Call for RD&I Projects to Develop Next Generation Integrated Photonic Sensing Technologies

The Photonics21 Mirror Group has issued a Eureka Network Projects Call for Proposals to support research organisations and enterprise conducting international collaboration projects to develop next generation photonic sensing technologies.

The Eureka Network Projects programme enables public and private research organisations to conduct international, collaborative RD&I projects to develop technological products, processes and services that have prospects for commercialisation. Eureka project consortia, which may include small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), large enterprises, research organisations and universities – from two or more countries participating in the Eureka programme – are able to access funding from their respective national funding agencies to conduct projects that are assessed and approved by Eureka.

The Photonics21 Mirror Group has issued a special Call for Applications through the Eureka Network Projects funding mechanism to support RD&I projects that will contribute to the development and deployment of novel integrated photonic sensors or sensing techniques.

The national funding agencies in Austria, Belgium (Flanders), Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Poland and Switzerland are participating in the Call.

Project proposals under this call are expected to relate to at least one of the following three sub-topics:

  • PICs (Photonic Integrated Circuits): integrating photonics and electronics for novel photonic sensors and sensing systems, considering packaging and connection approaches, scalability, CMOS-compatibility, and new material systems.
  • QPICs (Photonic Quantum Sensors): combining and integrating classical and quantum optics (eg onto a photonic chip) to use quantum properties or quantum phenomena to perform a measurement of a physical quantity.
  • Hybrid sensing: combining two or more sensing methods – at least one of which originates from the field of photonics – to enable new sensor applications or to substantially improve existing ones

The proposed R&D work should aim at advancing future-oriented sensor technologies and systems that centrally address at least one of the following challenges:

  • Climate and environmental protection, including reducing energy consumption
  • Enabling novel end consumer products and accessing volume markets by means of robust, miniaturized, scalable, and sustainable photonic sensors and systems

Proposers should also clearly identify potential application areas and applications (with a preference for products). Potential application areas include – but are not at all limited to – environmental monitoring, process control, mobility (traffic and motion control), health monitoring and food surveillance.

The following standard Eureka programme criteria apply to applicants from all countries:

  • The call is open to enterprises, research institutes/organisations and universities (the availability and level of funding for each project partner is dependent on the regulations of the respective national funding agency).
  • The project consortia must consist of at least two independent legal entities (at least one private enterprise per country) requesting funding from at least two of the participating countries or regions.
  • The proposed project must be innovative, involve technological risk and have a civilian purpose and aim at civilian use only.
  • The project proposal must include a commercialisation plan (with a timeline), demonstrating how the results of the project will be exploited, applied and/or commercialised through subsequent innovatory steps.
  • The project proposal should demonstrate the contribution of all the partners from the participating countries on an equal base, and the project must be equally significant to them. At least, not more than 70% of the total eligible project costs shall be incurred by any single partner or by all partners from a single participating country collectively.
  • The requested project duration shall be limited to a maximum of 36 months, notwithstanding possible subsequent extensions.

Maximum funding for projects in the respective participating countries include:

  • Austria: €500,000
    • Funding for research organisations: Yes
  • Belgium: €300,000
    • Funding for research organisations: No
  • Denmark: €500,000
    • Funding for research organisations: Yes
  • Finland: no set maximum
    • Funding for research organisations: Yes
  • France: €3,000,000 (per partner)
    • Funding for research organisations: No
  • Germany: no set maximum
    • Funding for research organisations: Yes
  • Ireland: €250,000
    • Funding for research organisations: Yes
  • Poland: PLN1.5m
    • Funding for research organisations: Yes
  • Switzerland: no set maximum
    • Funding for research organisations: Yes

Proposals should be submitted via the Eureka Network Projects application portal by the call closing date on 27 June 2022 (midnight).

The Photonics21 Mirror Group is also holding a matchmaking event on 10 May 2022 to give applicants more information on the call and help find potential project partners.

(This report was the subject of a RESEARCHconnect Newsflash.)