Photonics Scotland has today published its Photonics in Scotland 2021 report. Despite facing the dual challenges of Brexit and the ongoing COVID pandemic, we are delighted to report that the sector has remained remarkably resilient and continues to look forward positively to the future.

In July 2020 Photonics Scotland published its first Photonics in Scotland report which presented the most detailed analysis of the sector in over a decade.  This formed the baseline to highlight changes in the sector over the following years. In the year since this first report, the sector has faced not one but two significant challenges in the form of the COVID-19 pandemic and the UK’s exit from the EU.

The 2021 report therefore provides an important health check for the sector, building on our analysis of last year to monitor the impact of these unprecedented events. The survey was launched on 27th April and we are delighted to have received responses from over 60% of Scottish photonics companies.

The data gathered from this survey will be used to support Photonics Scotland’s vision to treble the size of the sector in Scotland by 2030 as detailed in our vision paper, Photonics in Scotland: A vision for 2030. The data will also provide crucial information to inform the focus of support for the sector over the coming months and years.