The importance of photonics as a disruptive technology is growing. The expanding industry is enabling next generation technologies, boosting Finland’s economic growth and creating jobs. Finland’s updated national research and innovation policies, Business Finland’s new strategy and the activities of Photonics Finland and the PREIN flagship further reinforce the strategic importance of photonics for the country’s future competitiveness, industrial renewal and security.
In January 2026, the Research and Innovation Council published the updated National Strategic Choices for Research, Development and Innovation Policy and Activities, defining five priority areas that will guide Finland’s future growth and resilience:
• data and data-based value creation
• disruptive technologies
• health and wellbeing
• climate, environment and the Arctic dimension
• security, resilience and defence
As a disruptive technology photonics has already revolutionized many industries: from optical fibres to led lighting and lidar technology, photonics has enabled leaps in technological development. Photonics is also key enabler alongside other deep-tech fields such as semiconductors, quantum technologies, advanced materials and next-generation sensing. These technologies are seen as essential drivers of Finland’s long-term economic competitiveness, industrial transformation and national security.
Photonics recognized as a strategic growth sector
The importance of photonics is also highlighted in the new strategy of Business Finland for 2026–2030. In the strategy’s thematic priorities, photonics is recognised as an independent strategic theme, reflecting both Finland’s strong existing capabilities and the field’s significant global growth potential.
As a small country, Finland must focus its investments in areas where it can achieve global impact. Business Finland’s strategy therefore prioritises sectors with:
• strong global market opportunities
• high value creation retained in Finland
• strong research-to-business ecosystems
• the ability to drive cross-sector innovation
Photonics fulfils all these criteria. Already today, Finland’s photonics industry generates more than €2.5 billion in export-driven business, and the sector is expected to grow faster than the global average.
At the same time, photonics is a powerful enabling technology across multiple sectors, including advanced manufacturing, digitalisation, communications, health technologies, industrial automation, defence solutions, artificial intelligence and energy systems. As a result, investments in photonics create ripple effects across the wider economy.
Photonics as a solution to global challenges
Photonics technologies from optical communications and laser manufacturing to sensing and imaging offer solutions to many of the most pressing challenges facing modern societies. They enable more efficient energy systems, smarter industrial processes, improved medical diagnostics, enhanced environmental monitoring and advanced security capabilities.
For Finland, photonics represents not only a high-tech research field but also a strategic industrial opportunity. The sector has strong potential to:
• boost exports through globally competitive SME companies
• create new high-value manufacturing jobs
• strengthen Finland’s technological sovereignty
• accelerate innovation across multiple industries.
A strong national ecosystem
Finland has already built a strong photonics ecosystem connecting research, industry and education. A central coordinating role in this ecosystem is played by Photonics Finland, which brings together companies, universities and research organisations and leads the implementation of the Finnish National Photonics Roadmap 2025–2030.
The roadmap outlines concrete actions to scale Finland’s photonics sector to the next level. Key priorities include:
• building a national pilot line bridging research and industrial production
• strengthening export growth and internationalisation
• developing skills and workforce capacity
• launching a national growth programme for photonics companies
• reinforcing the domestic photonics ecosystem
• ensuring the continuity and expansion of the PREIN flagship.
The importance of the PREIN Flagship
The PREIN – Photonics Research and Innovation flagship, funded through the Research Council of Finland Flagship Programme, has been instrumental in building Finland’s internationally recognised photonics research and innovation ecosystem.
The Flagship Programme supports world-class research with strong societal and economic impact through close collaboration between academia, industry and public organisations. Within this framework, PREIN has helped establish Finland as a global leader in photonics research, while also strengthening technology transfer and business creation.
Ensuring the continuation of the PREIN flagship is therefore crucial. It enables long-term research, talent development and industry collaboration that are essential for maintaining Finland’s competitive edge in deep technologies.
A strategic opportunity for Finland
The elevation of photonics within Finland’s national RDI strategy and the Business Finland strategy reflects the growing recognition that photonics is a foundational technology for the future economy.
With coordinated action across research, industry and policy, Finland has a unique opportunity to strengthen its position as a global photonics leader. Continued investment in the ecosystem,including the PREIN flagship and the roadmap activities coordinated by Photonics Finland, will ensure that photonics continues to deliver innovation, exports and high-quality jobs for Finland in the years ahead.