An Outline of Current Research and Industrial Capability

This paper describes Canadian research and industrial activity in the rapidly expanding field of photonics. The aim and methodology of the document is explained in the preamble. This is followed by a short overview of the document structure, which is organized into four main sections. The first section gives a basic introduction to the science and technology of photonics. Essentially this section is a " primer " on the behaviour of light and the industrial applications of photonics. It is addressed to the needs of the layman who feels the need to acquire a basic scientific understanding of this highly technical field. The second section provides a breakdown of the current industrial capability in photonics and a description of the relevant initiatives in the training of personnel. This is followed by a description of the current organization and extent of photonics research in Canada. The final section attempts to provide some insight into opportunities for future Canadian research in this field. The photonics industry in Canada is very broad in scope, with applications ranging from telecommunications fibre optic links to cancer treatments. The potential economic impact of photonics technologies in the next ten years is considerable, and a number of industrial organizations have predicted growth rates of up to 25% with total markets of hundreds of billions of dollars. One important aspect of the photonics component market is that it enables much larger, systems-level technologies. The OIDA estimates that, currently, a $40 billion optoelectronic industry is a key enabler of a $1.5 trillion information technology sector. Canadian photonics companies are active in almost all areas of industrial photonics and range in size from systems companies such as Nortel Networks to small start-ups. The bulk of the industrial activity is in the telecommunications or related industries and only in this sector does Canada have a mature and comprehensive photonics industry. Nonetheless, in other sectors, such as biophotonics and industrial lasers, individual Canadian companies have managed to establish a presence in the global market. An outstanding feature of the photonics industry in Canada is the formation of geographical clusters of activity. Clusters have formed in Ottawa, the Lower Mainland of British Columbia, Toronto, Montreal and Quebec City. These clusters represent regional concentrations of companies, research laboratories and academic institutions. The scientific and industrial activity of these organizations has tended to attract similar enterprises and produce large numbers of skilled personnel. Clusters are …