The European Technology Platform PHOTONICS21 unites the majority of the leading photonics industries and relevant R&D stakeholders along the whole economic value chain throughout Europe. Today Photonics21 has more than 2,500 members.

Photonics21 aims to establish Europe as a leader in the development and deployment of photonics technologies in the various applications fields such as ICT, lighting, industrial manufacturing, life science, safety as well as in education and training.

An ambitious programme is required to:

• Supply the necessary research environment capable of supporting the visionary and industrially relevant R&D activities for photonics components, systems and their application over a broad range of industry sectors;
• Establish strategic links between mainly SME-based photonics industries and principal user industries to share their long-term vision and to mobilize critical mass resources;
• Foster co-operation and smooth out the current fragmentation of national and European R&D activities.

In 2013 PHOTONICS21 was formed to become the private contract partner in a contractual Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement with the EU Commission in the frame of Horizon 2020, the 8^th European Framework Programme for Research & Innovation.

The PHOTONICS PPP represents a long-term commitment between the European Commission and the photonics stakeholders to invest in Europe with the aim of securing Europe's industrial leadership and economic growth, a highly skilled workforce, and the capability to generate new jobs that attract young people.

DEIB participates to various projects funded by PHOTONICS PPP, including PASSION.