic and nonorganic substances. Imaging, such as that used in video surveillance, will continue to play a major role as it is a natural way to convey complex information to the brain. Photonics can enrich images with other data such as polarisation, distances and multispectral information. These can improve situational awareness either visually to a human operator or by downstream computing. Low-cost, high-performance optical surveillance sensors will emerge from novel techniques using structured optical materials for all-optical processing or preprocessing and from fundamentally different image processing methods. Until now photonics technology for safety and security has been based on military research that started just after the Second World War. As a result the defence photonics sector in Europe has turnover of 3 billion a year compared to 20 billion in global turnover, which is dominated by the United States. Most of these industries are now adapting their situational awareness and photonics knowledge to the civilian world of safety and security. Over the past few years the photonics-driven security market (video surveillance, biometrics and so on) has experienced double-digit growth and will soon exceed the stagnating military market. Companies not working in the defence sector have also had an opportunity to take a big share of this new market. Although commercial rules in the safety and security market differ from those in the defence market, national governments and the EU have an important role to play beyond supporting research. As governments are ultimately in charge of safety and security, the market is split into three main parts: Direct purchase by governments to improve their functions as sovereign states, such as border control and surveillance, policing and surveillance in urban areas. Improving safety and security through regulation. Competitive pressure does not normally encourage private companies to improve their safety and security. The question
Photonics can enrich images with information beyond the range of the human senses
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is, as an individual, how do I benefit from improving local safety and security? The role of governments and the EU is to define by way of regulation the equipment that private enterprises have to procure (such as baggage screening equipment at airports) without jeopardising healthy competition. Such processes are rather long and drawnout and need mature technologies, this being due to the involvement of governments or international organisations. Open market: such a situation is reached when safety and security equipment brings immediate advantages to the purchaser (video surveillance against burglary is one example). Even then, government may have a role in ensuring that the equipment does not infringe on citizens rights. Safety and security equipment often uses leading-edge technology that governments may wish to restrict for reasons of national security or to protect commercial interests. Such situations may lead to distorted competition in the market. Photonics has many examples of where such sovereignty technologies are needed to design and build leading-edge competitive equipment.
4.5.2
europes position
The total world market for safety and security equipment using photonic sensing is 22 billion. The safety market accounts for 7 billion, including 2 billion for air pollution detection and 5 billion for the automotive sector. The 15 billion security market, with an expected growth of 15% CAGR, is a very attractive market which has grown to 75% of the size of the slow-growing defence market for photonic sensing and in a few years will surpass the defense market. In such an environment European industry has chosen well, as it takes 30% of the whole market but only 15% of the defence sector. For the two larger segments Europe holds a revenue share which is higher than the 30% mean value: Europes share of the biometric market is 45% of 5 billion1; Europes share of the video surveillance camera market is 40% of 1.7 billion. This position has been achieved mainly by large industrial groups coming from the defence sector which are accustomed to large, capital-intensive technical and commercial developments. They include, among others, EADS, Finemeccanica, Sagem, Siemens, Smith Detection and Thales. These companies compete mainly with large groups from North America. Their relative success compared to the defence sector is due to Europes good technical skills, both in industry and research, and fewer commercial barriers. These large groups, which earn the bulk of European revenues, sell systems, equipment and services. They purchase many of their parts from a large number of smaller companies and buy their photonics components on the world market to obtain the best prices. These components often come from the United States and Asia. There are no restrictions on supply at present, but as certain high-performance components gain in strategic value they could become subject to export restrictions as has already happened in the civil aeronautics sector. For that reason it is vital that Europe maintains its technological capabilities in photonic sensors through leading-edge research.
Europe should maintain its technological capabilities in photonic sensors through leading-edge research
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There is a large and growing market in safety and security. The security segment for equipment using photonic sensing amounts to 15 billion, with expected growth of 15% CAGR. The biometrics market amounts to 5 billion, with expected growth of 18% CAGR. The video surveillance market amounts to 5 billion, with expected growth of 12% CAGR (surveillance cameras represent 40% of this segment) 2. Europe already has a strong position in safety and security. Europe has a 30% share of the worldwide safety and security market. Europes share of the biometric market is even higher, at 45%. Photonic sensors are key components that strongly influence the competitiveness of the equipment. Future high-performance components might become subject to export restriction, leading to market manipulation. Europe has to master the optical sensor sovereignty technologies to retain its market share and enhance competitiveness.
4.5.3
In this section we give more information on some important, specific segments with market figures, trends and technological needs.
The video surveillance market, by definition, relies on photonic sensors. The market is split into two parts: Equipment (see below for the market figures). System installation and support. This is estimated to be 1.5 times the size of the equipment market, mainly due to the engineering works still needed for power and video cables even though video on IP (video over the internet) is growing strongly. The future market needs are threefold: Image quality and operation over a wide range of lighting conditions is a driver for cameras, where Europe has a very large share. Todays cameras need supplementary illumination at night and when light levels are low, so new methods in image processing and compression and optical design are needed. Future practice will supersede traditional rules and will have to integrate image processing capabilities into the optical design process from the very beginning. Embedded intelligence and novel procedures for wavefront processing and optical preprocessing will reduce workload and improve operator efficiency. Autonomous operation (self-assembling, wireless systems without human intervention) will make systems cheaper and easier to install as they are self-contained and consume little energy. The market for video surveillance equipment consists of cameras, storage, encoders, video servers, monitors and software.
2 Frost and Sullivan Reports, 2007-2008
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Growth in the government and public surveillance market is less likely to have been affected by the global recession. Cameras (both analogue and network): There is a mature market, especially in parts of North America and Europe, equivalent to 40% of the total video surveillance market. Europe has a strong position, providing 40% of the camera market. Storage (network or digital video recorders): Around 37% of the total video surveillance market. North America is one of the best-developed regions, with 10% CAGR expected for 2009-14. Europe is growing more slowly, with 4% CAGR expected to 2014. North Asia (outside Japan) has the highest growth rate of 15% to 2014. However, regions with the highest growth may be more vulnerable to the economic downturn. Monitors: Aggregate market revenues in North America are expected to reach 4.3 billion by 2014. Encoders: The global market is up to 2.4 billion with 21.2% CAGR (the forecast for Europe is unknown). Software: This includes video management and video content analytics, augmented reality, and real-time modelling of scenes captured by video surveillance systems. It is the fastest growing segment, at 26.5%, due largely to the North American market. It is still in the early stages of introduction in North Asia. (European market is unknown).3
Innovative image sensors will have an impact on the video surveillance market
Figure 4.5.3 shows the importance of video surveillance. Account must be taken of the entire video surveillance market as innovation in photonic image sensors will affect the entire chain. In future the encoders will be in the image sensor and part of the software.
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At present the cost of border surveillance is driven by salaries and every country is aiming to introduce more automation. Watching a display screen for any length of time is fatiguing, so automated detection will free operators for the more productive tasks of interpretation and decision-making. Most of the technical improvement in video surveillance would also benefit border surveillance even though border surveillance has its own unique requirements. Many countries, including those in Europe, need to prevent illegal emigration, immigration and smuggling, and the trafficking in people and goods which feeds international crime and terrorism. The first customers are the developed countries because they can afford to buy such equipment and are attractive destinations for illegal immigration and all kinds of trafficking. The example of the border between the United States and Mexico is well known. The European Union is also developing surveillance and control at its external border, as defined by the Schengen area. The first step is to introduce biometric passports and visas to curb illegal immigration by those who enter legally but do not leave. This is currently the highest contributor. Borders in low-population areas can be protected by video equipment and other sensors. One example is the southern stretch of the border between Finland and Russia.
Fig. 4.5.4 Finger and iris biometrics rely on photonic sensors Sagem
The cost of surveillance equipment for land borders is roughly 115 000 per kilometre, of which 10% is for photonics-based equipment, mainly cameras. The potential market is therefore very large but experience shows that only rich countries (the Western world and oil-producing countries) are buying the large systems provided by the large industrial groups. Such contracts can be worth as much as a few billion euros each. At the moment the photonics equipment itself is not the selling point for these contracts as the engineering work needed to put the system together is the most expensive part. Technical progress in wireless video sensor networks, for both communication and power, will dramatically reduce the cost of the entire system by obviating the need for expensive wired connections. This is a trend shared with video surveillance.
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12 10 8 6 4 2 0 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 CAGR (2009 2014): 16.6%
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Fig. 4.5.6 X-ray baggage checks are used to detect prohibited items Sagem
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and to analyse it quickly. Molecules of concern are likely to be present only at very low levels. Currently the bulk of the market is made up of X-ray equipment (Figure 4.5.7), complemented by equipment for molecular signatures. Millimetre (up to 100 GHz) and submillimetre (up to 1 THz) wave imaging (also known as terahertz imaging) is a growing market, especially for passenger screening, as the radiation is safer than X-rays yet can pass through non-metallic coverings and perform some signature analysis. Although market share is small, a growth rate of 29% is predicted to 2014. There are no consolidated figures for the global market for security and screening but it has been estimated at 2.5 times the size of the U.S. market, namely 900 million in 2008, and is expected to rise to 1800 million in 2014, at more than 12% CAGR. Photonic sensors are key components in present-day X-ray equipment and future terahertz equipment. They are also used in some molecular signature analysis devices from ultraviolet to infrared. The trend there is the same as in other domains: more sensitivity so emitted power can be minimised; higher resolution images (more pixels); smart pixel technology (where pixels perform additional functions) for sophisticated measurement methods such as time resolution, spectral sensitivity and so on. As regards active methods (X-ray, ultraviolet to infrared spectrometry and terahertz) the first challenge is reliable, compact and cheap sources. All of these components are tailored to the application.
detection of pollution
When analysing pollutants, the main methods are: chemical analysis; chromatography; spectrometry; remote sensing methods.
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Photonics is involved directly in spectrometry and remote sensing methods but also indirectly in chemical analysis and chromatography to read the results. The market for pollution detection is divided into four parts: air pollution; water pollution; soil pollution; chemical warfare agents. Figures are available in the literature only for air pollution, which is the main market sector (Figure 4.5.8). The world market for air pollution detection will reach about $ 25 billion in 2012, according to BCC Research, and this includes both photonic and nonphotonic equipment.
Figure 4.5.8 World market for detection, control and prevention of air pollution
in billions of USD Source: BCC Research 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 2004 2006 2007 2012 Air pollution prevention Air pollution control Air pollution detection
The U.S. leads the market. European industry has established a good position but is rather fragmented, including some large groups but also many SMEs. Among the European players are Atis, Bertin, Drger Sensors, Environnement SA, Gasoptics, Horiba Jobin Yvon, Leosphere, Oldham, Philips, Seres, Specim, Spectris/Servomex, Thales and Vojensk technick stav. Pollution detection uses a broad range of photonic components and systems from the ultraviolet to the infrared.
There are three main photonic technologies used in sampling collection devices: One of the most widely used methods relies on ultraviolet spectroscopy, with detectors measuring the strength of absorption lines for such pollutants as sulfur dioxide, nitrous oxides and ozone. Fluorescence spectroscopy allows detection of extremely small amounts of pollutants such as benzene, toluene, xylene and sulfur oxides. These can be measured at partsper-billion levels.
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Another sensitive technique is chemiluminescence, in which a reactant is introduced that selectively combines with a pollutant, producing a faint luminescence in the process. Large active areas and low noise levels are required for detectors in such applications. The main photonic technologies used for remote sensing are as follows: Passive or active plume-imaging systems permit qualitative and sometimes quantitative measures. Passive imaging measures the difference in radiance between the gas and the background. Active imaging is not always intrinsically safe and requires a permit to work with the equipment. OP-FTIR (open-path Fourier transform infrared) can identify and measure more than 100 compounds simultaneously at a distance of from 500 to 1000 metres but requires a large number of calibration runs. LIDAR (light detection and ranging) maps the location of pollution over large areas and has good spatial resolution. Its use is increasing but it can be affected by weather conditions. DOAS (differential optical absorption spectroscopy) is used in instruments that can measure a number of different pollutants along a single light beam up to 800 metres long. Data analysis is not easy and requires sophisticated software. LIBS (laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy) utilises a highly energetic laser focused to form a plasma which atomises and excites samples. It is used to detect soil pollution. Space-based environmental monitoring, both for tracking pollutants and for weather and climate analysis, makes greater demands on detectors, both for sensitivity and for compactness. Among the many emerging needs in pollution detection are: characterisation of aerosols (chemical, size, concentration); remote leak detection (few hundred metres, 1 to 10 ppm); compact and portable systems for multi-gas measuring; compact and portable systems for soil pollution detection; new substances and chemical parameters to be measured in water; networked sensors with continuous measurement; long-range active imagers.
driving assistance
The statistics on road accidents are alarming. Each year nearly 1.7 million people in the EU are injured in 1.3 million traffic accidents and more than 42 000 people die as a result (Figure 4.5.9). There are more and more vehicles on the roads and traffic situations are more complex. In the northern countries, especially, darkness and harsh weather conditions during a large part of the year make driving a risky activity. For these reasons, because of the growing numbers of elderly drivers, driving assistance systems have come into focus. The main types are: driver vision enhancement (DVE) systems, usually a synonym for automotive night vision systems, that use far- or near-infrared systems; surveillance cameras to detect driver drowsiness and passenger body position (for airbag control); breath alcohol ignition interlock devices (BIID); collision avoidance systems; ice detectors for sensing slippery roads.
Each year there are more than 42 000 traffic fatalities in the EU
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Figure 4.5.9 annual number of fatalities, injuries and accidents involving casualties (eU-25), 1996 2005
Source: CARE (EU road accident database), national publications 4
60 000 50 000 40 000 30 000 20 000 10 000 0 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 Injuries Accidents Fatalities
2 500 000 2 000 000 1 500 000 1 000 000 500 000 0
Most of these systems can use either photonic or purely electronic solutions. DVEs all use photonics. Automotive night vision systems can be either passive or active, the former using far-infrared and the latter near-infrared (a light source and an imaging detector). They have both advantages and drawbacks. Passive systems use uncooled infrared cameras which usually employ microbolometers. The technology was originally developed for the military and the main challenge is to keep down the costs of producing the detectors. In order to do this, innovative technical solutions are needed for the design of the detector and for the fabrication process.
Fig. 4.5.10 A driver vision enhancement system for pedestrian protection BMW
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The automotive market for photonic systems includes 17 million vehicles a year in Europe alone. Both near- and far-infrared systems are available today as stand-alone systems for DVE and blind spot detection (Figures 4.5.10 and 4.5.11). However, todays consumer DVE systems are too expensive (around 2 000) and the focus must be on cutting costs. Another approach is to extend the functionality of the system to warn the driver of dangerous situations ahead. In the longer term, the system could function as a collision avoidance system with autonomous braking and triggering countermeasures, such as airbags, where an accident is unavoidable. Driver vision enhancement systems are expected to grow at more than 40% CAGR in the U.S. and more than 60% in the rest of the world (including Europe). It is the fastestgrowing market segment for uncooled infrared applications (the other segments are expected to grow by only 15 to 18% CAGR). Driving under the influence of alcohol is one of the major reasons for the large number of fatal traffic accidents every year. At present, alcohol interlocks are used mainly for repeat DUI offenders, but also in quality assurance programmes for taxis and school buses. About forty thousand interlocks for commercial applications have been installed in Sweden alone. Interlocks will soon be installed in school buses in France and there are programmes running in Japan and the U.S.. One example is the initiative led by ACTS in the U.S. aiming for a massive introduction of unobtrusive alcohol sensing systems. Todays interlocks use fuel-cell or semiconductor technologies, though there are shortcomings in reliability and cost. New infrared systems are under development and are expected to take a significant share of the market especially for high-volume, lowcost applications. It is estimated that three million (5%) new vehicles in 2015 will be fitted with alcohol sensing systems or interlocks (or both) and nine million (15%) in 2020. We can expect at least half of these to be based on infrared technology.
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Figure 4.5.12 World market forecast for uncooled infrared systems (U.S. excluded)
in billions of USD Source: Maxtech Int. (2008) 1.6 1.4 1.2 1.0 8 6 4 2 0 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 Military and misc. Security/surveillance DVE Fire fighting Predictive maintenance
drowsiness detection
Drowsiness has been identified as a contributing factor in up to 12% of traffic accidents.5 Drowsiness systems issue a warning if they sense that the driver is becoming too tired to drive safely. They monitor the movement of the steering wheel or the movement of the vehicle relative to the road. Much of todays research efforts are to find more accurate ways to determine if the driver is getting drowsy. One approach is to use a camera system to monitor the drivers eyelids and measure how often they blink. Variation between drivers is large, however, and spectacles can cause problems. Further development of low-cost cameras and related algorithms for combining other vehicle information with driver monitoring will be necessary. Today, about 10% of new vehicles offer drowsiness detection equipment that monitors the driver through signals from the car. The figure is expected to grow very rapidly, especially if the systems become more accurate through video monitoring of the driver. Traffic accidents are the leading cause of death and hospital admissions for EU citizens under 45 years old. With 39 000 road traffic deaths in 2008 and socio-economic costs of around 2% of GDP (180 billion), road safety continues to be a priority area for action in the EU.6 The main challenge is to develop a low cost uncooled infrared camera that can be used in several different driving assistance devices. New innovative technical solutions for the detector design and the fabrication process are needed to keep down production costs.
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4.5.4
The technological challenges in photonics for safety and security use lie at two levels: the signal capture level and the equipment and system level. The following paragraphs concentrate on signal capture.
Fig. 4.5.13 Examination of microscopic devices, especially micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) Polytec GmbH
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Figure 4.5.14 time relationships between proposed actions and the main target markets
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Putting the vision into practice Applications are strong drivers for development such as wireless sensor networks
Improvement of photonic components is a long process of many incremental changes dealing with materials and processes. Many small technological projects will be needed to realise the vision presented above at the signal capture level. On the other hand, as applications are strong drivers for development, work on the wireless sensor networks (as described in Chapter 3) will have to be started quickly. First applications will be those where a wire-free environment is highly advantageous, such as temporary working sites, large events and national frontiers, but they will spread to all types of video surveillance. This subject must be tackled in a large-scale action with a demonstration of an operational prototype. Figure 4.5.14 shows timeline for proposed activities and the main targeted markets.
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Fig. 4.6.1 Spatially variable transmission filter manufactured by radiofrequency sputtering ENEA
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We have identified two fields of research in photonics that have particular strategic importance for the European economy and society. One is emerging photonic materials; the other concentrates on new technologies and devices. In the following sections we focus on applications in fields not otherwise covered in this document and on longerterm research. Naturally the division is not always clear cut, as may be expected in a field which, although already very important economically, is still young and involved in lively innovation. The following topics do not constitute an exhaustive list and we must expect that new research areas will emerge in the future.
