Launch of Institute of Photonics, showcase of the sector in Eastern France in partnership with Luxembourg

On 14 February 2024, a 5-year consortium agreement was signed between public and private actors in Eastern France and Luxembourg announcing the creation of the Institute of Photonics. This creation is part of the momentum and dynamics driven by the Chair of Photonics at CentraleSupélec. In addition, the Grand Est Region (Eastern France) has integrated photonics into its structuring initiatives since 2020.

A photonics research and acceleration centre

Under the direction of Professor Marc Sciamanna, the Institute of Photonics brings together more than 300 researchers and students in photonics. A central building will be built on the CentraleSupélec site in Metz in 2027. The Institute of Photonics will also be present in other cities in Eastern France and in Luxembourg.

The consortium aims first of all to strengthen synergies between the players in the photonics ecosystem. It must also promote the expertise present in the territory and contribute to the influence and attractiveness of the Grand Est region and Luxembourg in this field. Collaborative research projects are being carried out within this large consortium. The Institute of Photonics also facilitates the acceleration of the valorization and transfer of technology.

The potential of photonics for Eastern France and Luxembourg

Photonics – i. e. the science of light – is a technology of the future. It will revolutionize everyday life while providing answers to major societal challenges and major transitions – health, digital, ecology, energy. It is also a technology that helps to preserve and guarantee sovereignty, including digital sovereignty. Finally, it is a rapidly expanding economic sector with more than 1,000 companies and more than 70,000 jobs in France.

A consortium that aims to become a showcase for photonics for Eastern France and Luxembourg 

A true showcase for photonics, the Institute of Photonics places the training of new talents at the heart of its project. The aim is to create a true “Institute Photonics Student Chapter”. In the long term, it should bring together the largest number of photonics students in the world. Particular attention is paid to raising the general public’s awareness of the challenges of photonics and its applications.

Unique in Europe, this consortium highlights the expertise of Eastern France and Luxembourg in the field in order to help accelerate the development of the sector. The Institute of Photonics intends to open up to other bordering and cross-border regions with the ambition of having a national and even international reach.

Sources

CentraleSupelec au cœur d’un nouvel institut de photonique créé entre le Grand Est et le Luxembourg (usinenouvelle.com)

https://www.satt.fr/un-institut-de-photonique-grand-est/

https://www.centralesupelec.fr/fr/creation-institut-de-photonique-du-grand-est-centralesupelec-metz