Third Max Planck Centre in North America inaugurated at University of Ottawa

Signing of the agreement at the University of Ottawa: Schuth, Rock, and Nemer.

The University of Ottawa has signed a formal partnership with the Max Planck Society that will establish the Max Planck-University of Ottawa Centre for Extreme and Quantum Photonics. The center will link two of the world's foremost research teams in the field of photonics, and will be only the third Max Planck Centre in North America.

Allan Rock, University Ottawa president, was joined by Mona Nemer, vice-president, research, and Ferdi Schüth, vice-president of the Max Planck Society, in the recently inaugurated Advanced Research Complex for the signing of a memorandum of understanding on 26 May that will put in motion an ambitious research program.

SPIE CEO Eugene Arthurs attended the inauguration ceremony on 26 May in Ottawa.

"SPIE welcomes this important partnership, and congratulates the university and the Max Planck Society for their impact on photonics research across Canada and all of North America," Arthurs said. "The new center will generate many downstream benefits, beginning with a higher awareness among decision makers of the key role of photonics in our daily lives."

The new center will be at the forefront of research in photonics and optics, in activities such as the development of very high intensity laser sources, a quintessential technology for future advanced manufacturing processes, optical methods for quantum information science for use in secure data transmission over optical fiber systems and the fabrication of devices for use in classical and quantum photonics. However, the cornerstone of this partnership will be to provide young researchers with international exchanges between Canada and Germany, giving them the opportunity to explore different scientific cultures early on in their professional development.

Full press release from SPIE: Third Max Planck Centre in North America inaugurated at University of Ottawa