10 May 2011

Oclaro joins Governing Board of EPIC

Optical component, module and subsystem maker Oclaro Inc of San Jose, CA, USA has joined the Governing Board of the European Photonics Industry Consortium (EPIC).

Formed in 2003, EPIC promotes sustainable growth for photonics industries and R&D organisations across Europe through initiatives to build revenues, improve access to R&D resources, and develop timely market and technology information. With 80 voting members and over 400 associate members, EPIC members have played a leading role in creating and operating the European Technology Platform, Photonics-21, as well as many influential European projects, such as LIFT for fibre-laser development and Nexpresso, which supports commercial innovation by small- and medium-size enterprises (SMEs). In 2010, the return on investment (ROI) to EPIC members exceeded 11 times investment.

The Governing Board defines the principal directions of EPIC, including focus areas, strategy, resources and membership. Oclaro joins deposition equipment maker Aixtron SE of Herzogenrath, Germany; Fraunhofer Institute for Telecommunication/Heinrich-Hertz-Institute of Berlin, Germany; epiwafer foundry and substrate maker IQE plc of Cardiff, Wales, UK; and French electronics firm Sagem. EPIC’s Board is presided over by IQE’s CEO Dr Drew Nelson.

Oclaro has been a member of EPIC since 2004. It will be represented by chief technology officer Dr Andy Carter, who has global responsibility for Technology reporting to Oclaro’s CEO Alain Couder. Prior to Oclaro, Carter held senior technology positions within Bookham, Marconi and Plessey, where was responsible for many aspects of optoelectronic device design, applications and engineering. Carter views membership of the EPIC organization as an important element in driving innovation and leadership in photonics, and is particularly significant as Oclaro has major R&D and chip manufacturing sites in Europe.

Picture: Oclaro's CTO, Dr Andy Carter.

Carter was educated at Oxford University and received a D. Phil degree for his studies of impurities in semiconductors. He is recipient of the Patterson Medal from the Institute of Physics, and the GEC Nelson Gold Medal and Prize. His home base is at Oclaro’s Caswell facility in the UK, where gallium arsenide and indium phosphide based devices are designed and fabricated.

See related items:

IQE CEO Nelson elected as new president of EPIC

Tags: Oclaro European Photonics Industry Consortium

Visit: www.oclaro.com

Visit: http://epic-assoc.com