Building agile capability
Our ÂŁ1 million Innovation Fund is supporting new avenues of research which are arising in response to the evolving demands of industry. Our dynamic model is achieved through regular thematic calls for proposals which stimulate new industry-focused research partnerships with academia. This ensures that the Hub remains agile and responsive to emerging industrial needs and helps drive the UK photonics manufacturing ecosystem. Our second Innovation Fund call was launched in November 2017, seeking proposals to increase the depth and breadth of our existing capabilities within the four Technology Platforms and Grand Challenge of Integration. From 23 applications, five projects were funded. Adding to the four projects funded in 2016, the total value of Innovation Fund grants awarded to date now stands at ÂŁ0.5 million*. 2017 Innovation Fund projects: n Measuring
lung inhomogeneity by paediatric cystic fibrosis, University of Cambridge
n Large-scale
manufacturing of metamaterials with direct laser writing, University of Southampton
n Integrated
graphene on Ge/SI platform for mid-IR photodetectors, University of Cambridge
n Chiral
light sensor fabricated by chiral light, University of Oxford
n Low
cost manufacturing of integrated LIDAR arrays, University of Southampton and Imperial College London
*Grants funded at 80% FEC
Hub University of Southampton University of Sheffield I nnovation Fund partners 2016-2017 Heriot-Watt University University of Bristol University of Cambridge University of Oxford University of Southampton with Imperial College, London University of Southampton with Phoenix Photonics University of Strathclyde Industry partners International industry partners by country Distribution of UK photonics industry activity
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