Photonics21, the umbrella organization that represents the photonics sector in Europe, welcomes Rochford to its main decision-making group
CARDIFF, UK - Kent Rochford, CEO of SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics, was elected to the Photonics21 Association's 100-member Board of Stakeholders last week. The board includes 50 representatives from industry, 35 from research organizations, and 15 from cluster networks and member societies such as SPIE.
Historically, SPIE has been a staunch supporter of the photonics industry in Europe as well as of Photonics21 and its long-term commitment towards a Public Private Partnership. SPIE represents 19,000 members globally - 20% of whom reside in Europe - and the Society takes its commitment to the European photonics sector seriously. For the past five years, Photonics21, with its stated aim "to establish Europe as a leader in the development and deployment of photonics technologies," has been a shining example of how government, industry, and academia can work together to create real value for the public good while advancing the progress of science and technology.
"Photonics21 provides a comprehensive platform for photonics across Europe," says Rochford. "I'm very pleased to represent SPIE's members and constituents in the Association's critical work. I look forward to contributing to Photonics21's ongoing commitment to uniting leading industries and R&D stakeholders in order to spur growth and opportunity."
Among the key functions of the Photonics21 board of stakeholders is electing the president and executive board of the organization, as well as establishing or discontinuing working groups dedicated to specific technology or application areas.
At the top of the organization's agenda at the moment is the development of a new European photonics "roadmap," as well as setting priorities for the forthcoming "Horizon Europe" research and innovation framework program that will begin in January 2021, as the seven-year Horizon 2020 budget period ends.
About SPIE
SPIE is the international society for optics and photonics, an educational not-for-profit organization founded in 1955 to advance light-based science, engineering, and technology. The Society serves 257,000 constituents from 173 countries, offering conferences and their published proceedings, continuing education, books, journals, and the SPIE Digital Library. In 2018, SPIE provided more than $4 million in support of education and outreach programs. www.spie.org.
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