UK photonics sector expands through international summit and research funding

The UK Photonics Leadership Group (PLG) has announced its role as a Communication Sponsor for the PIC Summit Europe 2026. The summit is scheduled for November 3–4, 2026, at the Evoluon in Eindhoven, Netherlands. The event aims to address the commercial deployment and high-volume manufacturing of photonic integrated circuits, focusing on challenges such as advanced packaging, manufacturing yield, and supply-chain readiness.

In a separate development for the UK research sector, the C-PIC Future Leaders programme has opened applications for £750,000 in funding. This initiative is designed to accelerate the development of open-access, quantum-ready photonics platforms. The programme will include a three-day sandpit event in January 2027 to foster interdisciplinary collaboration between experts in quantum science, photonics, and bioengineering, with the goal of turning research into commercially viable concepts.