Progress in materials has always been central to photonics, with III-V semiconductors, heterostructures, ferroelectric crystals and optical fibres as important examples. The development of photonics over the past few decades has certainly been very impressive, due partly to leveraging the massive knowledge relating to silicon-based integrated circuit technology. New photonics materials should enhance the performance of photonics and broaden its applications. This usually means improving functionality and reducing cost. In many applications one also has to address the physical size of the device (the footprint) and, of increasing importance, power dissipation. The following areas of materials research have been identified as being of particular significance. Many important developments will be based on synergies among various elements in this list, sometimes in combination with existing technology. Metamaterials (synthetic materials, mostly nanostructured). The issues here are partly theoretical, aiming to understand the electromagnetic properties and physics of the materials, but the accompanying technology development is equally important. Examples are photonic crystals, quantum dots including composite colloidal nanoparticles in a glass or polymer matrix or semiconductor media, and materials exhibiting negative permittivity or permeability or both. A major objective is to achieve lower losses than is the case for existing materials such as metals, since many important applications are currently hampered by the optical losses accompanying the special optical properties stated above. Theoretical understanding and experimental effort are both needed to overcome this crucial obstacle and allow photonics to follow in the footsteps of the electronics industry with respect to development and integration. Group IV photonics. This includes silicon (Si) and its combination with germanium (Ge) and tin (Sn) for applications such as modulators and light sources. The goal would be a low cost, CMOScompatible material technology that could rival III-V materials in optical functionality and performance. Parallel research on heterogeneous integration of a variety of functional materials with silicon, again in a CMOS-compatible fashion, should also be pursued. Carbon nanotubes and graphene, which offer new vistas in photonics with their high absorption and mobility, complementing their use in non-photonic fields such as catalysis. Material engineering in oxides and chalcogenides. While these materials have been known for a long time, nanotechnology offers new possibilities to utilise phenomena such as phase changes to significantly alter optical characteristics in a way not achieved with other materials.
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New photonics materials enhance the performance of photonics and broaden its applications
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New materials, structures and phenomena offer endless possibilities for creating novel devices
Materials for ultraviolet and mid-infrared devices and fibres, including acousto-optic materials and Faraday rotators for optical isolators. Organic phosphor materials for solid-state lighting, to achieve higher light conversion efficiencies than inorganic materials at significantly lower cost. The push for new and more efficient light generation will lead to breakthroughs in basic knowledge of electroluminescence in organic materials and innovations in fabrication technologies. Nanoparticle integration in dielectric coating matrices. This opens new horizons for the development of improved optical switches, laser concepts and sensors. Tremendous innovations are also expected from polymer coatings which exhibit superior functional properties for photonic devices at low cost. It is possible to modify the physical, mechanical and chemical characteristics of polymers in order to increase the functionality of optical devices. One example is including nanoparticles in the polymer matrix. Polymers also provide the key to flexible optical devices whilst the combination of polymers with semiconductor materials will give rise to novel components such as those based on optofluidics.
4.6.2
While new materials, new structures and new phenomena offer endless possibilities for creating novel devices, concomitant development of new technologies is also needed. There is no doubt that micro- or nano-structuring will lead to more compact and more energy-efficient photonic devices. Micro-structured fibres have already proved their value for high-power fibre lasers and shown great promise for many other applications. Nanostructured materials such as semiconductors, metal nanoparticles and carbon nanotubes have also enhanced energy conversion in thin-film solar cells. Great progress has also been made in the use of complementary materials within the same device to take advantage of specific properties of the materials. One example is the
Fig. 4.6.3 Multiple internal reflectance device used as part of a lab-on-a-chip CSIC
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introduction of gases, liquids, metals, semiconductors or liquid crystals into silica-based optical fibres, combining ease of splicing with low-loss connections. Another example is the photonic system-on-chip combining micro/nano-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS/NEMS), micro-fluidic and acoustic functions. In general, heterogeneous material combinations, including nanomaterials, will require the development of new manufacturing processes and additional research efforts will be needed in these fields. Selected research areas to be addressed, related to devices and technologies and chosen on the basis of the present strengths and potential for Europe, are listed below. Advanced sources. Solid-state lasers are usually more efficient, more stable and often more compact and economical than other types of lasers and are finding uses nearly everywhere. Diode lasers are ideal in many applications, even for high-power industrial lasers, and advanced diode laser concepts are emerging, achieving high power together with high spatial or temporal beam coherence (or both). There is an emphasis on integrated approaches to achieve economies of scale. Nevertheless, diode-pumped fibre lasers and micro-chip lasers will be a required complement to the direct use of diode lasers, especially for reaching wavelengths in the mid-infrared. They are also needed to achieve the necessary power levels, beam quality and brilliance required in many applications, as mentioned in Section 4.2 on industrial manufacturing and quality. Ultimate solid-state laser efficiency will require the development of narrowband, solid-state emitters and photon recycling. Growth or integration of semiconductor lasers and optics on silicon for the mid-infrared is deemed to be very important, as are femtosecond (fs) and attosecond (as) laser technology, new optical parametric oscillators, ultraviolet sources, millimetre-wave and terahertz sources, along with super-continuum sources and comb generators. Super-polishing of ultra-high damage threshold, ultra-low-loss surfaces to make possible pioneering technologies such as laser-induced nuclear fusion. New functions integrated in optical fibres (using, for example, silicon in fibres, liquid crystals, liquids, gases and highly non-linear glasses integrated in silica fibres). Fibre-based components for very high-power applications such as combiners, isolators, modulators and amplifiers. Drawn-glass integrated devices. Opto-mechanical devices in which optical forces induce or inhibit mechanical oscillations. Highly sensitive optical sensors for selective detection of molecules and bio-molecules in a gaseous or liquid environment, with integrated read-out devices. Nanophotonic devices allowing the convergence of photonic and electronic technologies and offering reductions in footprint, switching delay and power dissipation.
Fig. 4.6.4 Optical waveguide cantilever, light is injected through a lens and into the structure CSIC
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Plasmonics and nano-optics for highly integrated devices and for sensors with nanometre-scale spatial resolution and single-molecule sensitivity. Adaptive optics systems based on deformable mirrors with improved reliability, compactness and cost-effectiveness. Miniaturised X-ray optics and X-ray phase imaging. Innovative dye-sensitised solar cells (DSSC) with the introduction of nanostructured materials (metal, semiconductor nanoparticles, carbon-based nanostructures).
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Development of a new science of optical circuit research, based on design at thecircuit level and including entire devices, as well, culminating in new levels of innovation in circuit functionality and complexity. This will be achieved by building upon the generic design environment and foundry platforms in InP and silicon, highlighted in Section 4.1 on information and communication. The density of integrated photonic circuitry is at present limited to a spatial scale of around 1 m. This is due to the optical field confinement imposed by current waveguide technologies and by the wavelength of light in the medium. We strongly encourage developments to break these barriers and thus allow smaller and more complex circuits to be made. Important developments here include: plasmonic waveguides and circuits, including applications to photodetectors, modulators and lasers (such as nano-laser arrays and circuits) as well as sensors; optical circuits based on metamaterials and other novel structures; and technologies to exploit the third spatial dimension in integrated optics; that is, integration of optical coating structures and fundamental research in the production of stem cell coatings which hold the potential to adopt different functions by the application of different treatments. Integrating photonics into new semiconductor materials, especially for new spectral regions (such as visible light and the infrared region beyond 2 m) and to improve the performance of active elements at high temperatures, thus reducing cooling requirements and power demands. Competitive, cost-effective manufacturing of photonics components and systems in Europe. This is a strategic objective that assures the foundation for further component innovation and development. Roll-to-roll continuous processing is a key element in this strategy and will enable photovoltaic panels to be produced for affordable renewable energy generation. Continuous processing is also key to the manufacture of commercially viable OLED lighting and displays, as reported in Section 4.4 on lighting and displays. New approaches to packaging and interfacing which can solve the problems of microalignment, coupling to external devices and optical fibres, and cost-effective assembly in a single package. This should include new technologies to allow reliable operation in non-hermetic environments, as well as scaling down conventional assembly strategies and innovative use of MEMS technology. Improvements in electro-optic modulators and signal processing devices through better materials, novel waveguide structures and exploitation of slow-wave effects. This will lead to higher bandwidths and lower power requirements for electrical drivers. Synergistic use of microelectronics to complement optical functionality and integration of electronics with photonic elements for on-chip signal routing in silicon-type integrated circuits, for example, and localised electronic processing within photonic integrated systems. Research in these areas will offer new opportunities for all the applications described in the previous sections and some topics have the potential for disruptive innovation triggering unexpected improvements in the market.
