MONA publishes European roadmap for photonics and nanotechnologies

February 6, 2008, Grenoble, France--The MONA project announces the publication of a European Roadmap for Photonics and Nanotechnologies that identifies potential synergies between photonics/nanophotonics and nanomaterials/nanotechnologies. A major component of the MONA Roadmap is the identification of the highest priority economic growth areas, taking into account market size, market growth, and the positioning of European industry and research in these areas.

Photonics and nanotechnologies are multidisciplinary fields and two of the principal enabling technologies for the 21st century. They are key technology drivers for industry sectors such as information technologies, communication, biotechnologies, transport, and manufacturing. Photonics/nanophotonics and nanomaterials/nanotechnologies can benefit from each other in terms of new functions, materials, fabrication processes and applications. The challenge of mastering nano-electronics and nano-photonics science and technologies at an industrial scale is of utmost strategic importance for the competitiveness of the European industry in a global context.

There are three principal objectives for the MONA Roadmap:

1. Create a consensus viewpoint on the development of research, technologies and innovation in the areas of photonics and nanotechnologies.
2. Promote the timely world-wide exchange on scientific results, market development perspectives, and technology trends related to photonics and nanotechnologies.
3. Contribute to the intelligent deployment of resources at the regional, national, and European levels for the development of photonics and nanotechnologies.

The MONA Roadmap is the outcome of a two year process. More than 300 professionals from all over the world have contributed to the contents of the Roadmap, including 11 of Europe's key players in nanophotonics: CEA LETI, and including Acreo AB, AIXTRON AG, Alcatel-Thales III-V LAB, ASM-International, the European Photonics Industry Consortium (EPIC), IMEC, Optics Valley, Schott AG, VDI Technologiezentrum GmbH (VDI TZ), and Yole Développement.

The roadmap can be obtained in electronic format on the MONA website (http://www.ist-mona.org) at no charge. All interested individuals and organisations are encouraged to read this key document and to distribute it widely. The MONA project has been funded by the European Commission within its 6th Framework Programme.