About
A shared European
infrastructure for
medical photonics.
Objectives
Strengthen the innovation and technology development capacity of the European industry
PHIRE strengthens European industrial innovation by creating a streamlined TI ecosystem in the EU for photonics in healthcare. The project helps connect companies with specialized TIs, providing targeted R&D support and critical access to cutting-edge technologies. By reducing access barriers and fragmentation, PHIRE ensures faster, fairer access to essential expertise and infrastructure. Its integrated approach shortens R&D cycles and reduces time to market for new products, ultimately enhancing the EU's competitiveness in photonics innovation.
Improve availability of TIs and strengthen the provision of services for enterprises across the EU
PHIRE systematically enhances EU-wide TI access and services for enterprises across the EU. Based on detailed gap analysis and co-design with users, it elaborates and pilots new and upgraded technological and non-technological services. PHIRE drives increased SME/start-up utilization and expands regional coverage, deploying validated models. By implementing stakeholder-validated service models and public investment priorities, PHIRE ensures long-term sustainability across EU regions.
Make TIs in Europe stronger and more resilient
PHIRE strengthens EU’s TIs through a co-designed strategic plan that prioritizes gap-based upgrades and identifies investment priorities in TIs. It establishes resilient service networks with cross-border access models. By integrating the multi-criteria analysis, focusing on EU’s strategic aspects, co-designed measures to overcome barriers, focus on strategic goals and validated service models it guarantees long-term resilience of TI.
Contribute to the validation of a European approach to Technology Infrastructures
PHIRE serves as testbeds for innovative service models designed for scalability, access policies, and funding mechanisms. Designed for photonics for health, the strategy considers potential transferability of practices and approaches to other TIs. Lessons learned will be documented and shared to inform a unified European approach. By testing services as well as other implementation measures and documenting best practices, the project provides a roadmap for harmonizing and scaling TIs across the EU, addressing gaps in availability and service provision.
Develop a strategy, roadmap, and agenda to address gaps and barriers in TI services
PHIRE develops a comprehensive strategy and roadmap to overcome TI service gaps, ensuring equitable EU-wide access and enhanced innovation capacity. Through empirical analysis and co-design with users, it creates targeted solutions for access policies, service offerings and geographic disparities. The project establishes concrete governance frameworks and coordination mechanisms for long-term sustainability, directly strengthening EU competitiveness and strategic autonomy in photonics for healthcare. By focusing on measurable outcomes, the project will ensure a direct and tangible contribution to EU competitiveness, innovation capacity, and strategic autonomy in photonics for healthcare.
Work packages
Partners
CSIL
Italy · Socio-economic analysisCSIL is an economic research institute based in Milan, specialising in industrial competitiveness, regional development, research and innovation policy, and sustainability and the circular economy. It provides market analysis, policy advisory and evaluation, project appraisal and impact assessment, and capacity building and training. CSIL is a Eurostat-recognised research entity and is certified to UNI EN ISO 9001:2015 for economic and social research applied to public policy evaluation.
Role in PHIRE
Leads the mapping and comparative analysis of Europe's technology infrastructure landscape: capacities, services and accessibility of existing infrastructures, geographic and sectoral gaps, the needs and barriers faced by SMEs, and governance and financial sustainability options. Combines desk research, data collection, stakeholder consultations, surveys and co-creation activities to deliver roadmaps, governance models and practical recommendations.
Fraunhofer ISI
Germany · CoordinatorThe Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research ISI is one of the leading institutes for innovation research in Europe and aims to be an independent thought leader supporting society, politics and business. It examines the scientific, economic, ecological, social, organisational, legal and political conditions that give rise to innovations and their subsequent effects. Around 400 employees from some 25 countries carry out research for practical applications across nine departments in Karlsruhe and Leipzig.
Role in PHIRE
Provides the foundational innovation expertise in health and microelectronics/photonics technologies, combined with socio-economic and foresight analysis. Coordinates PHIRE and leads strategy development and roadmapping, and project management.
Łukasiewicz – IMiF
Poland · CommunicationŁukasiewicz – Institute of Microelectronics and Photonics is a Polish research institute within the Łukasiewicz Research Network. It develops advanced technologies in microelectronics, photonics and materials engineering, combining scientific expertise with specialised research and technological infrastructure — from semiconductor device design to infrared emitters, sensors and thin-film functional materials based on Si, GaN, SiC, GaAs, GaSb and InP.
Role in PHIRE
Leads the analysis of technology infrastructure users’ needs across Europe, identifying access barriers and service gaps. Also leads communication and stakeholder engagement: project branding, the public website, newsletters, social media and outreach events.
VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland
Finland · ResearchVTT Technical Research Centre of Finland is one of Europe’s leading research, development and innovation organisations and a key driver of Finland’s innovation ecosystem. Owned by the Finnish state, VTT helps companies, public sector organisations and society transform scientific discoveries into sustainable growth and real-world impact. More than 2,300 experts conduct applied research in health technologies, digital solutions, advanced manufacturing, biotechnology, energy systems and sustainable materials.
Role in PHIRE
Brings hands-on expertise from coordinating European medical device pilot lines (MedPhab, EU PhotonMed). Contributes to infrastructure mapping, user-need analysis and service-model validation, and leads pilot validation and scale-up preparation.
