ORC highlighted in UKRI economic impact report

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) has recently launched its ‘Strategic Prospectus: Building the UKRI Strategy’ which aims to create a research and innovation system fit for the future and equipped to tackle the environmental, social and economic challenges of the 21st Century.

Outlining its ambition to strengthen the UK’s knowledge-driven economy, the Prospectus draws attention to innovation – the application of new ideas and knowledge – as a UK strength. It acknowledges the enormous potential to unlock greater economic benefit from our world-class research base through encouraging even greater collaboration with business.

The report highlights the Optoelectronics Research Centre (ORC) at the University of Southampton as a leading example of ‘developing economic impact’, demonstrating the value that is generated when academia and industry share knowledge, expertise and other assets for the benefit of the economy and society.

The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (ESPRC) has been supporting the ORC with sustained and substantial funding for over four decades. Throughout this time, EPSRC’s investment has been complemented by major investments from industry partners, including Microsoft, Rockley Photonics and SPI Lasers, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of fibre lasers that was spun-out from the ORC in 2000 to commercialise its research. To date, 11 companies can trace their origins to the ORC, generating revenue in excess of £200 million and creating over 600 jobs.

A culture of innovation and collaboration with industry has helped the ORC develop a suite of technologies at the cutting-edge of global communications, manufacturing, healthcare and commerce.

Professor Sir David Payne, Director of the Optoelectronics Research Centre, said: “This is wonderful news to be highlighted in a UKRI report which recognises innovation as a key driver in unlocking economic benefit. Our researchers have been innovating for almost 60 years and have contributed significantly to the remarkable growth of the photonics industry, which now underpins the internet and enables many solutions within medicine, biosciences sensing, security and manufacturing.

“Our strong business collaborations are driving the photonics industry’s annual £12.9Bn contribution to the UK economy ever upwards.”