Revolutionary solutions and possibilities

Often, immediate goals control our everyday lives: the next scientific discovery, the next balance – new successes, new challenges at all times. And yet science, trade and politics must not declare themselves satisfied with short term thinking – and certainly not now of all times. In the economic crisis we need new strategies.We must find new solutions to pressing issues of climate and environmental protection, for resource saving mobility, for our health care system. Where is our society heading to? How do we safeguard our science and trade location? Sustainable action needs a vision.

Such a vision, such an opportunity is the Photonics 2020 strategy process in Germany with the object of developing a binding common strategy for utilising the raw material light by the year 2020. Ten years ago, Germany had already set out once with an initial strategy process for revaluating the raw material light. The balance is impressive. In a joint venture between science, trade and politics optical technologies evolved into one of the most innovative technology and trade fields in Germany. The results: World market shares of up to 40%, employment gains among manufacturers and users, sustainable handling of resources, highly qualified personnel, international awards and excellence with a global presence. Optical technologies are a recipe for success by German innovation policies.

Yet, top positions must be defended again and again, in particular for such highly dynamic and innovative hitech fields like photonics that are hotly contested in the global arena. Photonics provides new and even revolutionary solutions and possibilities. At the same time it places us before great challenges that we must learn to master. If we are to adopt a leading role in climate protection, in mobility issues, in technologies for a modern production location, in the information society, or in medical engineering we must be able to master and utilise the photon. We must target our future endeavours, and we must progress.

The photonics industry in Germany is facing up to its responsibility. As a first step it formed the initiative Photonics 2020 involving companies like BASF, Osram, Trumpf and Zeiss plus science institutes like the German Physics Society DPG and the Fraunhofer and Max Planck Societies. At the 2009 World of Photonics in Munich the initiative has presented its memorandum: “Photonics 2020 – solutions of light” that will serve to cement the photonics sector’s close alliance with trade, science and politics. By 2020 Germanys photonics business lines will have invested about 15bn Euros in the research and development of opportunities for utilising photonics for trade, the environment and society.

Now follows the strategy process. As a physicist, an entrepreneur and President of the DPG I look forward to this stage with full confidence. Taking photonics as our example we shall demonstrate what we can achieve together in Germany.

Your,
Prof. Dr Gerd Litfin
LINOS AG Board Chair