Photonics Austria
Photonics Austria is the national membership-based platform for photonics technologies in Austria, aggregating industry, research, and academia through five working groups, EU-funded projects, education programs, and representation in the European Photonics21 public-private partnership.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersWeiz, Austria
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Photonics Austria does
Photonics Austria is a membership-based national platform for photonics (light technologies) headquartered in Weiz, Austria, hosted by JOANNEUM RESEARCH's MATERIALS institute. It is the only dedicated photonics platform in Austria and operates as the central aggregator of the country's photonics ecosystem spanning industry, research institutions, and academia. Core offerings include five specialized working groups — ALPIN (laser production), P4GS (Photonics for a Green Society), QUANTEN (quantum technologies), MOBILITÄT (mobility), and BILDUNG (education) — a job exchange, the Photonics Explorer educational kit, the International Day of Light public events, and the Austrian Photonics Roadmap 2021–2027 developed collaboratively by 35 authors from 20 organizations.
The platform's service surface is dominated by EU-funded projects in which it acts as coordinator or partner: PhotonHub Europe (pan-European digital photonics innovation), 360 CARLA (career camps across 10 countries), PhotonQBoost (SME adoption of photonics and quantum), DeepSupport (interregional deep-tech support for manufacturing), Photonics4Industry (cluster management excellence with five European clusters), Phorwards21 and BestPhorm21 (Horizon Europe Photonics Public-Private Partnership support with Photonics21), and PHORSCH! (school education with TU Graz, FH Technikum Wien, FH Vorarlberg, and ams-OSRAM). The organization is formally represented in the Photonics21 PPP and operates cross-border cluster relationships with OptoNet (Jena), Swissphotonics, Silicon Alps, and others.
Photonics Austria's revenue model is subscription/membership-fee based, supplemented by EU project co-funding (Horizon Europe, COSME) and likely Austrian public funding (FFG). Specific membership pricing is not publicly disclosed; interested parties are directed to [email protected]. The organization does not sell commercial products and has no disclosed revenue, no venture funding, and no headcount figure. Its competitive position rests on national monopoly status as the sole photonics platform in Austria, a partner roster that includes ams-OSRAM, Zumtobel, Tridonic, JOANNEUM RESEARCH, TU Graz, Universität Wien, Fraunhofer, CNRS, and TU Delft, and a leadership role in shaping European photonics strategy through Photonics21.
Photonics Austria firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Photonics Austria
- Legal name
- Photonics Austria
- Website
- https://photonics-austria.at
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Photonics Austria is the national membership-based platform for photonics technologies in Austria, aggregating industry, research, and academia through five working groups, EU-funded projects, education programs, and representation in the European Photonics21 public-private partnership.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Photonics Austria industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Photonics Industry Association Services
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Technical Committees, Working Groups & Expert Panels (BPADANAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- International Standards, Norms & Technical Regulatory Bodies (BPADAAAJ), International Science, Technology & Space Cooperation Organizations (BPADAAAK), Photonic (Optical) QPU Systems (HDAGAAAD)
Keywords
Where Photonics Austria is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Weiz
- HQ country
- Austria
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Photonics Austria business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Membership Fees: Photonics Austria operates as a membership-based platform with members from industry, science, and academia in the Austrian photonics ecosystem. Revenue is generated through membership contributions which fund the platform's networking, research coordination, and educational activities.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels8 records
Photonics Austria product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Photonics Austria is a national sector platform that brings together Austrian photonics companies, research institutes, and universities to foster collaboration, skills development, and visibility for the photonics industry. It offers thematic working groups, a job exchange, a national photonics roadmap, educational outreach through Photonics Explorer, public events such as the International Day of Light, and active participation in EU photonics projects.
