Advancing Photonics Technologies (APT) is a regional photonics collaboration of universities, community colleges, industry, government agencies, workforce development programs, startup development organizations, and technology accelerators. APT facilitates, funds, and fuels use-inspired research, innovation, and workforce development, increasing access to jobs and economic prosperity, strengthening the United States’ national security priorities and defense capacity, and bolstering supply chain resiliency. APT will supercharge American leadership in photonics, advanced manufacturing, and domestic job creation and retention.

Photonics, or the generation, detection, and manipulation of light, forms the cornerstone of countless modern technologies that we depend on every day. Photonics is to the 21st century what microelectronics was to the 20th century. Advances in communications, national security, medical devices, energy technologies, consumer electronics, advanced manufacturing and others depend on light-based technologies. Photonics-based technologies are experiencing double-digit growth internationally and, within the U.S., is expected to reach $2.25 trillion by 2029. Learn more about photonics and its applications HERE (Source: SPIE).