Development Strategy for POB Photonic Technologies for years 2022-2026

MISSION-VISION-GOALS

Mission

  • To conduct scientific research and teaching activities in the field of photonics and optics at the world-class level.
  • To increase the participation of photonic technologies and technologies utilising light in the national and international economy.

Vision

  • PW as the leading European University in the area of photonics.
  • PW as an incubator for talents and qualified photonic staff.
  • PW as a key partner in the implementation of photonic technologies into the national and European economy.

Goals

  • Scientific excellence.
  • World-class education.
  • Promotion and implementation of technology.
  • Innovation and organisational improvement.

The primary goal of POB FOTECH is in particular the integration of teams operating at PW in the field of universally understood photonics and related light-based technologies to guarantee that:

  • scientific work in the field of photonics and optics and related applications is conducted at the world-class level, as well as the number of publications in the most prestigious scientific journals is increased;
  • the participation of photonic technologies in the national and international economy is increased by strengthening innovation activities;
  • teaching at the world-class level is offered;
  • Polish photonics is promoted under the PW auspices.

C1. Scientific excellence

C1.1. Increasing the apparatus and technological facilities supporting all photonic teams, as well as cooperating non-photonic groups.

C1.2. Increasing the number of papers published in the most recognisable journals JCR (200/140 points, one decile).

C1.3. Scientific cooperation with the best foreign photonics groups (and non-photonics ones which use photonic technologies, e.g. biomedical) confirmed by joint publications, projects, internships, and co-tutelle doctorates.

C2. Innovation and organisational improvement

C2.1 Intensification of activities in the area of transfer and promotion of photonic technologies to the external market (SME/industry/medicine).

C2.2 Support for innovative enterprises emerging at the Warsaw University of Technology, as well as the leading role of POB FOTECH in supporting SMEs/industry in the implementation of light-based technologies.

C2.3. Organisational/functional/financial improvement of photonic laboratories, so that they effectively support both scientific work and industry.

C3. World-class education

C3.1. Development/modification and implementation of the best photonic teaching offer in Poland (and competitive in the world) at 3 levels of education.

C3.2 Internationalisation of studies - including ENHANCE and EU teaching programmes - joint activities of "photonic" departments (WF, WEiTI, WMchtr).

C4. Promotion of Polish photonics under the PW auspices

C4.1. Cooperation with schools.

C4.2. Providing measuring equipment through training as part of the prepared Demo Center, both to secondary school students and commercial companies not related to photonics.

C4.3. Participation and promotion in international associations of scientists dealing with photonics and participation in the boards of scientific journals.

Main activities leading to the implementation of POB FOTECH goals

Ad C1.1. Launch of an inter-faculty apparatus grant for the purchase of the ultra-high-resolution 3D laser lithography system "Photonic Professional GT" from Nanoscribe. This device is currently used around the world in leading centres for micro-biology, micro-robotics, plasmonics, micro-mechanics, micro-fluidics, among others. In particular, it is widely used in micro-optics and photonics. The purchase of this equipment will pave the way for cooperation between both photonics teams and PW Priority Research Areas. At the same time, equipment acquisitions will be supported to facilitate continued research in a wide spectral range from UV through visible light, near, medium, and far infrared to terahertz frequencies.

Ad C1.2. Mentoring less active/experienced employees in the area of publishing in prestigious journals. Work on increasing the rank of PLP. At the same time, the purchase of equipment planned in Ad C1.1. should quickly result in high-value publications.

Ad C1.3. Applying (as a result of the implementation of POB FOTECH projects and other currently implemented projects) for prestigious national and international projects (including H2020/Horizon Europe/ERC grants) – using expertise from various PW and inter-POB units.

The purchase of equipment planned in Ad C1.1. should quickly bring results:

  • Applying for several high-ranking scientific projects (there is already an idea for three or four projects). Mentoring less active/experienced employees in applying for research projects. Sharing foreign contacts and joining the ENHANCE project to build alliances and increase the number of internships.
  • Announcement of applications (FOTECH3+) for grants using the newly purchased "Photonic Professional GT" apparatus from Nanoscribe and support for those writing applications for external funding (NCN, NCBR, and others).
  • Increasing the number of internships of POB FOTECH employees/doctoral students in the best scientific photonic groups and launching or entering the prepared IT.
  • Enforcement of rewarding mechanisms in PW organisational units or launching them by POB to obtain and implement prestigious projects.
  • Active participation of PW photonic partners in the implementation of the PhotonHub Europe H2020 project (2021-2024) and the preparation and (hopefully implementation, if obtained) of the eDIH Photonics project (competition/end of 2021)).