Some topics have the potential for disruptive innovation triggering unexpected improvements in the market
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Fig. 5.1 Dr. Sporea, Director of the Centre for Science Education and Training National Institute for Laser, Plasma and Radiation Physics, Bucharest, introduces the magic of the laser light during a demonstration at a kindergarten in Rmnicu Vlcea National Institute for Laser, Plasma and Radiation Physics, Bucharest
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more traditional academic disciplines include photonics, and that there be an increase in the number of specialist photonics degrees offered, both academic (in universities) and technical (in other colleges). PhD education in photonics is relatively strong in Europe, involving industry where appropriate, but could be strengthened with industry mentoring and through other initiatives in innovation and entrepreneurship. The pace of technological change demands a workforce whose education and training is a lifelong process. We recommend that regional clusters take a key role in lifelong learning in photonics, engaging with specialists from both universities and industry to deliver courses, incorporating general approaches defined at the European level. The photonics industry has a key role to play in education and training. It must articulate its needs to public authorities in realistic and precise terms and be more proactive in its interaction with education providers at all levels. Direct sponsorship, scholarships and prizes for students would raise the profile of photonics. Since education and training are very largely state-funded, regional, national and European public authorities have a responsibility to establish the needs of society and industry in photonics. There is an urgent need to gather accurate data on industrys current and projected requirements, and on the courses offered by education providers (see the section on Photonics education and training). At the regional level, public authorities should promote and support industry clusters, as they play a key role in the link between industry and training. Finally, we emphasise that the highest level of scholarship in educational institutions is essential if Europe is to continue to be at the forefront of photonics innovation. Almost every major innovation in photonics (the laser, fibre Bragg gratings, photonic crystal fibres, metamaterials ...) was the result of basic research driven by curiosity. With the everdecreasing time between new discoveries and commercial exploitation, it is important that researchers be encouraged to pursue new ideas and concepts in optical physics and photonics, free of the culture characterised by mission-oriented milestones and deliverables. This highest level of scholarship will provide the best environment in which to educate and train future photonics innovators.
Direct sponsorship, scholarships and prizes for students increase the profile of photonics
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Commission, for example, and also at national and local levels. Without a clear statement of industrys requirements for training and education, which often has to be quite local or regional, government cannot allocate the financial resources necessary to meet the demand.
Industry can be proactive in supporting education and training providers (universities, technical colleges and schools) by serving on advisory boards; providing entrepreneurship courses and skills; assisting in the selection of students for industry-related projects; providing equipment; offering visits and field trips; offering undergraduate projects and providing short courses and/or master classes in specialist topics. The principal action that industry can make on behalf of individual students is to provide direct financial support such as sponsorship or scholarships. This is essential to attract bright students from around the world to European photonics in order to fulfil the growing needs of research and industry. Although individual companies can address all three target groups, effective contributions can be made through regional industrial clusters and through national and international organisations such as Photonics21. Several industrial clusters already provide local training and this could be greatly extended throughout Europe. At the international level, Photonics21 is acting as a collecting point for information about internships throughout Europe and this programme could also be expanded. Regardless of the route to involvement with education and training, the photonics industry as a whole must be considerably more proactive than at present: as educators know, it is not always easy to obtain any significant business involvement in education and training, as each company is focused on its own business. At the technician level, there is a need to create a common syllabus for the new skills that industry has to develop. The photonics industry has a stronger interest in engaging in R&D projects. In several countries there are formal funding mechanisms that involve the training a PhD research assistant in a project with industry, often involving a secondment to the company for a period. This combined university-industry PhD should be adopted throughout Europe by way of appropriate funding mechanisms.
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The photonics community has identified three key factors in addressing these issues: industry involvement is beneficial to the students and to the quality of the research; education in science and optics in primary and secondary schools raises interest in these subjects; clusters play a decisive role in improving knowledge transfer and mobility.
Fig. 5.2 PhD students at work in the CNR-INFM ultra-fast photonics laboratory at the Physics Department of the Politecnico di Milano, Italy Politecnico di Milano
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Heightened awareness of and basic education in optics should be promoted at all levels
crucial role in encouraging the involvement of public authorities at the local and regional levels and better equipping research and academia to meet the needs of the economy. Public authorities can engage the research and industrial communities in mutual learning at cluster level by funding internships, mobility and lifelong learning. Therefore the photonics community recommends that public authorities: conduct a survey of the European universities and offer optics- or photonics-related courses and quantify the number of graduates they expect to produce; conduct a survey of photonics-related industries to explore new and missing skills and thus develop new education and training opportunities; encourage education in photonics for the benefit of the photonics industry, launch awareness-raising campaigns in primary and secondary levels, install optics courses at undergraduate level, and support transnational PhD programmes in photonics; build upon successful transnational initiatives to promote student mobility (within and outside the EU); outline best-practice models for public authority involvement at regional and cluster level.
Primary and secondary education 5.1.3 Photonics is important for a society driven by technology
The decision for or against a career in science and engineering is often made very early in life. Some educational systems in Europe require children at the age of around 15 to specialise either in natural science or other fields, such as humanities, a decision that very often sets the direction for their entire professional lives. Even if secondary school students decide to take advanced classes in physical sciences, their education in photonics can end with the work of Planck and Einstein. This reflects the state of the art a century ago and is unlikely to attract many young people to study this subject at university. Only in exceptional cases do school pupils learn about light-related technologies developed within the last fifty years, such as the laser, fibre-optic communication (that drives the internet), DVD optical storage, liquid crystal displays or modern LED lighting. However, the same young people use these technologies every day. In comparison, the similarly young field of genetic engineering is much better represented in European curricula, although far fewer people directly employ this technology. Teachers as well as those writing the national curricula are often not aware of the importance of photonics in a society driven by technology. Too often, teachers themselves do not understand the applications of modern photonics. They need training and adequate equipment before they can teach their students about up-to-date technologies. Several committed individuals and institutions have launched initiatives to provide such support to schools. They invest time, effort and financial resources in order to bring photonics into the classroom. However, the impact of their efforts remains too local and too brief. The European photonics community needs a coherent and better coordinated approach to improve the way photonics is taught in primary and secondary schools. With the pan-European job market in mind, it is increasingly important to give students all over Europe an equal opportunity to learn about career options in photonics. A coherent outreach programme could then help universities and companies to attract students and employees from a far wider area than local initiatives can reach. Such initiatives would strongly benefit from
Fig. 5.3 A girl in Wilcannia, New South Wales, discovers how optical fibres work Vrije Universiteit Brussel
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Fig. 5.4 A group of students sets up an optical illusion National Institute for Laser, Plasma and Radiation Physics, Bucharest
greater coordination at the European level to provide continuous communication about important developments in photonics. New science teachers, in particular, should know about the importance of photonics before they start working in schools. This organisation should therefore launch activities in those institutions where future generations of teachers are educated. It could also support experienced teachers with a job development programme, offering teacher training courses on photonics within the existing national frameworks. Photonics kits are another important way to improve photonics education in primary and secondary schools. Children have a better opportunity to recognise their own abilities and talents in science and engineering if they can experience the excitement of working with light with their own hands. Pupils should be shown how optical phenomena translate into interdisciplinary applications that transform their everyday lives. By sponsoring this programme, the photonics industry can demonstrate its serious interest in the long-term improvement of photonics education in schools. European and national photonics associations should be actively involved in this programme.
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masters degree (e.g. MS, MSc, MEng) for post-bachelors courses taking one to two years; PhD, for research degrees, lasting for three to five years. In some countries masters degrees may be earned either via coursework (lectures, practical and project work) or purely through research.
Third-level technical education (non-academic) is provided by technical colleges and vocational schools offering qualification courses of one to three years duration and which cater for either school leavers or experienced workers seeking additional qualification. These qualifications are vocation-oriented and designed for entry-level employment, so the content is mainly related to practice in certain fields of technology such as mechanics, automotive or electronics. As photonics is underrepresented at this level, employees working in photonics have to obtain specialised knowledge on the job. To avoid a shortage of skilled personnel that could hinder the growth of the photonics industry, we recommend bringing photonics into the curricula of third level technical education. Beyond that the development of certified courses in photonics should be taken into consideration. As prescribed in the Copenhagen Process 1, these activities are to be coordinated Europe-wide to assure transparency and comparability. The availability of training in photonics at the technical certificate level varies widely across Europe. Technical schools at post-secondary level (such as BTS or IUT in France and the Fachhochschule in Germany) can offer some training and education in fields related to photonics but there is a need to improve the framework and subjects available at these centres. The majority of people whose career develops into some aspect of photonics holds a bachelors degree or equivalent in a basic science or in engineering. Although these degrees are not intended to produce specialists in photonics, all students enrolled in these programmes should have the opportunity to study sufficient photonics to enable them to move on to postgraduate studies in the subject or to take up employment in photonics companies. To this end, the programme should offer a number of photonics courses with laboratory experiments. In the interests of a balanced education such courses should not dominate the curriculum (except for the specialist courses described below), and therefore our recommended guideline would be to offer at least one photonics course per year. The academic content of this course should be a balance between theory and applications, in order to put photonics into a practical context. Others who pursue a career in photonics have graduated from specialist undergraduate degree courses in photonics. These courses focus on both basic science and photonics. There is a general consensus that a number of such specialist photonics degree options should be available in every country in Europe, recognising that the most common route to a career in photonics will be through courses in basic science or engineering. In all cases, bachelor-level courses should include the opportunity for students to take one or more courses in business, innovation and entrepreneurship, and these courses should always be supported with the active involvement of industry and commerce.
The Copenhagen Declaration is the basis for European co-operation in the field of Vocational Education and Training (VET). A central part of the process is the development of common European frameworks and tools to enhance the transparency, recognition and quality of competences and qualifications, making the mobility of learners and workers easier. See http://ec.europa.eu/education/vocational-education/doc1143_en.htm.
