PowerPhotonic, designer and manufacturer of precision, wafer-scale optics, is proud to be an Associated Partner of the Lasers for Accelerated Net-zero Transition framework (Lasers4NetZero). The framework is aimed at reducing CO2 emissions in semiconductor laser design, development, and production. It is part of a Horizon Europe, ‘Marie Sktodowska-Curie Action’, Doctoral Networks grant (Horizon MSCA-DN-2022) and comprises ten Associated Partners; six industrial and four academic, committed to a net-zero, doctoral research, training programme accountable to the European Commission. The framework is coordinated by Alma Mater Studiorum – Universita di Bologna.

Mark Wilson, Product Manager at PowerPhotonic, said, “PowerPhotonic is proud to support Horizon Europe’s Lasers4NetZero framework. The initial research will focus on developing beam-shaping for ultra-fast processing using novel laser technologies and scanning optics for materials such as copper, aluminium, and steel. This research will then be used in e-vehicle applications, including fuel-cell design, production efficiency and the reduction of waste in manufacture. The sustainability methods developed in the programme and the expertise gained by the PhD participants recruited in the framework, will be widely applicable and transferrable across the industry. The grant will help us train, host and fully resource PhD candidates, with a ‘training-through-research’ secondment with industrial partners, including PowerPhotonic.

PowerPhotonic will also contribute to the Lasers4Net-Zero framework’s steering committee, helping to guide and ensure the effectiveness of its sustainability strategy in the future.