Workshop developed an analysis on the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats facing the convergence and adoption of photonics into the medical and healthcare sector in the UK
Representatives from UK photonics, pharmaceuticals, universities, hospitals, research and medical sectors, joined HertsBIC, Photonics Cluster (UK) and the DTi at the Business and Technology Centre, Stevenage, to review the strategic importance of photonics in the medical and healthcare sectors.
The wider consultation period which the Dti is holding is looking at the challenges that these sectors may face (looking at the vision for the future) and to understand the implementation plan required, to support the sectors in identify the strategy for biophotonics in the UK.
The workshop secured feedback from industry and developed an analysis on the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats facing the convergence and adoption of photonics into the medical and healthcare sector.
This analysis will now form part of the final DTi report, which is programmed for completion in spring 2006.
Organisations participating in the workshop included GE Healthcare, Smith and Nephew and GlaxoSmithKline along with leading practitioners from the optoelectronics community Hammamatsu, Kodak, Centre for Integrated Photonics, Elite Materials Solutions and Bookham Technology.
Geoff Archenhold from the DTi remarked: "The importance of this workshop is that it endorsed significant research that has already been undertaken and also provided a mechanism for industry to feedback their views, which will be included in future decisions".
Archenhold also commented that he is confident that this biophotonics session facilitated by HertsBIC and Photonics Cluster (UK), together with the other industry focused workshops in the identified areas of displays, lasers, optical communications and solid state lighting, will provide an excellent grounding for UK policy making and the development of the UK optoelectronics strategy for the next ten years.
Adam Tucker from HertsBIC, who is responsible for the OptoMed activities for the UK, said: "We were delighted to work with the DTi and industry on this workshop; through convergence events and programmes like this and OptoMed, we will increase the adoption and collaboration of photonics in the medical and healthcare sectors, which is an important aspect towards exploiting the UK's world class knowledge and expertise in these fields, ensuring the UK remains a global leader".