Product overview
Photonics Austria is a national platform for light technologies in Austria that connects industry, research institutions, and academia through a network of working groups, collaborative projects, educational initiatives, and events. The platform serves as the central hub for photonics innovation in Austria, offering services including five specialized working groups (EDUCATION, P4GS, ALPIN, QUANTUM, MOBILITY), multiple EU-funded research projects (PhotonQBoost, PhotonHub Europe, 360 CARLA, DeepSupport, Photonics4Industry, Phorwards21, PHORSCH!, CARLA, BestPhorm21), a job exchange platform, educational programs including Photonics Explorer workshops, the Austrian Photonics Roadmap strategic agenda, and annual events such as the International Day of Light. The organization coordinates with European partners through the Photonics21 public-private partnership to advance photonics research and industry adoption across Europe.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Photonics Austria Platform
Quantifiable outcome
- CARLA career camps reached 1,375+ attending students and contacted 150,000+ students across 10 countries with 11 career camps and 1,000+ LinkedIn network members.
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Photonics Austria
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Photonics Austria technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Photonics Austria partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
38 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- JOANNEUM RESEARCHcoreJOANNEUM RESEARCH is a key partner of Photonics Austria, hosting the platform's office at its MATERIALS institute in Weiz and serving as the Austrian representative in PhotonHub Europe (providing technology support). JOANNEUM RESEARCH staff are also involved in the PHORSCH! education project and various photonics working groups.
- AidexacoreListed as a partner institution contributing to the Austrian Photonics Roadmap, representing the Austrian photonics stakeholder ecosystem.
- ams-OSRAMcorePartner institution contributing to the Austrian Photonics Roadmap. Also a partner in the PHORSCH! education project, providing technology to explain photonics applications to students.
- Fachhochschule VorarlbergcorePartner institution contributing to the Austrian Photonics Roadmap. Also involved in PHORSCH! education project with photonics workshops at the FH Vorarlberg campus.
- Fachhochschule Technikum WiencorePartner institution contributing to the Austrian Photonics Roadmap and co-partner in the PHORSCH! school education project.
- Technische Universität GrazcorePartner institution and lead of the PHORSCH! education project. Contributed to the Austrian Photonics Roadmap as one of 20 participating organizations.
- Universität GrazcorePartner institution contributing to the Austrian Photonics Roadmap, representing the academic research dimension of the Austrian photonics ecosystem.
- Universität InnsbruckcorePartner institution contributing to the Austrian Photonics Roadmap and host of Quantum Career Day events organized in cooperation with Photonics Austria.
- Universität WiencorePartner institution contributing to the Austrian Photonics Roadmap, representing the academic research dimension of the Austrian photonics ecosystem.
- ZumtobelcorePartner institution contributing to the Austrian Photonics Roadmap, representing the lighting and displays technology segment of the Austrian photonics ecosystem.
- TridoniccorePartner institution contributing to the Austrian Photonics Roadmap, representing the lighting technology sector.
- plasmocorePartner institution contributing to the Austrian Photonics Roadmap as part of the Austrian photonics stakeholder ecosystem.
- Ceramic Data SolutionscorePartner institution contributing to the Austrian Photonics Roadmap as part of the Austrian photonics stakeholder ecosystem.
- tofmotioncorePartner institution contributing to the Austrian Photonics Roadmap as part of the Austrian photonics stakeholder ecosystem.
- v-researchcorePartner institution contributing to the Austrian Photonics Roadmap. Also participated in delegation trip to OptoNet Jena (2019).
- Karl-Franzens-Universität GrazcoreHost of the CARLA Camp Graz in September 2022, which welcomed STEM students from Austria and internationally. Contributed to photonics career outreach and education.
- Photonics21corePhotonics Austria represents Austrian interests in Europe through the Photonics21 Public-Private Partnership. This is a key European-level relationship for driving the European photonics industry strategy and roadmap. Photonics Austria participates in projects like BestPhorm21, Phorwards21, and PhotonHub Europe in coordination with Photonics21.
- Industry 4.0 AustriaminorCross-cluster networking partner with whom Photonics Austria organizes networking events and exchange.
- Additive Manufacturing AustriaminorCross-cluster networking partner for thematic exchange and brokerage events with Photonics Austria.
- Silicon AlpsminorRegional technology cluster partner for cross-cluster networking and collaboration.
- SwissphotonicsminorSwiss national photonics platform with whom Photonics Austria conducts cross-border networking and exchange.
