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Read about What a Difference One Year Makes, Photonics Clusters, Special Events, New Reports, and Other Noteworthy News, Opinions & Opportunities
In this Issue:
What a Difference One Year Makes It's been one year since the OIDA newsletter forecast a decline in optics and photonics revenues of 12-15% for 2020, compared to 2019. While such a drop would have been a dramatic downturn, our forecast seemed optimistic to some, as the full impact of the global pandemic was just being felt in the U.S. The fear in March 2020 was that the immediate supply chain issues (remember toilet paper shortages?) were only the beginning. Surging unemployment would slow the economy on a global scale not seen in a decade, or a century. And thousands, perhaps millions, would die.
And yet, in the April 2020 newsletter, we pointed out that factories in Asia were already returning to normal production; some early revenue figures from Asia were tracking the normal seasonal behavior. We also cited recency bias: the tendency to overweight recent events when thinking about the future. Here are some of our own words from April 2020:
There are still supply chain issues: automakers are suspending operations for weeks at a time due to a shortage of electronic parts (as chipmakers switched to making parts for consumer products). And global shipping continues to be in disarray (here and here). But factories in Asia have kept our industry—and much of the global economy—running. And concerns over a longer-term drop in demand are waning or limited to certain sectors.
We also reported in October on the growth in the stock price of Peloton Interactive as the homebound sought new ways to exercise indoors. It currently has a market capitalization of USD 30 billion. That's billion. With a "b." However, it seems that the prices for both Zoom and Peloton have peaked as the pandemic recedes and investors look to newer opportunities. What is a Photonics Cluster? Part I We're going to visit the topic of optics and photonics clusters, one of the great assets of our ecosystem, but this month we are going to discuss the kind of cluster that is usually ignored: the informal industry cluster. Why start with this? Because they are the type of cluster that everyone wants: a community that has enough critical mass to maintain or grow its position in a competitive, global market. It is the type described by Michael Porter in the book, The Competitive Advantage of Nations.
Everyone wants to be on the map, of course, and in fact they are—although not necessarily at this "zoomed out" view. Note that a formal cluster organization is not a requirement for a strong informal ecosystem; Silicon Valley has no organization advocating for its optics and photonics industry and yet it thrives. Neither do the several clusters in China.
What does it take for a cluster to thrive? Richard Dasher at Stanford University's U.S.-Asia Technology Management Center says there are four key elements: capital, talent, knowledge, which all rest on a foundation of infrastructure that spans law, accounting and more. It helps to have "anchor stores"—one or more large manufacturer that trains young professionals and spawns startup companies. Local teaching and research universities are necessary to deliver new talent and collaborate on ideas. Many places have one or more of these elements, but a cluster needs all of them to thrive.
The table highlights another dimension that is easy to overlook: the ecosystem must include not just any pieces, but pieces for every stage of commercialization. For example, it's not enough to launch startup companies, but there have to be exits too. If founders never leave their companies, they cannot transfer their experience to new companies (an issue in China). A well-regulated stock market allows investors to capture and reinvest gains in new businesses (an issue in Malaysia).
OSA Industry Member Profile — PHIX Photonics Assembly Located in the Netherlands, PHIX Photonics Assembly provides assembly services for all major photonic integrated circuit (PIC) technology platforms. This "one-stop shop" is a growing global business that specializes in hybrid integration. OSA reached out to CCO Jeroen Duis to discuss the company's successes and future goals. Read the article.
Luminar Technologies Co-Founder and CTO Jason Eichenholz Discusses a Milestone for the Company Luminar Technologies Co-Founder and CTO Jason Eichenholz discusses a milestone for the company with OSA Senior Industry Advisor Tom Hausken in this OSA podcast episode. They discuss the importance of the company going public and what it means for LIDAR technology and the automotive industry. Eichenholz describes the alternative pathway towards becoming public and opportunities to deliver the software for self-driving cars to market. Listen to the podcast.
New Virtual OIDA Technology Showcase: See the Latest Technology and Network with Industry Leaders
Looking for new products for your organization, information about the latest technology and an opportunity to connect with colleagues and industry leaders? Join us online 27-29 April and get an in-depth look as OIDA member companies present and explain their cutting-edge technologies.
How Does It Work?
Register now for free access to all the sessions, then pick which presentations you want to attend—there's no travel, no jetlag, just plenty of information!
The premier event in telecom and data center optics—the 2021 Optical Fiber Communication Conference and Exhibition (OFC)—today announced it will convene in an interactive, all-virtual format, 06 – 11 June 2021. Considered the hub of the industry, OFC represents the entire ecosystem—from research to marketplace. This format, which includes technical sessions and a virtual exhibition featuring industry-focused programs, will expand engagement with the conference's global audience through live and on-demand content. The technical conference will take place 06-11 June, and the virtual exhibition will take place 07-11 June. Sessions will be scheduled at times convenient for many time zones. OSA Optical Design and Fabrication Congress Confirms Virtual Format
The OSA Optical Design and Fabrication Congress will be now be presented in an all-virtual, web conference format on the scheduled dates, 27 June — 01 July. Learn more.
5G technologies promise to offer increased network speeds, expanded interactivity on the network, much lower latency and provide vastly elevated conductivity. Join us for these upcoming sessions to learn more:
Final Call for Team Engineering Excellence Award Nominations The submission deadline for the 2021 Paul F. Forman Team Engineering Excellence Award is fast approaching. Nominations are due 10 April 2021. This award recognizes team technical achievements such as product engineering, process and software development, and patent development, as well as furthering public appreciation of optical engineering. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain recognition and promotion for your optical engineering team(s).
Digital Programming Now Available Live and On-Demand
OIDA management and OIDA members have produced a series of webinars and virtual Technology Showcases that are available at no charge. We encourage you to browse our growing list of upcoming events and view on-demand recordings as they become available. And there is much more! Check out the OSA We Are On webpage for more high quality webinars on career development from the OSA Foundation and the OSA Career Lab. Invitation to Join the OIDA Optics and Photonics Industry LinkedIn Group Join 4,000+ of your colleagues in our OIDA Optics & Photonics Industry Network LinkedIn Group. This one-of-a-kind Forum for Industry lets you participate in discussions about cutting-edge issues. Extend your professional network. Exchange information about problems, ideas and solutions. Collaborate with experts in your field. Now is the perfect time to build a relationship with fellow optics and photonics professionals!
Questions or Suggestions about OIDA Member Benefits? We are committed to ensuring the value of your OSA Industry Development Associates Membership, so please email OIDA if you have any suggestions for new programs or comments on your membership.
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Source: Will Santino at Cartoon Collections.
Source: OIDA (2021).
Source: OIDA (March 2021) from daily adjusted closing prices.
Source: Richard Dasher: U.S.-Asia Technology Management Center, Stanford University (2016).
Source: Richard Dasher: U.S.-Asia Technology Management Center, Stanford University (2016).
