Glasgow’s universities have nurtured a highly skilled pool of optical and photonic engineers and scientists throughout the 20th century, laying the groundwork for the photonics industry. As a result, the city has emerged as a hub of innovative companies, both established and up-and-coming, and renowned academic centers, all supported by world-class research facilities and robust partnerships with local businesses.

Glasgow is also home to the UK’s inaugural Fraunhofer Centre for Applied Photonics, with a global network of research and technology centres, and Photonics Scotland, one of the world’s oldest national photonics organisations, further solidifying Glasgow’s leadership in this thriving sector.