The University of South Wales (USW) has joined a Wales-wide collaborative research project that will encourage industries to embrace photonics technologies.

The £5.8m Centre for Photonics Expertise (CPE) project has been officially launched this week after being announced last December by Mark Drakeford.

Funded by the European Regional Development Fund through the Welsh Government, the CPE will bring together expertise from across Wales.

Photonics is an enabling technology with diverse applications in almost every industry sector and in everyday life. It is the science of light, and applications range from optical imaging, machine vision, laser sensing, materials applications and precision measurements.

CPE aims to ensure Welsh businesses can benefit from the photonics expertise developed in Wales across its four University partners. Businesses will be matched with the relevant expertise best suited to support solutions for their own industrial challenges.

Led by Wrexham Glyndwr University from its St Asaph-based OpTIC Technology Centre, the three-year project is being delivered in partnership with USW, Bangor, and Aberystwyth Universities, and will work with companies in all sectors across Wales.

Caroline Gray, Director of Wrexham Glyndwr University’s OpTIC Technology Centre and CPE Project Lead, said:

“The centre will bring together all areas of academic expertise across photonics technology, helping industry develop the next generation of processes and products while boosting business growth and efficiency for the Welsh economy and future generations. “We will draw on existing research capability and strengthen the relationships with industry, leading to improved reputation and profile of research and innovation activity in Wales.”

Professor Nigel Copner of USW added: