The Strathclyde-based Fraunhofer Centre for Applied Photonics (CAP) will receive £6.5m over the next five years from the Scottish government.
The CAP develops light-driven technologies which are used in healthcare, life science and quantum tech.
Business minister Ivan McKee said the funding will enable the purchase of cutting-edge equipment and doctorate level student training, which is a crucial part of the Fraunhofer model and essential for delivering next-generation products and processes.
“I am delighted to announce this further support for the Fraunhofer Centre for Applied Photonics, which is a key asset for Scotland’s photonics sector and highly valued by both business and academia.”
“The funding will support the third phase of the centre’s world-class research and innovation activities and is another step towards the Scottish government’s target of growing business enterprise R&D in Scotland to £1.8 billion by 2025.
“In the longer term we want to boost Scotland’s innovation performance to match the levels of the best performing countries worldwide.”
Housed in Strathclyde’s Technology and Innovation Centre, Fraunhofer’s CAP is the first of its kind in the UK and has a close relationship with the University.
Since its inception, it has become a significant player delivering more than 180 projects with 100 companies, typically producing pre-production prototypes and validating novel technology.
A recent independent assessment found the economic impact of Fraunhofer in Scotland to be substantial, supporting hundreds of jobs and boosting company turnover in the hundreds of millions.
Professor Sir Jim McDonald, principal and vice-chancellor of the University of Strathclyde, said: “As a leading technological university, Strathclyde is proud of its close relationship with the Fraunhofer Centre for Applied Photonics.
“This funding boost is recognition by the Scottish government of the importance of this centre of excellence, one of the jewels in the Glasgow City Innovation District.
“It also recognises the role our strategic collaboration plays in working with industrial partners to develop enabling technologies across a range of sectors that provide innovative solutions to global challenges and support and grow the economy.”