Ad. C2.1. Cooperation with the Photonics Society of Poland (publishing the journal "Photonics Letters of Poland", joint organisation of photonic conferences) and with the Polish Technological Platform on Photonics (Photonics Fair, organisation of "Days of Light", among other things) to develop contacts and build alliances and promote POB FOTECH activities - the purchase of equipment planned in Ad C1.1 will pave the way to entering the offer of research and industrial services the national market.

Ad. C2.2. Mentoring people planning to commercialise their scientific research, as part of spin-offs and spin-outs.

Ad. C2.3. Preparation of further training courses based on the existing Demo Centers and using them to improve the operations of photonic laboratories. Valuation of research positions for the provision of external services.

Ad. C3.1. Development of a comprehensive (understandable for students) and coherent teaching offer in the area of optical and photonic technologies (transition from competition to cooperation in this area).

Continued building of a common base of lectures and laboratories to best fulfil students’ aspirations and market needs.

Transition to the tutor system of second-cycle degree studies.

Ad. C3.2. Analysis and use of cooperation opportunities in the field of photonics with

partners of ENHANCE and possibly creating joint areas of education or launching internships (from and to PW) – preparation and implementation of cooperation agreements in the scope of teaching.

Ad. C4.1. Patronage of schools educating in the area of photonics.

Ad. C4.2. The use of the created Demo Centers for the promotion of photonics in schools. Co-financing of training as part of competitions for schools.

Ad. C4.3. Activities in the promotion of PW photonics for "fellows" of associations and for international awards (OSA, SPIE, IEEE). 

Expected outcomes of the strategy for POB FOTECH

Ad. C1.1. New measuring equipment will facilitate new research directions in the area of micro-optics and photonics:

  • Creating a micro-lens matrix.
  • Precise production of lenses with different focal lengths directly on CMOS sensors (foveated imaging).
  • Creation of micro-mirrors and micro-mirror matrices.
  • Creation of diffraction elements.
  • Production of phase micro-masks with complex shapes.
  • Production of micro-resonators, including circular micro-resonators.
  • Production of micro-diffraction gratings, Bragg gratings.
  • Production of diffraction gratings "in layers" in one process.
  • Production of photonic crystals (cubic, spiral, hexagonal, etc.).
  • Production of micro-wave conductors, couplers, and dividers.
  • Creation of optical connections between integrated optical systems.
  • Manufacture of optical metamaterials.
  • Manufacture of complex ordering layers for liquid crystal displays.
  • Production of plasmonic micro-structures.
  • Production of polarisers and circular polarisers (for mid-infrared, among others).

Ad. C1.2.

  • 100 publications in JCR (>140 points, one decile).

Ad. C1.3.

  • Submission of three ERC applications and obtaining at least one ERC project. Submission of at least ten applications (as a partner or coordinator) in Horizon Europe and obtaining funding for at least five applications.
  • Submission of at least two joint strategic national applications (selection of topics) worth over PLN 5 million and obtaining at least one project.
  • Submission of 100 projects (NCN, FNP, NCBR).

Ad. C2.1.

  • Assistance in the transfer of photonics technologies for min. twenty foreign companies (as part of PhotonHub Europe, i.e. until the end of 2024) and twenty Polish companies.

Ad. C2.2

  • Establishment of six start-up companies.

Ad. C2.3.

  • Development and launch of three Demo Centers and one Excellence Center within PhotonHub Europe.
  • Development of a series of courses promoting photonic technologies in various fields of the economy for the national and international economic environment.
  • The possibility of "non-photonic" commercial use of the device purchased as part of C1.1:
    • 3D printing service of virtually any element with the highest achievable precision in the world (150 nm);
    • making precise micro-fluidic heads;
    • making elements of micro-robots;
    • making filters of precisely controlled sizes (particle filtering, etc.).

Ad. C3.1.

  • Submission of applications to ITN in the scope of photonics.
  • Launch of co-tutelle doctorates with ENHANCE and other partners.
  • Development of a common teaching strategy in photonics and introduction of changes in existing curricula and modes of studies (Polish-English).
  • Introduction of the tutor system in second-cycle degree studies and a two-fold increase in the participation of students in the implementation of projects.

Ad. C3.2.

  • Launching co-tutelle doctoral theses with ENHANCE partners and others.

Ad. C4.1.

  • Patronage of three schools.

Ad. C4.2.

  • Development and launch of three Demo Centers (can be the same as above).

Ad. C4.3

  • Five new Senior/Fellow members (SPIE, OSA, IEEE).
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