Photonics4All launches business ‘boot camp’

12 Jun 2015

In September at Vienna University of Economics & Business; part of the Photonics4All EC project.

Photonics4All, a European project to promote photonics to the general public, is to host a two-day “business boot camp” in Vienna on September 10–11, 2015. Photonics4All is a Horizon 2020 European Outreach project, funded by the European Commission to promote photonics to young people, entrepreneurs and people across the EU.

A Photonics4All spokesman described what boot camp attendeess could expect to gain from the event: “You will push your self-confidence and self-belief so that you begin to apply entrepreneurial skills and knowledge to create new ventures. You will gain the motivation and focus to build a successful business and make opportunities for yourself. Participants will be working in teams, interacting with likeminded people on simulating business tasks and working on real ideas in creative and relevant ways.”

Public image

The Photonics4all project was set up in response to Horizon 2020’s “ICT-26-c” call, which is focused on the EU-wide outreach promoting photonics to a wide group of citizens. Within the framework of the International Year of Light and Light-based Technologies (IYL 2015) established by the United Nations, the project is intended to improve the public image of photonics and increase public awareness of its importance, especially regarding current societal challenges like health and well-being, safety and security.

The body’s mission statement included: “Strong European collaborations, based on cluster activities, shall increase the interest of young people, entrepreneurs and the general public and thereby generate more qualified workforce and young academics, more innovative applications and an increased awareness of photonics.”

Photonics4All organisation is being performed by a consortium of nine photonics related partners coordinated by Steinbeis Innovation, Stuttgart, Germany. Participant companies include: Optenet Deutschland (Germany); Asociacion Industrial de Optica, Color e Imagen (Spain); Optics Valley (France); Ekonomiska Föreningen Photonic (Sweden); Photonics Austria; Technische Universiteit Delft (Netherlands); University of Southampton (UK); and Medzinarodne Laserove Centrum (Slovakia).

Cost and application

Costs for the Boot Camp will be covered by Photonics4All. Some funding for the accommodation will also be available as well. Interested parties should send a CV and a letter outlining their interest in the bootcamp to: Ulrich Trog, Photonics Austria; email Ulrich Trog.

About the Author

Matthew Peach is a contributing editor tooptics.org