Photonics21 – WG2

SWOT Analysis

Photonics21 – Work Group 2

Industrial Production, Manufacturing and Quality

Photonics21 – WG2

European SWOT Analysis – WG 2

Strengths• Skilled specialists and institutes in Europe• High quality of European products and

processes• Cutting edge technology origins in Europe and

USA (i.e. pico sec laser, multi kW laser)• Close link between optic, laser and production

engineering technologies• Industrial laser technologies are present and

accepted in the public

Weaknesses• Cost competitiveness for European products • Language and cultural barriers to Asia • Research efforts are unbalanced in Europe

(concentration in Germany)• Non-uniform standards for safety requirements

worldwide

Opportunities• High number of laser research institutes in

Europe• Good cross-link between research institutes• Integration of application know-how into the

products (as an USP)• Leverage new east European production

(automotive, electronics)

Threats• Know-how transfer from Europe to Asia (e.g.

through Asian students in Europe)• Suppliers’ locations differ from users’ locations

(Micro applications in particular)• Growing share of Asian components in Lasers

(Crystals, Semiconductors, etc.)• Duty and tax barriers especially on spare parts

(outside Europe)

Photonics21 – WG2

RecommendationsFollowing actions are recommended:

• Focus on research cooperation within Europe

• Foster research excellence centers and leverage application by geographic distributed development centers

• Large scale demonstration project on new production technology, e.g. PV

• Support interdisciplinary cooperation between optics, laser, production engineering and automation

• Standardization of safety requirements worldwide

Position Europe as world’s leading photonic area (EU/P21 marketing initiative)

- Increase photonic science efforts and acceptance in whole Europe

- Occupy leadership position worldwide