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Fig. 5.5 Growing interest in photonic studies and masters programmes will increase the skilled workforce University of Freiburg
Masters-level specialist courses in photonics have been offered for decades at a small number of universities (for example, Institut dOptique Graduate School, Paris, and Imperial College, London) and new high-level courses have recently been established (such as Abbe School of Photonics, Jena). These courses have been supplemented by Europeanlevel cooperation through the Erasmus Mundus programme, with several such networks concentrating on photonics. All courses at this level have historically strong links with industry and nowadays provide optional training in innovation. With the slow but growing movement towards the Bologna model, such courses should be encouraged and supported and masters-level courses in photonics should be established in every country in the EU. The development of a masters curriculum in photonics would be a useful reference document, although there is no desire or need for uniformity, and regional needs and availability of local expertise require the curriculum to be flexible. One important aim of this curriculum would be to encourage the development of programmes covering the whole range of fundamentals and technologies that will underpin future innovation in photonics. These programmes could be developed locally or by alliances of several universities with
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Masters-level courses in photonics should be established in all the EU countries Phd degree level
complementary strengths. This is essential if the growing needs of industry in the various aspects of photonics are to be satisfied. This also addresses the needs of masters candidates for an education that opens up many career opportunities in the long term. In addition to specialist masters courses in photonics, there is a need to include photonics skills in other technological masters degrees a knowledge of laser machining, for example, in a masters-level course on production. The ubiquitous role of photonics in industry and society requires photonics knowledge to be shared with a wider group than photonics specialists alone. The PhD degree is usually taken after a masters-level course (as recommended in the Bologna agreement) but in some countries it can be taken straight after a bachelors degree. The primary purpose of this degree is to allow the student freedom to develop as an independent, creative researcher, and there is a strong consensus in the academic community that the research thesis is by far the most important element of this degree. There is also agreement that some element of academic coursework may be desirable (in particular for students who have not taken a masters in photonics) and also that courses in professional skills (presentation, writing, time management and so on) are essential. Optional courses in business, innovation and entrepreneurship should be offered for those researchers with an interest in this direction. All courses in innovation should involve the active participation of industry, particularly SMEs and entrepreneurs in photonics.
Lifelong learning
Formal education and training is a process that is usually completed by the age of 18 to 30, depending upon the level to which it is pursued. However, the need for education and training lasts throughout a persons working life (and probably beyond). This is true at both the professional level (continuing education) and technical level (lifelong learning), where the latter helps industry and individuals improve their competence and competitiveness. Within Europe there is a wide variation in the level and quality of lifelong training available to employees, whether in mainstream photonics companies or in photonics-related companies. We need to establish Europe-wide lifelong training opportunities, based on existing examples of best practice, though continuing education at the technicians level may have to be conducted in the local language. The pace of change in science and technology requires a workforce that is continually acquiring new knowledge and skills. Given the need for European industry to invest in continuing education for its employees, solutions requiring some element of financial incentive or legislative action from national or regional public authorities are called for. These are already available in some regions but need to be extended throughout Europe, and the photonics community needs to take full advantage of existing incentives. We propose that the most effective means for providing continuing education to employees in European industry is via regional clusters, which can enlist the assistance of both companies and universities for the delivery of the course material. Focusing on clusters makes it possible to address local needs. Networks of clusters should coordinate the course material and content and enable best practice to be distributed to all clusters.
Fig. 5.7 A skilled workforce in photon ics will lead Europe into the future Laser Zentrum Hannover
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continuum from frontier research to commercial products. If we are to compete globally we need to promote frontier research as well as industry-related research. To this end, we believe that a cultural change in research funding is desirable in many funding bodies, one which pushes curiosity and imagination. Breakthroughs in fundamental science are highly unpredictable and most often occur either through curiosity-driven research by creative scientists or by fortuitous discovery, allied to keen observation and interpretation. As we approach the fiftieth anniversary of the invention of the laser LaserFest celebrates this in 2010 it is appropriate to recall that this innovation, which has totally transformed science, technology and society, arose from curiosity-driven research, not strategic R&D. Indeed, the mentality of strategic R&D, with its culture of milestones and deliverables, is the exact opposite of basic research, where advances cannot be programmed or predicted. There are many examples of frontier research leading to commercial exploitation in photonics, including Bragg gratings in optical fibres, super-continuum generation in photonic crystal fibre and electroluminescent polymer LEDs. New, additional funding models or instruments may be needed to meet this challenge, both at national level and in the European Framework Programmes. In order to better characterise and define the funding strategy for frontier research in photonics, research proposals must have the potential to make a considerable long-term impact on the strategic agenda of the Photonics21 working groups, together with significant innovative knowledge content. This should ensure on the one hand that frontier research is linked to targeted technologies without, however, neglecting the needs of pure frontier research itself. Some areas of great potential were described in a report from WG7 by Photonics21.2
recommendations
1. Industry must be more proactive in engaging with education and training providers if its manpower needs are to be met. More scholarships and internships should be offered. The specific requirements at both regional and national levels must be voiced more aggressively vis--vis local and national governments and the European Commission. 2. Governments and public bodies must act strategically to support education and training in optics in order to satisfy regional, national and international needs. 3. Education providers at primary and secondary levels should be assisted by photonics outreach activities from universities, industry and regional industry clusters to include modern applications of optics and photonics in national science curricula. Industry should provide equipment for educational kits. 4. European outreach activities in photonics, at all levels, would greatly benefit from a better degree of coordination. A suitable organisation, possibly with infrastructures distributed across the EU, should be established with such a mandate. Materials should be available in local languages from a central website. 5. Universities and others involved in third- and fourth-level education should continue to engage with the photonics industry, particularly to help them offer courses in business, innovation and entrepreneurship. They should ensure that mainstream physics and engineering courses at third level offer at least one course related to photonics in each year of education, to emphasise both the academic and practical importance of the subject. 6. Regional clusters have a strong role to play in education and training in their local communities, particularly for lifelong learning. By supporting Europe-wide networks of clusters, the European Commission could help increase the number and quality of continuing education courses they provide.
2 Workshop on Future Areas of Research in Photonics (October 1-2, 2007, Cork, Ireland). See also, D. Gevaux, Charting the Future for Europe, Nature Photonics 2, March 2008, pp. 125-127 [doi:10.1038/nphoton.2008.07]
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conclusions
During the past four years Photonics21 has provided for an innovation environment capable of accelerating photonics research, enhancing cooperation, increasing R&D investments and mobilising a critical mass of resources throughout Europe. By establishing a constantly growing photonics community and developing a coordinated strategy, Photonics21 has led the way to technological breakthroughs in lighting, healthcare, information and communication, and the manufacturing sector within Europe. These breakthroughs will be ultimately transformed into marketable products and services that are competitive on world markets. The Photonics21 community has grown from 250 members in 2005 to more than 1400 members today. They speak as a strong voice for further innovation and development in photonics in Europe and for European society. Industry, science and public authorities have recognised photonics as a key enabling technology for Europe, one which has the potential to respond to major social challenges. The work of the past four years has encouraged the European photonics community to follow a common approach and to address megatrends such as solid-state lighting, green communication networks, photonics-related cancer diagnosis, mass customisation in manufacturing and autonomous sensor networks. These megatrends will lead Europe to economic growth and into an energy-efficient and sustainable future. Today photonics employs about 290 000 people in Europe and supports many more through subcontractors. More than 5 000 companies are involved in manufacturing photonics products, most of them small and medium-sized enterprises. During the last four years, the European photonics industry invested 4 billion a year in R&D. The European photonics industry is ready to further strengthen Europe as a world leader in photonics. Public funding for photonics in the EU member states has not improved significantly over the past four years. Only three countries have meaningful photonics programmes, namely Germany, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Considering the economic and social impact of photonics, this is an unsatisfactory situation, especially when we see competing regions of the world investing heavily in this sector. In September 2009 the European Commission identified photonics as a key enabling technology. This was a major breakthrough for Europes photonics community. However, current investments in photonics within the Seventh Framework Programme, around 50 million a year, need to be increased to reflect the strategic importance of this area. The photonics community has established several national platforms throughout Europe, including those in Italy, Greece, Spain, Switzerland, Slovenia and Poland. The establishment of national platforms in France, Sweden and Ireland is under discussion. Photonics21 has taken responsibility for bringing together all the European stakeholders to further develop a joint European strategy focused on photonics applications. The European photonics community is willing to play its part in responding to the grand challenges facing our society. However, these goals can only be achieved with the strong support and commitment of national public authorities and the European Commission. Photonics21 will continue to cooperate closely with those entities in order to strengthen transnational cooperation.
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Key challenges
Building on progress to date, the European photonics industry, science and policymakers together urgently need to respond to challenges such as energy efficiency, the ageing society, and public safety and security. During the last four years the photonics community has established the technological basis. Now it is time to focus on further applications for photonics and to support the development of new business models.
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Key recommendations
On the basis of these key challenges, the photonics community has drawn up the following seven key recommendations which are addressed to the photonics industry, research institutions, the EU member states and the European Commission. They refer to actions which should be taken at a European level to prepare the way for future applications of photonics.
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6. We must cooperate with other parts of the world to develop green photonics
EU member states and the European Commission should set up a framework for international cooperation especially with the United States. This cooperation should concentrate on selected areas in green photonics, principally solid-state lighting and photovoltaics. Close international cooperation will drive further advances in R&D and stimulate the growth of the photonics industry. It will also set the standards required for widespread adoption of the new lighting and photovoltaic technologies.
