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 Ottawa is well established as a global leader in photonics. Ottawa’s robust photonics sector is supported by a solid base of industry, government and educational initiatives. A magnet for new people and ideas, Ottawa boasts the highest concentration of research scientists and engineers in Canada. The photonics industry in Ottawa has experienced many changes over the last few years. Previously the sector was dominated by a few key players (JDSU, Ciena, Nortel, Alcatel), but today Ottawa is home to almost one hundred small to medium size companies with a focus on niche and vertical market segments with considerable global reach. Some of the local companies include: Neptec Design, Mobile Detect, Picarro, Lumenera, XYZ RGB, DIPIX Technologies, BTI Photonics, OZ Optics and Optiwave.
The Ottawa region’s photonics industry encompasses an array of technologies related to the commercial application of light, including fibre optics, lasers, and optoelectronics, imaging, optical processing of information, and related applications. These technologies are central to the growth and evolution of life sciences industries.
Optical technology is evolving quickly and investment is exploding to meet a seemingly insatiable demand for advanced communications technology. The Ottawa Photonics Cluster (OPC), is the voice of Ottawa’s photonics community. By providing opportunities for networking, guest speaker presentations, and trade missions, OPC is committed to helping our members attract investment, employees and business opportunities locally and internationally.
Photonics Research Ontario (PRO), part of the Ontario Centre of Excellence, is partly funded by the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade. It is committed to creating new photonics knowledge and technology, fostering the supply of highly qualified people at all levels, enhancing applications and commercialization and to establishing regional and international collaborations.
Ottawa’s telecommunication equipment com panies have been involved in photonics for several years and many of the region’s photonics firms have spun out of local firms. More recently, however, new photonics-specific companies have spun out of government incubators or have been formed in the region as both local suppliers and producers for markets outside the region. Technological synergy between telecommunications, microelectronics and photonics is strong and is one key reason why Ottawa leads the country in growth of this industry.
Ottawa companies have established a foothold in several key areas including:
- Image/Video Analysis&Processing
- Vision Control/Monitoring Systems
- Opto-electronics/Optical Communications
- Optical sensing&monitoring
- Laser Technology
- Discrete Optical Elements
- Display Lighting & LEDs
- Fiber Optics
- Imaging & Scanning Systems
- Nanotechnology
- Test and Measurement
Stemming from decades of research performed in university and government laboratories, Ottawa is home to key photonics research and innovation infrastructure including:
- The National Research Council (NRC), Canada’s core science and technology research organization, continues to excel in the area of international photonics research. The NRC has established close ties with the Chinese research community.
- Canadian Photonics Fabrication Centre (CPFC), Canada’s first fully integrated photonics prototyping and fabrication facility. The $43 million facility offers a comprehensive suite of epitaxial, fabrication, characterization and complementary design and testing services.
- Communication Research Centre (CRC), the leading federal government laboratory for advanced communications R&D. The CRC explores Optical solutions for the affordable delivery of broadband services. The CRC has established research relationships throughout China.
- Carleton University and the University of Ottawa, both local universities have centers for research in photonics.
Photonics Related Links
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