Digital Catapult bringing ‘light’ to Northern Ireland companies

Up to ten Northern Ireland companies working in manufacturing, construction, agritech, medical devices and pharmaceuticals and agritech will be able to explore how photonics - the science and technology of light - can help their businesses, thanks to Digital Catapult Northern Ireland. 

Delivered by Digital Catapult, as part of the Smart Nano NI consortium, FutureScope Photonics NI is a nine-week series of practical workshops to showcase the use of photonic technologies within industry, with an emphasis on quality control.

The programme will provide participating companies with the necessary skills and knowledge to successfully introduce photonic tools and techniques in industrial environments in order to augment equipment and process monitoring, quality control and other light-based processes, enabling greater productivity. 

Digital Catapult is now seeking applications for FutureScope Photonics NI from Northern Ireland companies working in manufacturing, construction, medical devices and pharmaceuticals and agritech through an open call which will run until 19 March.  Applications are open to manufacturers at an early stage in their photonics journey or those keen to find out more about photonics technologies and their uses. 

Brendan Lowry, Innovation Partner from Digital Catapult said: 

“Across our target sectors of manufacturing, construction, agritech, medical devices and pharmaceuticals, photonics has a wide range of applications which can benefit businesses, particularly in terms of their quality control. From monitoring structural health and material inspection, to designing optical components and systems, photonics can help local businesses to address key challenges and opportunities.  

While Northern Ireland has unique strengths in the research, commercialisation and manufacture of photonic technologies, the wider adoption of those technologies in industry  presents significant opportunities for business here. 

Digital Catapult is the only organisation in Northern Ireland offering training for industry in this area, enabling the exploration and deployment of photonics-based solutions to industry. Our access to photonics expertise and networks of technology providers is second to none and I would strongly encourage local businesses to avail of it.”

Participants in the programme will explore photonic techniques, including imaging, sensing and spectroscopy, as well as the complementary digital technologies of Internet of Things and Artificial Intelligence, that can improve quality control processes.

Using an Innovation Practice approach, companies will use the knowledge gained from the programme to design actionable photonics solutions for identified company challenges or opportunities. Expert technologists from Digital Catapult and Smart Nano NI will support the participants with feedback on feasibility and practical requirements to ensure outcomes are targeted and actionable.

FutureScope Photonics NI is the first in a three stage photonics learning pathway being offered by Digital Catapult as part of the Smart Nano NI consortium. Following the Learn stage, five companies will be selected to graduate to the Testbed stage where they will have 30 hours of time to develop a proof of concept with the support of Digital Catapult facilitators, technologists and in-house photonics equipment. 

The output from the Testbed stage will be an implementation plan for an in-situ (ie, testing within their business operations) photonics solution for each company's proof of concept. 

Upon completion of this stage, up to two companies will be selected to be further supported as part of the Validation stage where they will receive up to a further 60 hours of support from Digital Catapult  to inform, guide and refine their proof of concept to a fully operational solution.

The programme has been made possible by government funding awarded to Smart Nano NI by the UK Research and Innovation’s flagship Strength in Places fund. This research and innovation funding supports significant local economic growth and will accelerate the development of transformative advanced prototyping and smart manufacturing methods in Northern Ireland. 

Smart Nano NI will develop game-changing advanced prototyping and smart manufacturing methods to deliver new technologies, supporting innovation-led economic growth, both in the area and nationally, as well as enhancing local research and innovation collaborations. 

To apply for a free place on FutureScope Photonics NI, visit futurescope.digicatapult.org.uk 

For further information on Smart Nano NI, visit www.smartnanoni.com/   

ENDS. 

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For further information please contact Sarah Hughes, Communications Manager Digital Catapult NI (Part-Time – Tuesdays, half-day Wednesdays and full day Thursdays) - sarah.hughes@digicatapult.org.uk or tel. 07905 276399.  

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Notes to Editors: 

1. Photonics is the science and technology of light. Photonic technologies include optical fibre, lasers, LEDs, cameras and displays - in terms of manufacturing, see https://www.digicatapult.org.uk/expertise/blogs/post/how-photonics-is-driving-smart-manufacturing/ 

2. Digital Catapult is the UK authority on advanced digital technology. Through collaboration and innovation, we accelerate industry adoption to drive growth and opportunity across the economy. 
   Digital Catapult Northern Ireland connects industry and academia to build innovative partnerships, helping organisations of all sizes to work smarter by originating and adopting advanced digital technologies.  
   https://www.digicatapult.org.uk/about-us/our-regional-centres/northern-ireland/  

3. FutureScope is the home of deep tech acceleration support, from Digital Catapult – the UK authority on advanced digital technology. Offering clear development pathways and applied Digital Catapult methods, FutureScope is a next level support system that advances the future of the UK’s leading tech innovators and businesses. Uniquely targeted, it is designed to work across industries and at the intersection of advanced digital technologies and the global trends affecting UK businesses. 

4. Smart Nano NI is a Northern Ireland consortium collaborating to develop game-changing advanced prototyping and smart manufacturing methods to deliver new technologies. The consortium shares a capability around nano manufacturing and world-leading knowledge in photonics. The consortium has been awarded £42.4m UK Research and Innovation’s Strength in Places Fund. The total project value including leveraged funding from other sources is £63.9m. The collaboration is aimed at driving self-sustaining local industry and economic growth through research and innovation. Smart Nano NI is led by data company Seagate Technology in collaboration with Analytics Engines, Causeway Sensors, Cirdan Imaging, Digital Catapult NI, North West Regional College, Queen’s University Belfast, Ulster University and Yelo. The nine partners (the consortium) form a corridor of expertise from Derry~ Londonderry to Belfast. More details on the members are available here.  

5. The Consortium aims to deliver 100 new prototypes, 6 new products for NI based companies and + 30% productivity gain for industrial partners. There are also targets for commercialisation with 75 NI Based SMEs engaged with Smart Nano NI.