Fraunhofer photonics doubles labs with new funding – Daily Business

A Scottish innovation centre, dedicated to developing and using lasers to solve industrial problems, is expanding its presence in Glasgow.

Fraunhofer Centre for Applied Photonics (CAP) at the University of Strathclyde’s Technology & Innovation Centre, has expanded into the second floor of the neighbouring Inovo Building, doubling its lab and office capacity. 

It has grown significantly since it was established in 2012 to specialise in creating lasers and optical systems to address complex challenges in areas such as security and defence, healthcare, renewable energy and communications.

Fraunhofer, named after German physicist Joseph von Fraunhofer, is the name given to a network of research organisations across the world considered the gold standard when it comes to innovation.

The Scottish government has provided an additional £500,000 for the expansion of Fraunhofer CAP, with Scottish Enterprise investing £300,000. In the last year alone, it delivered more than £5m of applied R&D projects for industry.      

Richard Lochhead, Minister for Business and Employment, said: “As the only Fraunhofer in the UK, it plays an important role in turning cutting-edge research into real-world industrial solutions across critical industries.”

Simon Andrews, executive director of Fraunhofer UK Research, said: “Our photonics and quantum expertise is helping industry stay at the forefront of innovation and this ministerial visit demonstrates the importance of the part we have to play in the economy.”