Digital Catapult brings ‘light’ to Northern Ireland companies

Up to ten Northern Ireland companies working in manufacturing, construction, meditech and agritech will be able to explore how photonics – the science and technology of light – can help their businesses.

Smart Nano NI, a local nano-tech consortium, has launched the FutureScope Photonics NI programme, a nine-week series of practical workshops showcasing the potential for photonics technologies in industry and delivered by Smart Nano NI member Digital Catapult.

Northern Ireland has unique strengths in the research, commercialisation and manufacture of photonic technologies and the wider adoption of those technologies in industry presents significant opportunities for business here.

FutureScope Photonics NI will provide participating companies with the necessary skills and knowledge to successfully introduce photonic tools and techniques in industrial environments in order to augment equipment and process monitoring, quality control and other light-based processes, enabling greater productivity.

Digital Catapult NI, which supports the growth of companies across the region to accelerate the adoption of emerging technologies, is seeking applications for the programme from Northern Ireland companies working in manufacturing, construction, meditech and agritech, through an open call which will run until 19 March.

Applications are open to manufacturers at an early stage in their photonics journey or those keen to find out more about photonics technologies and their uses.

The programme has been made possible by government funding awarded to Smart Nano NI by the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) flagship Strength in Places fund. This research and innovation funding supports significant local economic growth and will accelerate the development of transformative advanced prototyping and smart manufacturing methods in Northern Ireland.

Smart Nano NI will develop game-changing advanced prototyping and smart manufacturing methods to deliver new technologies, supporting innovation-led economic growth, both in the area and nationally, as well as enhancing local research and innovation collaborations.

Find out more about Smart Nano NI.

Find out more and apply for the FutureScope Photonics NI programme.

About the programme

• Participants in the programme will explore photonic techniques, including imaging, sensing and spectroscopy, as well as the complementary digital technologies of Internet of Things and Artificial Intelligence, that can improve quality control processes.
• Using an Innovation Practice approach, companies will use the knowledge gained from the programme to design actionable photonics solutions for identified company challenges or opportunities. Expert technologists from Digital Catapult and Smart Nano NI will support the participants with feedback on feasibility and practical requirements to ensure outcomes are targeted and actionable.
• FutureScope Photonics NI is the first in a three stage photonics learning pathway being offered by Digital Catapult as part of the Smart Nano NI consortium.
• Following the first stage, five companies will be selected to graduate to the Testbed stage where they will have 30 hours of time to develop a proof of concept with the support of Digital Catapult facilitators, technologists and in-house photonics equipment.
• The output from the Testbed stage will be an implementation plan for an in-situ (ie, testing within their business operations) photonics solution for each company’s proof of concept.
• Upon completion of this stage, up to two companies will be selected to be further supported as part of the Validation stage where they will receive up to a further 60 hours of support from Digital Catapult to inform, guide and refine their proof of concept to a fully operational solution

About Smart Nano NI Consortium Members

• Photonics is the science and technology of light. Photonic technologies include optical fibre, lasers, LEDs, cameras and displays.
• FutureScope is the home of deep tech acceleration support from Digital Catapult – the UK authority on advanced digital technology. Offering clear development pathways and applied Digital Catapult methods, FutureScope is a next level support system that advances the future of the UK’s leading tech innovators and businesses. Uniquely targeted, it is designed to work across industries and at the intersection of advanced digital technologies and the global trends affecting UK businesses.
• Smart Nano NI is a Northern Ireland consortium collaborating to develop game-changing advanced prototyping and smart manufacturing methods to deliver new technologies. The consortium shares a capability around nano manufacturing and world-leading knowledge in photonics. The consortium has been awarded £42.4m UK Research and Innovation’s Strength in Places Fund. The total project value including leveraged funding from other sources is £63.9m. The collaboration is aimed at driving self-sustaining local industry and economic growth through research and innovation. Smart Nano NI is led by data company Seagate Technology in collaboration with Analytics Engines, Causeway Sensors, Cirdan Imaging, Digital Catapult, North West Regional College, Queen’s University Belfast, Ulster University and Yelo. The nine partners (the consortium) form a corridor of expertise from Derry~ Londonderry to Belfast.
• The Consortium aims to deliver 100 new prototypes, 6 new products for NI based companies and + 30% productivity gain for industrial partners. There are also targets for commercialisation with 75 NI Based SMEs engaged with Smart Nano NI.