Photonics – the use of light in engineering sciences – is becoming increasingly important. It can now be considered a broad, generic and fundamental field of study. Light is used as an information or energy carrier in the ICT world (fibre optic telecommunications, data communication and optical interconnection, data storage, printers, displays, projectors, etc.), in the sensor world (mechanical, temperature, gases, biometrics, spectroscopy, vision systems, ...), in the medical and biomedical world (diagnostic and therapeutic), in the energy world (solar cells, lighting) and in the manufacturing world (laser welding, cutting, drilling, laser lithography).

All these sub-areas are characterised by rapid innovation and a strong link between fundamental physics and new materials, components and systems. Miniaturisation is essential in this regard.