Dutch optical technologies have long driven innovation and new markets, particularly in data storage, communication, and manufacturing. High-precision wafer steppers enable advanced chips that connect society and streamline daily life. LED lighting solutions reduce energy consumption by up to 80% and support sustainable agriculture in greenhouses. Medicine relies on optical imaging for diagnosis, surgery, and treatment, with miniature high-resolution cameras drastically reducing recovery times. The Netherlands, a leader in optical research and applications, has fostered an industrial ecosystem with over 300 SMEs and multinationals, advancing sustainability, healthcare, and technological progress worldwide.

Programme duration: 4 years | 2024 - 2027

Problem statement

The exponential growth of data, energy consumption, and global security demands requires advanced optical solutions. These technologies tackle critical societal challenges. Economically, they enhance competitiveness and foster innovation ecosystems through collaboration between SMEs, multinationals, and research institutions.

Objective

To develop cutting-edge optical technologies that advance societal goals, including sustainable energy, precision agriculture, resilient manufacturing, secure defense systems, and reliable earth observation. The programme aims to boost economic growth by enabling industries to adopt innovative optical solutions, fostering collaboration, and solidifying the Netherlands as a global leader in optics.

Approach

Through multiple public-private partnerships (PPP), the programme will integrate multidisciplinary collaborations. These partnerships connect research institutions, SMEs, and industry leaders, ensuring knowledge exchange and alignment with societal transitions, innovation domains, and critical application areas like manufacturing, defense, and earth observation.

Relation with urgent transitions, KIAs and technologies

This programme aligns with urgent societal transitions in energy, healthcare, security, and sustainability, supporting the Knowledge and Innovation Agenda (KIA) goals. It addresses challenges in sustainable energy, precision agriculture, resilient manufacturing, secure defense, and environmental monitoring, contributing directly to critical innovation domains.