Podcast Wilbert IJzerman, industrial R&D leader at Signify.

Listen to the podcast via Spotify (Dutch)

How would you describe yourself in one word?

"Perfectionist. You can see that in everything I do, both in my private and professional life. I always want to do everything right, make sure everything is correct and complete. That can be quite exhausting, both for those around me and for myself. I have to remind myself regularly: at some point, it's enough. Now we've achieved 80% of the result in 20% of the time. You can only achieve the remaining 20% by putting in another 80% of the time."

You are a program council member at Holland High Tech for the innovation domain Optical Systems & Integrated Photonics. What exactly does this innovation domain entail?

"It's an enormously broad domain. Optics and photonics are everywhere. In the field, we sometimes say that a world without photonics is like a world without air—you only notice how essential it is when it's gone.

It plays a role in countless applications, from lighting to ASML's technology, where wafers are measured using light.

In agriculture, optical techniques can be used to measure whether plants are growing well. In the medical sector, it is used in imaging and endoscopy. In short, optics and photonics are all around us."

What are we good at in the Netherlands when it comes to optics and photonics?

"The innovation domain can be roughly divided into two parts. On the one hand, you have traditional optical systems—a field with a long history, strongly rooted in system technology. Think, for example, of television technology, mostly developed by companies such as Philips. This company is the cradle of optical technology in the Netherlands.

At the same time, there is the emerging domain of integrated photonics.

This currently represents less than 1% of the market, but is growing rapidly. Applications include sensor technology. This technology is now coming of age, and serious business cases are emerging in the Netherlands. This is reflected in the emergence of all kinds of start-ups and in the fact that more than a billion euros has been invested in integrated photonics through a growth fund."

What exciting things are happening in the Netherlands in the field of optics and photonics?

“There are many promising developments on the horizon. For example, the Masterplus Optics & Photonics training program was launched this year. Students from various technical universities come together to work and learn within the field. This is important because it is a highly fragmented field. The aim is to bring the field closer together in this way.

In addition, a national optics conference is being considered. At present, there is no widely supported event in the Netherlands where the optics community—academia, industry, and trade associations—can come together. We are investigating how we can combine this with existing initiatives, such as the Dutch Photonics Event. The idea is to build a strong, cohesive ecosystem. If everything goes according to plan, we hope to achieve this in the coming year."

And what's on the agenda for Holland High Tech?

“We are currently working hard on the National Technology Strategy, including a concrete action plan. In this context, several sessions have already taken place at the Knowledge and Innovation Agenda for Key Technologies and at the regional development agencies. Hundreds of companies and academic parties are already involved.

The next step is to make decisions: which technological domains deserve extra attention and investment? That will be an interesting discussion, because, as I said, the playing field is incredibly diverse. The discussions so far have clearly shown where opportunities lie in the Netherlands and where there is still room for growth. These insights are valuable input not only for our sector (High Tech Systems & Materials), but also for the Ministry of Economic Affairs, for example, in designing new subsidy programs."

Do you have a final message for our readers?

"If you are young and looking for a career, consider optics and photonics. It is not an old and dusty field, as some people might think. On the contrary, it is very much alive and has a huge economic impact. Optical designers can find work anywhere. Plus, you can learn a lot in this field."