Photonics
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps her Department is taking to support the development of a roadmap for the application of photonics to emerging technologies beyond telecommunications.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan
Photonics is a major UK industry, generating £18.5 billion annually and employing over 84,800 people. It underpins quantum technologies, semiconductors, and telecoms, with government support through programmes like the National Quantum Technologies Programme and wider UKRI initiatives. The Fraunhofer Centre for Applied Photonics in Glasgow plays a leading role in research and commercialisation, particularly in tying together the quantum and photonics clusters. Government supports the UK's photonics capabilities through targeted interventions that support individual sector needs, fostering innovation and growth across emerging technology areas.
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