CORNERSTONE Photonics Innovation Centre (C-PIC) was honoured to welcome His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh. The visit highlighted how light-based technology is helping to power the UK’s economic growth.
During the tour, The Duke of Edinburgh met academics at the forefront of developing silicon photonics and saw how this transformative technology is currently being used in data centres, as well as its emerging applications in healthcare, AI, and quantum technology.
The Duke of Edinburgh also met college students from Ringwood School, in Hampshire, to hear about ongoing work to inspire young people to explore careers in science, as well as young entrepreneurs who have established startups with the University’s support.
As the UK’s focal point for silicon photonics innovation, C-PIC provides a wide range of services to academics, entrepreneurs, small businesses, and industry partners to aid the development of new photonics technologies for use in telecoms, defence, healthcare, advanced manufacturing, and clean energy.
CORNERSTONE Director, Professor Graham Reed, said: “By uniting leading entrepreneurs and researchers we’re delivering a step-change in the silicon photonics industry that will foster growth, create skilled jobs and position the UK as a hub of global innovation.”
Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Southampton, Professor Mark E. Smith, said: “Our University is building skills for the future and inspiring the next generation of students and researchers to explore the opportunities offered by silicon photonics.
“I’m delighted to have welcomed The Duke of Edinburgh to see our pioneering work and to meet the students and business partners we are working with. This work creates a pipeline of talent and enterprise aligned with the Government’s skills agenda and industrial strategy.”
The visit followed C-PIC’s successful panel discussion at the Labour Party Annual Conference earlier in the week, underlining the growing recognition of photonics as a driver of innovation, economic growth, and national resilience.
