As I return from Photonics West, I reflect on how the United States remains indispensable to the European photonics industry. It serves as a vital partner in markets, innovation and growth amid intensifying global competition. This transatlantic bond underpins Europe’s leadership in high-value applications from lasers to quantum sensing.
Europe and the US together command a major share of demand for premium photonics in sectors such as industrial lasers, medical optics, datacom and advanced manufacturing (areas where quality trumps volume). While China excels in mass production, US customers and system integrators provide European firms the scale to transition from niche expertise to global leadership.
US defence and space programmes offer some of the world’s most lucrative opportunities for photonics, including EO/IR sensors, lidar, optical communications and quantum-enhanced systems. With Darpa budgets surging from $72m in 2021 to $168.7m in 2023, European suppliers gain validation, revenue and de-risked R&D pathways by integrating into these high-stakes ecosystems.
True photonic sovereignty for Europe requires diversifying beyond Asian dominance in materials and components, where single-supplier risks loom large. A robust US alliance fortifies supply chains and blends complementary strengths to create resilient, geopolitically-secure value networks.
Transatlantic talent and knowledge flows (through researcher exchanges, co-authored papers, conferences and start-up ecosystems) accelerate breakthroughs in integrated photonics, quantum tech and AR/VR sensing. These ties fast-track Europe’s lab-to-fab process via US testbeds and early customer access, vital for SME agility.
Europe boasts world-class photonics innovators, yet many remain sub-scale due to capital and manufacturing constraints. US fabs, partners and markets enable rapid industrialisation.
American venture capital and acquisitions inject essential funding, as in recent deals such as FOSS’s purchase of Wasatch Photonics and funds such as PhotonVentures. This financial bridge overcomes EU funding gaps and fuels mergers that build competitive scale.
China’s photonics ascent demands proactive strategy. A unified EU-US front counters it by co-defining standards, investments, and roadmaps. This partnership positions Europe not as a bystander, but as a shaper of the industry’s future.
In conclusion, drifting from the US would cede Europe’s photonics edge. Tight transatlantic ties are the better path to sustained competitiveness.
