...TO HELP SOLVE PHOTONICS RELATED INDUSTRIAL PROBLEMS

22nd April 2005

A new “business opportunities” forum, specifically aimed at increasing interaction between industries that require novel solutions or services and the UK photonics community, has been launched by The Photonics Cluster (UK).

The forum involves the identification of industry problems and the brokering of solutions from the wealth of expertise within the photonics network together with the opportunity, subject to confidentiality, for these solutions to then be disseminated to maximum effect.

The initiative is the brainchild of Nina Blackmore and Susan Lee, business development executives at the Photonics Cluster (UK), which is based at Aston Science Park in Birmingham. It will enable the 170-plus member companies to access the dozens of enquiries which are received from general industry each month.  Enquiries range from a requirement for light measurement equipment through to the design and manufacture of light guides for the automotive sector. 

Susan Lee commented: “The considerable growth in cluster membership has created an opportunity to provide an enhanced service to more general industries such as automotive, aerospace, medical and healthcare sectors. The flexibility and vast experience of the Photonics Cluster (UK) and its membership provides an extremely powerful focal point for delivering photonics solutions to industrial problems and the forum’s launch will provide a rapid solution to potential new customers.”

Nina Blackmore added: “The forum will enable our members to access new enquiries and business opportunity leads received by the Photonics Application Centre on a regular basis. In recent months, the centre has received many enquiries for services and equipment and the number has increased significantly since the launch of our successful ‘open day’ programme for general industry. These forums will enable our membership to access enquiries online and the team’s intention is to gradually expand the portal facilities as each of our special interest groups is launched.”

For further information on the Photonics Cluster (UK) contact the team on 0121 260 6020 or e-mail This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it