Class handouts 'business aspects of photonics'

Photonics is a generic science that is applied in a wide range of industrial sectors. Several of these industries are presently witnessing exponential growth: solar cells, LCD displays, (Organic) Light Emitting Diodes, industrial and night vision, telecommunications... Flanders and the VUB can boast world class research groups in this domain, and many Belgian firms (established and startups) are active in the application domains mentioned above.

In this course, the major sectors in which photonics play a key role are discussed. Examples of these sectors are
* Displays: Flat panel displays such as LCD, plasma, OLED, E-Ink
* Lighting: Light Emitting Diodes (LED)
* Solar energy
* Biophotonics: the use of light in life sciences en medical applications
* Machine and night vision
* Industrial production: lithography, use of lasers in materials processing
* Optical communication: Fiber-To-The-Home
* Office & IT: optical data storage (CD, DVD, Blu-ray vs HD-DVD)

We provide an overview of each sector, and focus on certains aspects that illustrate the business knowledge students built up during previous courses (inleiding tot het bedrijfsbeheer, entrepreneurship...). Several photonics related business cases are studied, guest speakers are invited and on-site visits are organised. In 2008-2009 following companies were covered in this way: Photovoltech (solar cels), BEST (industrial sorting), Trinean (lab-on-a-chip), Optrima (VUB startup in 3D vision), E-ink (electronic paper).

The student will obtain an insight in the different business economic application domains of the photonics
technology. He or she will be prepared to be professionally active within the sector of photonics. The
student has applied his previsously acquired knowledge on business economics and entrepeneurship on this sector.