We invite you to read the last issue of PNOF in 2024. It is a good opportunity to take stock of the past year full of intensive research and important initiatives. The optic-photonic community is already preparing for the challenges that 2025 will bring, which is clearly visible in the news collected, announcements of upcoming events and the latest publications.

We invite you to read PNOP and share your feedback,
Candela Foundation
Polish Technological Platform on Photonics

During the consultation on the Digitisation Strategy of Poland, representatives of the Ministry of Digitalisation announced that the new semiconductor strategy will include the development of microelectronics and photonics as key technologies for the digital transformation of the Polish economy. The strategy is expected to be announced in early 2025. (photo: trade.gov.pl)

The ENSEMBLE3 has been appointed by the European Commission to the Technology Council for Advanced Materials. Bringing together representatives from EU Member States, academia and business, the Council will work to strengthen the advanced materials ecosystem in Europe. Congratulations!

Rafał Szabla from the Wrocław University of  Science and Technology was the winner of the ‘Iuvenes Wratislaviae’ prize awarded by the Wrocław Branch of the Polish Academy of Sciences to young scientists. He was honoured for a series of papers on the role of UV light in the selective synthesis and environmental selection of basic RNA and DNA components on the young Earth. Congratulations!

Barbara Piętka from the University of Warsaw, specialising in the physics of polaritons and photonics, has been accepted into the Science Leaders Board programme, initiated by the Coalition for Polish Innovation. The programme was created in cooperation with leading technology investors in Poland, such as Intel, Orange, Google, Dell, Ericsson and Flex. We warmly congratulate you and wish you continued success in your future projects! (photo: Candela)

SPIE recently published a Polish translation of the book ‘Larry Laser Finds His Spark!’ by Cory Boone. The Polish translation was done by Piotr Nyga (Military University of Technology) and Dorota Nyga. The book is available for free download at the link below. Congratulations on a great initiative and thank you for your contribution to the optics and photonics outreach in Poland!

This year's Prime Minister's Prizes were awarded in large numbers for works related to optics and photonics. The laureates included Maciej Bagiński, Aniela Czudek and Mateusz Król for their doctoral dissertations and Paweł Górecki for his habilitation-related achievements. Our sincere congratulations to all award winners!

Two members of the microEPC Cluster have recently joined the PPTF. Precision Systems Engineering, a manufacturer of precision assembly lines from Szczecin, and IPG Photonics, a manufacturer of laser source components from Gliwice, have thus strengthened their cooperation within the Polish photonics and microelectronics ecosystem. The Lublin-based start-up Phonemic, which specialises in the design of FPGAs and ASICs, has become a new member of this ecosystem by joining the Cluster.