- OptoNetminorGerman photonics cluster (Jena) with whom Photonics Austria conducted delegation exchanges in 2019 and 2021 to strengthen cross-border cooperation.
- ICFO (Institut de Ciències Fotòniques)coreSpanish photonics research institute and international project partner in the CARLA career camp initiative, contributing to pan-European photonics education outreach.
- Max Born InstitutecoreGerman photonics research institute and international project partner in the CARLA career camp initiative.
- VDI Technologiezentrum (DE)coreLead project partner in BestPhorm21 alongside Photonics21 Secretariat, working with 14 national technology platforms to support the Horizon Europe Photonics Private Partnership.
- CNRS (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, FR)coreLead partner in PhotonHub Europe, a pan-European center for digital photonics innovation that aims to create 1,000+ Hightech jobs and 1 billion euros in new EU revenue.
- Fraunhofer Gesellschaft (DE)coreKey European research partner in the PhotonHub Europe project, contributing to pan-European photonics innovation support for SMEs.
- TU/e (Technische Universiteit Eindhoven, NL)coreEuropean university research partner in the PhotonHub Europe project contributing to digital photonics innovation across Europe.
- TU Delft (NL)coreInternational project partner in the 360 CARLA project, contributing to pan-European photonics career launch programs.
- Institut d'Optique (FR)coreFrench optics institute and project partner in 360 CARLA, contributing to photonics career development across Europe.
- SwissPhotonics (CH)coreSwiss national photonics platform and international partner in 360 CARLA project, contributing to cross-border photonics career outreach.
- Photonics Sweden (SE)coreSwedish national photonics platform and international partner in 360 CARLA project.
- Bay Zoltan Alkalmazott Kutatasi Kozhasznu Nonprofit KFT (HU)coreHungarian research partner in the DeepSupport project, contributing to the interregional deep-tech innovation support network for photonics in manufacturing.
- Fraunhofer Italia Research Scarl (IT)coreItalian partner in the DeepSupport project, working to establish an interregional deep-tech innovation support network for photonics in manufacturing.
- Regionalna Razvojna Agencija za Podravje – Maribor (SI)coreSlovenian regional development agency and partner in the DeepSupport project, contributing to cross-border photonics innovation for manufacturing.
- Steirische Wirtschaftsförderungsgesellschaft (AT)coreStyrian business development agency (SFG) and partner in the DeepSupport project, supporting interregional cooperation in photonics for manufacturing.
- BartenbachcoreAustrian lighting technology company and member of Photonics Austria. Hosted the member meeting in May 2026 in Wattens. Contributed to delegation exchange with OptoNet Jena and is active in the photonics education ecosystem.
- TrumpfminorGerman laser technology company that participated in the OptoNet Jena delegation visit to Austria in November 2021, engaging with Photonics Austria members.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Photonics Austria competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Strengths5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Photonics Austria social profiles
Digital presencePhotonics Austria financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Photonics Austria leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Photonics Austria funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Photonics Austria M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Photonics Austria
What does Photonics Austria do?
Photonics Austria is a national sector platform that brings together Austrian photonics companies, research institutes, and universities to foster collaboration, skills development, and visibility for the photonics industry. It offers thematic working groups, a job exchange, a national photonics roadmap, educational outreach through Photonics Explorer, public events such as the International Day of Light, and active participation in EU photonics projects.
Is Photonics Austria a public or private company?
Photonics Austria is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Photonics Austria founded?
Photonics Austria was founded in 2013. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Photonics Austria based?
Photonics Austria is headquartered in Weiz, Austria, in the Europe region.
How does Photonics Austria make money?
One revenue line is on record: membership Fees.
Does Photonics Austria have an API?
No public API is recorded for Photonics Austria.
What industry is Photonics Austria in?
Photonics Austria's product category is Photonics Industry Association Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPADANAB, Technical Committees, Working Groups & Expert Panels, with a secondary code of BPADAAAJ, International Standards, Norms & Technical Regulatory Bodies. Its SIC code is 8600.