Optics and photonics in the European research area

Informacje na temat projektu

OPERA

Identyfikator umowy o grant: 015734

Projekt został zamknięty

Data rozpoczęcia 1 Kwietnia 2005

Data zakończenia 30 Kwietnia 2008

Finansowanie w ramach

• Information Society Technologies: thematic priority under the specific programme "Integrating and strengthening the European research area" (2002-2006).

Koszt całkowity € 949 986,00

Wkład UE € 949 986,00

Koordynowany przez

VDI Technologiezentrum GMBH
Germany

Exploitable results

The OPERA final summit

One of the major achievements of this last period of OPERA2015 was the planning, preparation and realisation of the OPERA2015 final summit. The Opera2015 summit had as main aims: - to disseminate and discuss the results of the OPERA2015 project, especially the outcome and analysis of the inventory on Photonics companies and research to the Photonics community - give information on key strategic issues of Photonics in Europe Inventory and report on European Photonics industry OPERA2015 made a broad inventory of the European photonics companies, and gathered information of the main company characteristics, in terms of photonics product groups, market areas, market scope and company size. This is the first time ever comprehensive information in Photonics on company level has been compiled and made public. This inventory was quite successful: more than 2000 photonics companies were identified, which means more than a doubling of the original target of about 850 companies. The gathered information of identified photonics companies has been processed and analyzed. Furthermore, the range of companies was extended with new EU member states, EU candidate countries and associated countries, and the basic information was made available for public access via the OPERA2015 website. At the end of the project OPERA2015 is meanwhile in possession of a substantial and detailed data base of the European photonics industry. This is a more than helpful instrument to all partner, it improves the networking and enforces the importance of this special industry branch. Updating and optimizing the OPERA2015 website The OPERA2015 website is a major item in the coordination activities of the OPERA2015 project. It is build into an information exchange platform for optics and photonics players in Europe and outside. It has been set up at the beginning of the project and continuously updated with new features. Besides the permanent improvement and updating of the content, the last period was characterized by providing more information for researchers and students as well as job seekers. The section Training now lists specific issues and events aimed at training of this target group. There were finally installed more links from the co-operating partners to the OPERA2015 website. Inventory of published roadmaps of photonic activities and national photonics funding priorities These activities were focussed on preparing an inventory of published roadmaps of photonic activities and national photonics funding priorities. Objective of this project was to point out the various national and international sources of information on photonics and optics and to provide a pointer to published data that may be of assistance to European researchers and policy makers and give a flavour of the activity around the world in recent years. As a result of this search more than 50 data sources were identified which were either publicly available free access (compiled by national governments or industry associations) or commercially compiled restricted access reports. End results OPERA2015 has made a major contribution to let the European Research Area in Optics and Photonics become reality. Nevertheless there is still a need for information about research capabilities for both, industry and science in European countries. Through the installation of a database providing comprehensive information on Optics and Photonics industrial and scientific infrastructure throughout Europe the level of cooperation and coordination has already been increased but still can be significantly increased. The central OPERA2015 website provides all relevant information for any cooperation efforts in Photonics. In view of the general need for stronger links between the different levels of publicly funded research, the need for encompassing national programmes and stakeholders from research and industry is even stronger and essential for the successful realisation of a European Research Area for Optics and Photonics.