PHIRE will take part in the 24th Czech\u2013Polish\u2013Slovak Optical Conference (CPSOC 2026), held from 14 to 18 September in Pec pod Sn\u011b\u017ekou, Czech Republic. The conference is an early opportunity for the project to meet photonics researchers, companies and infrastructure providers and introduce its work to a wider technical audience.<\/p>\n
CPSOC 2026 is organised by VSB \u2013 Technical University of Ostrava and brings together specialists in optics and photonics. As part of the conference’s dedicated Photonics Workshop, Dr Artur Trajnerowicz from \u0141ukasiewicz \u2013 Institute of Microelectronics and Photonics, a PHIRE consortium partner, will present the project’s objectives, approach and planned activities during a pitch session.<\/p>\n
Bringing a healthcare photonics technology from a laboratory prototype to a reliable product requires more than research expertise. Start-ups may need specialised testing, cleanroom facilities, or pilot production facilities, but finding the right provider across borders can be challenging.<\/p>\n
PHIRE \u2013 Photonics Healthcare Infrastructure for Resilient Europe \u2013 is working to make that search easier. It will map and assess relevant European Technology Infrastructures: facilities that help companies develop, test and prepare technologies for production. The project will also identify gaps in available services and barriers to accessing them.<\/p>\n
At CPSOC, the immediate priority is to listen as well as present. Discussions with infrastructure operators, researchers and industry representatives can help the consortium understand what services are already available, which capabilities are needed and where companies encounter obstacles.<\/p>\n
PHIRE welcomes conversations with organisations involved in photonics development, medical technology and innovation support. Their perspectives can help ensure that the project’s mapping reflects how infrastructure is used in practice, not just how it is described on paper.<\/p>\n