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glossary
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adaptive optics
Optical systems that improve resolution by compensating for distortions in the optics.
autofluorescence
biophotonics
broadband
Any of a number of technologies used to provide internet access at speeds significantly faster than are possible using a dial-up modem. Compounds containing elements of group VI of the periodic table. Chalcogenide glass is transparent to infrared light and can be used to make fibre optics to transport infrared laser beams. An imaging sensor array commonly used in digital cameras and other imaging devices. The emission of light resulting from a chemical reaction. Complementary metal oxide semiconductor, a technology used for making integrated circuits. A technique developed from Raman spectroscopy which is several orders of magnitude more sensitive and thus suitable for examining biological materials.
chalcogenide compounds
coherent antiStokes Raman spectroscopy (CARS) computed tomography (CT) correlated colour temperature (CCT) differential optical absorption spectroscopy (DOAS) digital microscopy
A medical imaging technique that uses X-rays to build up a crosssectional image of part of the body. A measure of the quality of white light emitted from a source, expressed as the temperature of a black body of the same colour. A technique for measuring trace amounts of polluting molecules in the atmosphere.
The use of an optical microscope with a digital imaging system such as a charge-coupled device. A compact laser based on a semiconductor diode. A high-power, solid-state laser based on a very thin laser medium which can be efficiently cooled and allows for high brilliance. The ability of a telecommunications network to automatically manage and control its own connections.
dynamicity
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efficacy
A measure of the effectiveness of a lamp in converting electrical power to light. It is measured in lumens per watt (lm/ W). A laser constructed within an optical fibre. The emission of light of a longer wavelength (lower energy) than the light absorbed. Most commonly an object exposed to ultraviolet light will fluoresce in visible light. A technique using fluorescence to diagnosis cancer within the body. A technique of fluorescence microscopy for identifying parts of a specimen by measuring the time taken for fluorescence to fade.
fluorescence endoscopy fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) fluorescence microscopy fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) fluorophore Gb/s green photonics
A microscopic technique that employs fluorescence to study selected parts of a specimen. A technique in fluorescence microscopy for measuring the ability of a fluorescent molecule to move within a film or membrane.
A technique in fluorescence microscopy for identifying where and when molecules with two different fluorophores are interacting with each other. A molecule with fluorescent properties, often used as a label. Gigabit per second, a unit of data transfer rate equal to 10 9 b/s. Photonic solutions that generate or conserve energy, cut greenhouse gas emissions, reduce pollution, produce environmentally sustainable output or improve public health. Terabit per second, a unit of data transfer rate equal to 1012 b/s. Semiconductors formed from elements in groups III and V of the period table. A microscope designed to observe fluorescence in a thin surface layer of a specimen, thus avoiding being flooded by light from deeper layers. A technique for analysing a sample by heating it with a laser to ionise a small amount and then observing the spectral emission lines as the gas cools. A technique analogous to radar that uses laser pulses to measure distances to objects. It can be used to monitor atmospheric pollution.
Tb/s III-V semiconductors total internal reflection fluorescence microscope (TIRF) laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) light detection and ranging (LIDAR)
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light-emitting diode (LED) liquid-crystal display (LCD) luminaire magnetic resonance tomography (MRT) metal organic vapour phase epitaxy (MOVPE) metamaterial
A flat-panel display in which liquid crystals change opacity when exposed to an electric field. A complete light fixture. A medical imaging technique that uses magnetism, radio waves, and a computer to produce images of body structures.
A method for depositing thin layers of crystalline materials used in the construction of light-emitting diodes.
A synthetic material designed to have specific properties such as a negative refractive index. Electromechanical devices on a scale of 0.02 to 1 millimetre in size.
A technology dealing with the movements of fluids through narrow passages, used for lab on a chip applications. A combination of different imaging techniques.
A technique in fluorescence microscopy where several (usually two) low-energy photons are used to cause fluorescence instead of one high-energy photon. It does less damage to living cells. Any of a number of techniques for sending two or more separate signals along an optical fibre. A spectroscopic technique for detecting molecules in air by their absorption of an infrared beam.
multiplexing
A medical imaging technique analogous to ultrasound, used to obtain subsurface images at high resolution (better than 10 m), commonly used for diagnosis of eye conditions. A light-emitting diode that employs organic compounds.
A treatment for cancer in which light is directed towards a tumour that has been primed with a light-sensitive chemical.
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photovoltaic cell
A semiconductor device that generates a voltage when exposed to light. Also known as a solar cell. A medical imaging technique using a radioactive tracer which emits positrons. The positrons react with electrons in the body to produce gamma rays, which are then detected. A spectroscopic technique that uses the scattering of light from a specimen to identify the species of molecules present. Lighting that uses light-emitting diodes or organic light-emitting diodes. A unit of frequency equal to 1012 Hz. A multiplexing technique in which a single signal is separated into many segments, each very short in duration. In a communications network, a condition where all the links are optical, with no electrical conversions. A type of diode laser that emits a beam of light at right angles to the chip.
Raman spectroscopy solid-state lighting (SSL) terahertz (THz) time-division multiplexing (TDM) transparency
The ability of an optical communications system to change the wavelength at which it operates. A multiplexing technique in which each signal is transmitted at a slightly different wavelength.
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2M Engineering 3M Display & Graphics Lab 4D Optics Ltd A.L.S.I. NV A.M. Prokhorov General Physics Institute Academic Medical Center, Laser Center Acreo Acreo AB Acreo Fiberlab ADB ADVA AG Optical Networking Advanced Fiber Products Ltd Advanced Optical Technology Ltd AFE AFOP French Optics & Photonics Manufacturers Association Agence Rgionale de lInnovation Alsace Agilent Technologies AIDO Industrial Association of Optics AIDO Asociacin Industrial de Optica Color e Imagen Aixtron AG Albis Optoelectronics AG ALCATEL Alcatel CIT Alcatel Thales III-V Lab Alcatel-Lucent Alcatel-Lucent Bell Labs France Alitec snc ALPhA Head of Route des Lasers Cluster ALPhANOV Altechna Co. Ltd. Altran Amplitude Systmes AOS Technology Ltd Aragon Photonics Labs. S.L. Arctic Photonics Argelas Austrian Laser Association Artenergy Publishing Artificial Sensing Instruments ASI AG ASML Netherlands B.V. Aston University ASTRON Astrophysical Institute Potsdam Athens Information Technology Center AUDI AG Aurel Vlaicu University of Arad Austrian Academy of Sciences Avago Technologies Avantes BV AVS Added Value Industrial Engineering Solutions BAE Systems Barco Barco NV Bar-Kal Systems Engineering Ltd BASF AG BATOP GmbH Bayerisches Laserzentrum GmbH Ben-Gurion University of the Negev Berliner Glas KGaA Berne University of Applied Sciencies Engineering and Information Technologies berr BFi Optilas GmbH BIAS Bremer Institut fr angewandte Strahltechnik GmbH BIOPHOX GmbH & Co. KG Bizjan & Co. BMBF Bookham Technology, plc Brno University of Technology Brunel University Bucharest Polytechnical University Budapest University of Technology Cambridge Display Technology Cambridge University Carinthian Tech Research AG Carl Baasel Lasertechnik GmbH Co. KG Carl Zeiss Carl Zeiss Group Carl Zeiss MicroImaging Cascade Technologies Catholic University of Leuven CBI CEA CEA-LETI CEA-PLANI Cedova Cedova BV Ceit CEIT CELOS, CUSAT, KOCHI, KERALA, INDIA CENAMPS Center for Biomedical Optics and Photonics (CeBOP), University of Muenster Centre for Instrumentation and Analytical Science Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique Centro Ricerche Fiat S.C.p.A. CeramOptec GmbH/ Biolitec AG CERN CETEMMSA Chalmers University of Technology Chaltel Ltd Chemnitz University of Technology Chinese Academy of Sciences Chonnam National University ChyLas CIBA Specialty Chemicals Inc. CILAS CIP CI-Systems Ltd. Ciudad Universitaria de Madrid Cleanlaser GmbH CLUB LASER ET PROCEDES CNIT CNOP Louis Pasteur University Strasbourg CNOP-France POPsud CNR CNR IFAC CNR Istituto Processi Chimico-Fisici u.o. Messina CNR National Research Council of Italy CNR-IFAC CNR-IFN CSMFO Lab. CNR-INOA CNRS CNRS Insitut Fresnel CNRS/Rhenaphotonics Alsace Cluster CNRS, INSERM, INRA, IRD, CIRAD, Universit Montpellier 1, Universit Montpellier 2 CNRS-LPN Coherent Lambda Physik GmbH Coherent Scotland Ltd Computer