In 2023, Photonics Finland, the Flagship for Photonics Research (PREIN) and Business Finland ran the survey for the Finnish photonics industry and photonics research organisations. The parallel industry and research surveys were conducted by an external company, Boost Brothers and directed respectively to photonics companies and researchers in research institutions and universities. The industry survey received 128 responses and the response rate was approximately 18%. Whereas the research survey received 109 responses and the response rate was approximately 25%.
The Finnish high-tech field continues booming despite global upheavals. The published results of the Photonics Finland Industry survey show an increase of 40 % in photonics companies’ revenues in the last three years, equaling to a 18 % annual increase since 2020. This year, the turnover of companies will rise to over 2 billion euros, most of which will come from exports however, the national market is also growing. The increase of the industry’s turnover is over 1 200 million euros and 67 % since 2020.
The number of companies in the sector has increased significantly. Since 2016, the number of photonics companies has risen from 200 to 300 directly employing more than 6 000 people. Indirect employment exceeds 40 000 employees.
Most of the companies are small or medium-sized and are manufacturing photonic systems, instruments and components. Photonics companies mainly provide for the target markets of industrial production and manufacturing; health; security, metrology and sensors.
The growth prospects of the Finnish photonics industry for the near future is also promising. The companies forecast that their photonics related turnover will grow 31 % annually for the next 3 years. On a similar vein, companies expect their number of employees to grow 18 % annually.
In the next few years, efforts need to be focused on acquiring foreign and domestic partners as well as a skilled workforce. In addition, companies have a need to increase investment in market and technology research to accumulate new knowledge.
As a result of the expansive growth, the industry needs hundreds of new experts. There is a great need for diverse education and training in the field. University education has been increased in the recent years. In addition, there is demand for expanding education to the secondary level as well as in universities of applied sciences.
The Flagship for Photonics Research and Innovation has gained visibility among companies and more than half of the industry respondents have a positive view on its activities and a quarter of the companies are not yet aware of PREIN. Finnish photonics companies see joint event organisation, joint research and media promotion as the most important functions of PREIN. Photonics companies are hoping for more collaborative projects with research institutes.
The results of the survey targeted at higher education institutions and research centers maps out the different research areas and future needs of the research ecosystem. Key research thematic areas include material science, metrology and sensing and imaging. Photonics was also highlighted to play an important role in the education programs of the respondents’ institutions.
The promotion of photonics in national media an outreach to the general public are seen as the most important tasks for the PREIN flagship.
The Flagship for Photonics Research is appreciated by both researchers and industry. However, there is constant need to increase the awareness about PREIN and the activities and opportunities it offers to both research and industry. Joint events with Photonic Finland are seen as highly beneficial actions carried out by PREIN fostering research and industry collaboration.
Similar surveys have been conducted in 2016 and 2020. The systematic collecting of the results allows for comparisons and following the development trends of the sector.
See the slides for the summary of results on the Photonics Research Survey 2023
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