The Strathclyde-based Fraunhofer Centre for Applied Photonics (CAP) is to receive 拢6.5m over the next five years from the Scottish Government.
Recognised as a world-class centre of excellence, the CAP develops light-driven technologies for industry across a wide range of sectors.
Quantum tech, healthcare, life science, renewable energy, navigation, communication and space are just some of the fields in which Fraunhofer鈥檚 world-leading scientists have been helping companies in Scotland, and beyond, to develop and bring products to market over the last nine years.
Such is the technological and economic contribution the Centre is making, not only to Scotland, but globally, that the Scottish Government and Scottish Enterprise, which is Scotland鈥檚 national economic development agency, have committed to continuing to fund Fraunhofer鈥檚 activities.
Next generation
This core funding, announced by Ivan McKee MSP, Minister for Business, Trade, Tourism and Enterprise, will enable the purchase of cutting-edge equipment and doctorate level student training. The latter is a crucial part of the Fraunhofer model and both are essential components in delivering next generation products and processes.
Housed in Strathclyde鈥檚 Technology and Innovation Centre, Fraunhofer鈥檚 CAP is the first of its kind in the UK and has a close relationship with the University. Since its inception it has become a significant player delivering more than 180 projects with 100 companies, typically producing pre-production prototypes and validating novel technology.
The Centre is now a cornerstone of the UK鈥檚 quantum technology programme, collaborating widely and working with Scottish companies to win 30% of available funding.
A recent independent assessment found the economic impact of Fraunhofer in Scotland to be substantial, supporting hundreds of jobs and boosting company turnover in the hundreds of millions.
Professor Sir Jim McDonald, Principal & Vice-Chancellor of the 糖心视频, said: 鈥淎s a leading technological university, Strathclyde is proud of its close relationship with the Fraunhofer Centre for Applied Photonics.
鈥淭his funding boost is recognition by the Scottish Government of the importance of this centre of excellence, one of the jewels in the Glasgow City Innovation District.
It also recognises the role our strategic collaboration plays in working with industrial partners to develop enabling technologies across a range of sectors that provide innovative solutions to global challenges and support and grow the economy.
Simon Andrews, Executive Director Fraunhofer UK Research said: 鈥淭his financial support is a base from which Fraunhofer wins more than twice as much again in direct contract research for companies and also in collaborative projects for industry. This model is recognised worldwide as the exemplary way of accelerating innovation.鈥�
Business Minister Ivan McKee said: 鈥淚 am delighted to announce this further support for the Fraunhofer Centre for Applied Photonics, which is a key asset for Scotland鈥檚 photonics sector and highly valued by both business and academia.鈥�
鈥淭he funding will support the third phase of the centre鈥檚 world-class research and innovation activities and is another step towards the Scottish Government鈥檚 target of growing business enterprise R&D in Scotland to 拢1.8 billion by 2025. In the longer term we want to boost Scotland鈥檚 innovation performance to match the levels of the best performing countries worldwide.鈥