Engineering and Informatics Department, University of Patras Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche CoreCom Corning CETC CPATUniv. Toulouse 3 CPERI Create-Net Cristal Laser S.A. CRIT research Crystal Fibre A/S CrystalQ BV CSEM CSEM SA CSIR National Laser Centre CST Cypress Semiconductor Corporation DaimlerChrysler DALSA Professional Imaging DAS Photonics Datalogic Scanning Datalogic Scanning Group DEI Politecnico di Milano DEIS University of Bologna Delft University of Technology Delphi Corp. DELTA Light & Optics Div. Department of Communications, Optics and Materials, Technical University of Denmark Department of Engineering, Liverpool University Department of Informatics and Telecommunications Department of Trade Industry Department of Informatics and Telecommunications, University of Athens Detectors Technology Deutsches Zentrum fr Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V. Diehl BGT Defence Dilas GmbH Dipartimento Energetica, Universit La Sapienza Display-Messtechnik & Systeme GmbH DLR dole Donostia International Physics Center Dow Corning Corporation Draegerwerk Aktiengesellschaft Draka Comteq Draka Comteq France DTU-Photonics Dublin Institute of Technology Dumlupinar University, Dept. of Electrical and Electronics Engineering Durham University, Photonic Materials Institute EADS AG EADS Deutschland GmbH EADS Headquarters EADS Innovation Works Eblana Photonics Ltd Ecole Centrale Marseille/POPsud Ecole Polytechnique Fdrale de Lausanne (EPFL) Eindhoven University of Technology ELAS NV Elbit systems electro optics elop Element Six Elucidare Limited EMVA DATAPIXEL S.L. ENEA Natl Agency Renewable Energies, New Technologies and Environmant ENEA Optical Coatings Group Enterprise Ireland/Optronics Ireland EPIC Erasmus MC Department of Radiation Oncology Erasmus Medical Center Ericcson Ltd Ericsson AB Erlangen-Nuremberg University Essilor International ESYCOM-ESIEE ETH Zurich ETS CAMARA FRERES ETSI Telecomunicacin EU Military Staff EUCAR European Commission European Laser Institute ELI European Optical Society (EOS) European Parliament European Photonics Industry Consortium European Physical Society European Space Agency EuroTex euspen Evotec Technologies GmbH EXALOS AG EXELITE Innovations Exelite Innovations Ltd. Fa. Schepers GmbH & Co. KG FBK-irst (Fondazione Bruno Kessler) Feasa Federal University of Technology Paran FHS Kufstein/Tirol Fiat Research Center S.C.p.A. Fiber Optic Valley Innovation System Fibre Photonics Finmeccanica Flexible Optical BV (OKO Technologies) FLIR ATS Fogale Nanotech FOM Institute AMOLF Foresight Generation Club Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe FORTH FORTH-IESL Fotona Fotonica 21 Fotonika21 Slovenia Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas France Telecom FranceTelecom, R&D Div. Fraunhofer Fraunhofer HHI Fraunhofer IAF Fraunhofer IAO Fraunhofer Institut fr Angewandte Festkrperphysik Fraunhofer Institut fr Lasertechnik ILT, Department Laser of Measuring Technology Fraunhofer Institute, Telecommunications, Heinrich-Hertz-Institute Fraunhofer Institute of Applied Optics and Precision Engineering Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology Fraunhofer Institute for Material and Beam Technology Fraunhofer Institut-Werkstoff- und Strahltechnik Fraunhofer IOF Jena Fraunhofer IPT Fraunhofer IZM Institute for Reliability and Microintegration Fraunhofer Society Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology Freelance Freiberger Compound Materials GmbH French Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) Fundacin Galileo Galilei Fundacin TEKNIKER Gambro Gayton Photonics Gent University German Aerospace Center Ghent University Glasgow University Global Light Industries GmbH Gooch & Housego PLC GSI Harokopion University of Athens Hebrew University Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG Helmholtz Association Helsinki University of Technology HEOS Photonics s.r.l. Heraeus HeriotWatt University U.K. HfT HILASE Ltd. Holo/Or HOLO3 Holografika Ltd. Holst Centre/TNO horiba jobin yvon Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. i2CAT Foundation I3A IBM Research GmbH ICFO Institut de Cincies Fotniques ICMM-CSIC ICOS Vision Systems NV IDEKO S. Coop. IDETRA IDMA IEEE IFAC-CNR IFTH Ignis Photonyx AS IIC Industrial Investment Council II-VI Belgium NV II-VI Deutschland GmbH IM2NP Paul Czanne University Aix Marseille Imagine Optic IMEC IMEC vzw IMEC-Ghent University/INTEC IMEL/NCSR Demokritos IMM CNR Imperial College London IMT-Bucharest INDRA INDRA SISTEMAS INESC Porto INETI Instituto Nacional de Engenharia, Tecnologia e Inovacin INEX U.K. Information Engineering Department University of Parma INFRAMET Ingenieurbro TPD INJECT Enterprise Innovation Norway INOA-CNR INOV (INESC Inovacin) INSA de Strasbourg/ Rhenaphotonics Alsace Cluster INSA LYON INSA Rennes INSERM Institut de Recherches Robert Bosch SA Institut de Soudure Institut fr Mikrotechnik Mainz GmbH Institut of Biomedical Engineering, ETH/UNIZH Institut za fiziku Institute of Applied Physics Nello Carrara Institute of Atomic Physics and Spectroscopy Institute of Electronic Structure and Laser (IESL) Institute of High Frequency and Quantum Electronics, University of Siegen Institute of High Pressure Physics Institute of Low Temperature Plasma Physics Institute of Photonic Technology Institute of Photonic Technology Jena e.V. Institute of Photonics Institute of Photonics, University of Strathclyde Institute of Physical Biology Institute of Physics Institute of Physics, Zagreb, Croatia Institute of Telecommunications Institute of Telecommunications and Multimedia Applications, Universidad Politcnica de Valencia Instituto de Fsica Aplicada Instituto Superior Tecnico, Instituto de Telecomunicaes Instro Precision Limited Intense Laser Technology Intense Ltd International Laser Center Interspectrum OU IOP IOP Photonic Devices of Ministry of Economic Affairs IPTE nv IQE Group IREA CNR IREPA LASER IREPA LASER/Rhenaphotonics Alsace Cluster Irish Photonics Association (IPA) ISERD Israel Europe R&D Directorate Isituto Nazionale di Ottica Applicata CNR Iskra Medical Ltd. Iskra Techno R&D Istituto P.M. s.r.l. Istituto per la Microeletronica e Microsistemi Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche Istituto Superiore Mario Boella Italian Institute of Technology Italian Ministry of Economic Development Department Communications IVEA IWT iXCore JCMwave JCP-Consult JDS Uniphase JDSU Jenoptik AG Jenoptik L.O.S. JENOPTIK Laser, Optik, Systeme GmbH Joanneum Research/NMP K.U. Leuven (Catholic Univ. Leuven) Kemsing Engineers Ltd Kista Photonics Research Center (KPRC) KitNA Ltd KLA-Tencor Corp. KLA-Tencor Israel KLOE OPTITEC Ko University Kodak Kodak Limited Kompetenzzentrum Licht GmbH Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace, Kjeller Unit KOPTI KPRC Kraus Technology Consulting KTH KTO-300 KUGLER GmbH Kunlun Optics Ltd Lab for Thin Films Nanosystems and Nanometrology (LTFN), Solid State Physics Division Lab. of Laser Technology in Material Science Laboratoire dAstrophysique de Marseille Laboratoire Matriaux Optiques, Photonique et Systmes Lairdside Laser Engineering Centre, University of Liverpool Lappeenranta University of Technology Laser and Light Science Technology Association Laser Center, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam Laser Diagnostic Instruments AS Laser- und Medizin-Technologie GmbH Laser Zentrum Hannover e.V. (LZH) Lasermake technology LaserQuantum, R&D LASOS Lasertechnik GmbH LASPE-EPFL Leibniz-Institut for Surface Modification Leica Microsystems AG Leica Microsystems GmbH Lexedis Lighting GmbH Liekki Corporation Liekki Oy LIMO Linde AG Linkoping University LINOS AG Liquid Crystals Division Organic Lighting Technologies Liverpool John Moores University L-lectronics Ltd LOME INEGI Loughborough University LPICM Ecole polytechnique LPI-Europe LPN CNRS LSP-ENSPS-ULP/Rhenaphotonics Alsace Ludwig Maximilian University Munich LUMILOG Luminostix b.v. LUMITECH Holding GmbH Mahr GmbH MAN Roland Druckmaschinen AG Manufacturing Advanced Media Europe (MAM-E)/Rhenaphotonics Alsace Cluster Marconi SpA Massen machine vision systems GmbH Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light Max-Born-Institut MaxInno MDC Max Daetwyler GmbH Mechanical Engineering Department Materials Sector and INSTM Medical Lasercenter Luebeck Meopta-optika a.s. MEPhI-Photonics Centre MergeOptics GmbH Merioneo Technology Metris N.V. Michelson Diagnostics Ltd Microelectronics Institute of Barcelona (IMB-CNM, CSIC) microTEC Gesellschaft fr Mikrotechnologie mbH Military University of Technology Millimetre Wave Laboratory of Finland MilliLab Ministre de la Dfense Ministry of Defence (NL) MODULIGHT Inc. Moeller-Wedel GmbH Motorola mso jena GmbH MSU M.V. Lomonosova Multimedia University, Malaysia Multitel Multiwave Photonics, SA nanoGUNE nanoLambda Nanomedic, a.s. nanoplus Nanosystems and Technologies GmbH Nanotechnology Research Center, Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Physics Nanyang Technological University National and Kapodistrian University of Athens National Center for Nanoscience and Technology National Centre for Laser Applications National Centre for Scientific Research Demokritos National Council of Research National Hellenic Research Foundation National Institute for Lasers, Plasma and Radiation Physics National Institute for R&D National Institute for Reseach and Development in Microtechologies (IMT Bucharest), Romania National Institute of Laser, Plasma and Radiation Physics National Laser Centre National Physical Laboratory (U.K.) National Research Council of Canada National Research Council of Italy (CNR) National Technical University of Athens National University of Ireland, Galway National University of