Carlos Lee, director general of the European Photonics Industry Consortium (EPIC), details the association's agenda for 2019
We are excited to start the year with 425 members, a 20 per cent increase over the previous year, but this means more actions are required to ensure all members are actively engaged with the association and get their ROI on their membership investment. Consequently, we need more platforms and avenues to engage the membership; therefore, we have more than 40 events scheduled for 2019. There is a wide range of events: 15 technology meetings; four international delegations to China, Singapore, India and Israel; 15 networking events; two webinars; and five Photonics TechWatch events at exhibitions.
Last year, 1,168 people representing 588 companies from 43 countries attended one of EPIC’s 22 events, and we are expecting this to double in 2019. EPIC networking events will take place in conjunction with world-leading events such as Photonics West, OFC, ECOC, Laser World of Photonics, Hannover Messe, CIOE, and value-add exhibitions. The EPIC technology meetings are hosted by companies in order to enhance cross-learning: GloPhotonics, WZW-Optik, Huber+Suhner Cube Optics, ASM Amicra Microtechnologies, ICFO, Osram, PBF, Coherent, Anteryon, NKI, Suss MicroOptics, and the European Space Agency.
New in 2019, emphasis will be placed on helping EPIC members fill their open positions. Last year, we participated at the European Photonics Career Forum and also exhibited at Semicon Europa. A dedicated effort will be made to attract talent and proven professionals from relevant fields to the exciting opportunities available in the photonics industry.
EPIC also strongly advocates that research and development and innovation (R&D&I) and manufacturing pilot lines are crucial for Europe’s competitiveness. In 2019, EPIC will be involved in promoting six European-funded projects on a wide range of topics, ranging from lasers, photonic integrated circuits, sensors, and so on. The projects are: Inpulse, Teraboard, Mirphab, Pixapp, Pulse, and Lampras.
EPIC now counts seven permanent employees, spread across six different cities: Amsterdam, Noordwijk, Brussels, Lithuania, Johannesburg and Barcelona. We hold weekly video conferences to share knowledge and best practice, and we meet face to face at industry events.
However, there is still a need to spend quality time together to ensure we are all aligned with EPIC’s mission, vision and core values. When you see us at exhibitions and conferences, please come and meet us –we love to learn about your company, your challenges and opportunities, and how we can help and engage our members and the European photonics industry at large!
