A new centre for the study of photonics opens today (Wednesday 26 February) at the Cambridge Science Park. The venture brings together three groups from the University’s Engineering Department, in collaboration with several other University departments and industrial partners to investigate the different aspects of photonics, applications and materials.

The Minister for Science, Lord Sainsbury and the University Vice- Chancellor, Professor Sir Alec Broers, will officially open the new Centre for Molecular Materials for Photonics and Electronics (CMMPE).

Based at the Cambridge Science Park, the Centre will be led by Professor Harry Coles- a leading researcher in this field recently recruited by Cambridge from Southampton University. It will also provide a forum for collaboration, enabling other University research groups, in particular those headed by Professor Ian White, Dr Eugene Terentjev, Professor Richard Friend, Professor Bill Milne and Professor Andrew Holmes to work together.

CMMPE's Director, Professor Coles said:

"The launch of CMMPE puts Cambridge at the cutting edge of photonics research. Through inter-departmental and industrial collaboration, the Centre will enable significant advances that will filter down into the marketplace with the emergence of new 3D TV displays and telecommunications devices, such as mobile phones and palm tops."

Head of the Department of Engineering, Professor Keith Glover said:

"We welcome the setting up of this new Centre and look forward to its growth and development in the years to come. Today the University of Cambridge's Engineering Department is at the forefront of research and, as the pace of discovery accelerates, is taking research beyond the laboratory to the marketplace by developing strong technological partnerships."

Dr Jeremy Fairbrother, Senior Bursar of Trinity College and Director of the Cambridge Science Park said:

"The CMMPE is an exciting and commercially significant project and the Cambridge Science Park is delighted to be working with Cambridge University and the Engineering Department to launch and support this important new centre."

CMMPE will specifically look at the application of polymers, nano-structures and liquid crystals to display, telecommunications and light emitting devices. An underpinning research theme of the Centre will be the applications of organic materials and related hybrid structures to photonics and electronics.

Industrial interest will be provided through strategic partnerships and discussions have already been held with companies including Dow Corning, Pi-Photonics and CRL. The proximity of the Centre to other industries on the Science Park is another important factor in the academic/industrial collaborations and exploitation of the technology.

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