Ireland, Maynooth NCCR-Quantum Photonics NCSR Demokritos NetTest Neurocritical Care Unit, Department of Neurosurgery, Unversity Hospital, Zuerich NEWI Newport Corporation NKT Photonics NMi Van Swinden Laboratorium Nokia Siemens Networks Norwegian Defence Research Establishment Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) Novaled GmbH Novartis/Rehenaphotonics Alsace NPL NTNU Technology Tranfer AS NUI Galway Numberland ODL systems Oerlikon Optics UK Ltd OFS Fitel Denmark Aps OIDA Onefive GmbH ONERA Ophir-Spiricon OpSys Project Consulting Optacore d.o.o. OpTecBB e.V. OpTech-Net OptecNet Deutschland e. V. Optek Optical Components Optical filters Optical Society of America Optics Department, University of Granada OPTICS Engineering Ltd opticsvalley OPTINEOS OPTITEC-POPsud Optocap Ltd Optoelectronics Research Centre, Tampere University of Technology OptoGaN GmbH OptoNet e.V. optoPartner OptoSci Ltd OPTOTEK d.o.o. Optrex Europe GmbH Optronics Optropreneurs Limited OSRAM OSRAM Opto Semiconductors GmbH Osyris R&D OTB Display PA Consulting Group Panchromos Limited Panorama Labs PERA Innovation Ltd PHI International Philips Philips Automotive Lighting Philips Lighting B.V. Philips Research Philips Research Laboratories Eindhoven PhoeniX Software PhoSyLab/Rhenaphotonics Alsace Cluster PhotonAix Photonics Application Centre Photonics BW e.V. Photonics Cluster (U.K.) Photonics Knowledge Transfer Network Photonics Society of Poland and Faculty of Physics, Warsaw University of Technology Photonics Task Group Holland TNO photonIQ GbR Photoniques Photonix Limited PhotonScience Limited Physics Department, University of Marburg Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) Pirelli & C. SpA Pirelli Broadband Solutions Pixium Plastic Electronics Foundation Plastic Logic Limited POF-Plus Pole Quebec Chaudiere Appalache Polish Telecom Politechnico die Torino Politecnico di Bari Politecnico di Milano Polytec GmbH Polytechnic University of Marche POPsud Potsdam University PowerPhotonic Ltd Poznan University of Technology Precitec Optronik GmbH Prime Laser Technology PRO OPTICA ProLasProduktionslaser GmbH Proximion Prudente & Tavares, Technical Consulting PUC-Rio Putting Photonics into Context PV Qeam QinetiQ Malvern Technology Centre QinetiQ Ltd Qioptiq Coatings Ltd QUBITON Laboratories KG Qunano AB Radboud University, Nijmegen Raymetrics S.A. RECS-Europe Research Academic Computer Technology Insitute Research Institute for Networks and Communications Engineering, Dublin City University RFMD (U.K.) Ltd Rhenaphotonics Alsace Ris National Laboratory River Diagnostics Rofin-Sinar Laser GmbH Rohm and Haas Romanian National Institute of Laser, Plasma and Radiation Physics Romanian National R&D Rosetta IP Rowiak GmbH Royal Inst. of Technology, IMIT Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) RTC North Ltd Rudjer Boskovic Institute Rudolf Kriens Consulting Ruhr University, Bochum RUNETECH Rusnano S.C. OPTOELECTRONICA 2001 S.A. SAES Getters SAGEM Dfence Scurit Saint-tienne University Saint-Gobain Quartz PLC Saint-Gobain Recherche Saint-Gobain Sekurit Deutschland Sapienza SL Sartorius Biotec GmbH SC SOLEIL School of Engineering, University of Warwick School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering School of Physics, Trinity College Dublin Schott AG Schweisstechnische Lehr- und Versuchsanstalt Mecklenburg-Vorpommern GmbH Scotland Europa, Scotland House Scottish Enterprise Scottish Optoelectronics Association Scuola Superiore SantAnna SDS Systems Development Solutions Second University of Naples Department of Information Engineering SEII asbl SELEX SAS Galileo Avionica SELEX Sensors & Airborne Systems, Edinburgh SELEX Sistemi Integrati SpA SensL Technologies Serma Technologies SESO Sharp Laboratories of Europe Sichuan Univ SICK AG Siemens Siemens Networks SIFAM Fibre Optics SILIOS Technologies Simulacions Optiques S.L. SINTEF SITEX 45 SRL SOITEC/PICOGIGA SONY Deutschland GmbH Soreq NRC SP Technical Research Institute of Sweden SPECTARIS Spectra-Physics GmbH SphereOptics LLC SPIE Europe Ltd SPIE The International Society for Optical Engineering SPIE, SEDO Sri Sathya Sai University SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research STMicroelectronics Storex Technologies StrataLight Communications studiogreco SUPA Graduate School SUPELEC Superlum Ireland/ATF SUSS MicroOptics SA Swansea University Swedish Defence Research Agency (FOI) Swiss Laser Net Syntune AB Takashima Sangyo Co., Ltd. Tampere University of Technology Tarbiat Modares University Technical University Berlin Technical University of Catalonia Technical University of Denmark Technical University of Koice Technical University of Lodz Technion Israel Institute of Technology Technion Technische Universitt Berlin Technische Universitt Darmstadt Technological Educational Institute of Crete Technological Educational Institution of Athens Technology Centre AIMEN Technology Centre Ltd. TELCON SRL. TELECOM Bretagne Telefonica Telefonica I+D Telenor R&I TELMAT Industrie/Rhenaphotonics Alsace Cluster TESEO, Brussels THALES THALES Group THALES Optronique S.A. THALES Research Technology France THALES Research & Development Thales Research & Technology Thales Systemes Aeroportes The University of Manchester Thomson Thomson R&D France TILL I.D. GmbH TILL Photonics GmbH Time-Bandwidth Products, Inc. TNO Holst Centre TNO Science and Industry Tridonic Optoelectronics GmbH TRIOPTICS GmbH TRUMPF GmbH + Co. KG TRUMPF Laser GmbH + Co. KG TRUMPF Laser Marking Systems AG TSB Innovationsagentur Berlin GmbH TTO A/S TU Berlin/Fraunhofer IZM TU Eindhoven TU Eindhoven/Willow Photonics TU Vienna TUBITAK-UEKAE TWI TWI Ltd Tyco Electronics TYKYA Tyndall National Institute, University College Cork u2t Photonics AG UGent/IMEC U.K. Astronomy Technology Centre, STFC U.K. Department for Business Enterprise & Regulatory Reform U.K. Industrial Vision Association Ltd. UKCPO Umicore Umicore AG & amp Umicore AG + Co. KG Umicore Electro-Optic Materials United Kingdom Consortium for Photonics and Optics (UKCPO) Universidad Autnoma de Barcelona Universidad Autnoma de Occidente Universidad de Valladolid Universidad de Zaragoza Universidad Miguel Hernandez Universidad Politcnica de Madrid Universidad Politcnica de Valencia Universidad Rey Juan Carlos Universidade da Corua Universidade do Algarve Universit degli studi di Palermo Universit di Roma La Sapienza Universit di Roma La Sapienza Dip. Energetica Universit di Roma Tor Vergata Universit Politecnica delle Marche Universitat de Valencia Universitt Duisburg-Essen Universitat Jaume I Univ. Modena e R.E. and TASC INFM-CNR Area Science Park, Trieste Universitat Politcnica de Catalunya (UPC) Universitt Potsdam Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Tarragona, Spain Universitt Siegen Universitt Stuttgart Universitt Stuttgart, IFSW Universit dArtois Universit de Bourgogne Universit de Lige Universit de Technologie Troyes Universit Louis Pasteur Strasbourg Universit Montpellier CNRS Universit Paris Diderot University Bordeaux 1 University College Cork, Ireland University College London University Medical Center, Groningen University Montpellier 2 University of Athens University of Aveiro and Institute of Telecommunications University of Applied Sciences, Muenster University of Aveiro University of Barcelona University of Bari and CNR-INFM LIT3 University of Bath University of Bern University of Bologna University of Brescia University of Bristol University of Bucharest University of Cambridge University of Cantabria University of Crete University of Cyprus University of Delhi University of Duisburg-Essen University of Edinburgh University of Erlangen University of Essex University of Firenze University of Geneva University of Genoa University of Glasgow University of Hertfordshire University of Ioannina University of Jena, Otto-Schott-Institute University of Joensuu University of Karlsruhe University of Kiel University of Liepaja University of Linz, ZONA University of Liverpool University of Lbeck University of Madras University of Manchester University of Modena and Reggio Emilia University of Munich University of Murcia University of Naples Federico II University of Newcastle University of North Carolina at Charlotte University of Nottingham University of Oslo UniK University of Oulu University of Paderborn, EIM-E University of Padua and INSTM University of Parma, Italy University of Patras & FORTH/ICEHT University of Peloponnese University of Salerno University of Sheffield University of South Bohemia University of St Andrews University of Strathclyde University of Surrey University of Sydney University of the Basque Country University of Trento, Department of Physics University of Troms University of Twente University of Valencia University of Vigo (Spain) University of Wales, Swansea University of West Bohemia New Technologies Research Center University of Wuppertal University Roma Tre UNPFII, ICT, UNESCO, Commonwealth Business Council UPC (Universitat Politcnica de Catalunya) UPS2 UPV VDMA VDMA DFF (German Flat Panel Display Forum) VDMA Robotics + Automation Assoc., EMVA VDMA-DFF VDMA-Lasers and Lasersystems VI Systems GmbH VIGO SYSTEMS Vilnius University Vinca Institute of Nuclear Sciences, University of Belgrade VINNOVA Viscom AG Vistec Electron Beam GmbH vito VITRONIC VITRONIC Dr.-Ing. Stein Bildverarbeitungssysteme GmbH Volex Europe Ltd VPIsystems Vrije University Brussels VTT VUB, Department Applied Physics and Photonics Warsaw University of Technology Waterford Institute of Technology Welsh Assembly Government WLT-Wissenschaftliche Gesellschaft Lasertechnik e.V. Wroclaw University of Technology XenICs XiO Photonics ZETT OPTICS GmbH Zous Consulting & Service
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