Summary
The response to the UK Government’s Technology Adoption Review Consultation, submitted by the CORNERSTONE Photonics Innovation Centre, highlights key challenges and opportunities in accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies. It advocates for a revised assessment framework focused on future telecoms, photonics, quantum, and semiconductors, aligning with the UK’s industrial growth sectors. The response identifies risk and supply chain uncertainty as primary barriers to adoption and proposes the establishment of a hybrid pilot line to facilitate prototyping and industry collaboration. Additionally, it underscores the importance of long-term (10-year) investment strategies and sustainable funding models to support translational research. Drawing on international best practices, the response emphasizes the role of government-industry partnerships, particularly within defence and data centre ecosystems, to drive innovation and diffusion. Finally, it advocates for mission-led policies, inspired by Professor Mariana Mazzucato, supported by strategic pilot line infrastructure and targeted skills programmes.
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Authors
CORNERSTONE Photonics Innovation Centre
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The CORNERSTONE Photonics Innovation Centre is the UK’s leading technology hub for silicon photonics. We accelerate photonic innovation by bringing together tailored start-up support, engaging networking events, expert design consultancy, and flexible prototyping, backed by our open-source silicon photonics foundry.
We offer seven photonics technology platforms to accommodate a broad spectrum of applications, including telecoms, sensing, LiDAR, quantum, and more. Our unique approach allows us to assist in the development of early-stage R&D projects and build proof-of-concept prototypes, helping to drive silicon photonics innovation.
