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The Council for Science and Technology (CST) has issued an important intervention on the opportunities for UK growth and global leadership stemming from photonic technologies – spotlighting Aston University expertise.
The CST, which provides independent advice to the Prime Minister on science and technology policy, has written to Sir Keir Starmer setting out that critical sectors within the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy depend on photonics, including AI, quantum, defence, clean energy, and healthcare.
According to the letter, by 2035 more than 60% of the UK economy will directly depend on photonics to keep it competitive, and building and sustaining the UK’s leadership in photonics will determine how effectively the UK competes in AI, quantum, autonomous vehicles and digital infrastructure over the coming decades.
The letter highlights the UK’s significant strengths in photonics research and start-up activity, naming Aston University – through the Aston Institute of Photonic Technologies (AiPT) – as one of the country’s major clusters of photonics excellence.
Commenting on the CST’s advice to the Prime Minister, Professor Sergei Turitsyn, Director of the Aston Institute of Photonic Technologies said:
“The advice from the Council for Science and Technology is clear: photonics is a success story for the UK already, so let’s build on that momentum. Aston University is in a strong position, with expertise spanning high-speed optical communications for connectivity; biomedical and healthcare applications of photonics; sensing technologies across multiple sectors; lasers; semiconductor photonics; and applications in the food industry and agri-tech and various other enabling technologies. Photonics also underpins the next generation of AI infrastructure, enabling high-speed data transmission and energy-efficient computing.
As highlighted in this important letter, clusters of excellence in photonics have developed into thriving ecosystems beyond the traditional ‘golden triangle’. Photonics represents not only a major growth opportunity for the UK as a whole, but also a significant driver of regional innovation and economic growth. In particular, there is strong potential for photonics to contribute to regional growth right here in the West Midlands supporting the development of the region as a centre for innovation and advanced enabling technologies.”
The CST warns that the USA, China, Taiwan and Singapore have identified the strategic importance of photonics – and urges the Government to create a long-term, sustainable environment which accelerates the scale up and adoption of photonics.
The letter calls for government to develop a national photonics roadmap to provide a long-term vision; use public procurement to support domestic industries; and expand international partnerships and export activities to support growth.
The roadmap, the letter recommends, should set out how the UK is to identify, attract and retain talent to enable the UK to build and maintain strategic advantage in photonics.
The CST states that a national photonics roadmap and targeted investment could help achieve £50 billion sector value by 2035, with up to 150,000 additional jobs.
View the evidence pack published by the Government.