[X]

Photonics Prototyping Facility

The CSIR National Laser Centre in partnership with the Innovation Hub boasts a Photonics Prototyping Facility (PPF) which is aimed at addressing the current lack of commercialised photonics products in South Africa by providing world-class facilities, technical support, equipment and scarce skills. Hosted at the CSIR, the facility has been established through support from the Department of Science and Technology for the industrialisation and commercialisation of photonics-based technologies.

The PPF seeks to develop ideas and identify needs for the current South African market. The national facility aims to address the current innovation chasm experienced in the South African photonics industry by providing the necessary skills and facilities to support the industrialisation and commercialisation of photonics-based technologies. This will help develop South Africa’s expertise in the area of photonics product development and prototyping, thus stimulating the growth of the country’s photonics industry by forming small, medium and micro-sized enterprises (SMMEs) and sustainable jobs.

The facility currently offers class 1 000 clean rooms, technical and optical equipment ranging from electronic, mechanical and diagnostic equipment for a variety of wavelengths. The facility also houses scarce skills such as optics and photonics and assistance with photonics-related prototype design and testing. The PPF facilitates access to its industry, business and funding networks to assist in product and business development and incubation.

The PPF is consistently creating spaces for scientists, researchers and engineers from science councils, higher education institutes, SMMEs and industries as well as entrepreneurs and investors to participate in photonic-related prototype development.