Brussels, September 2025 – The European Commission is investing €5 million to launch Phortify, a Europe-wide photonics education and training network. Coordinated by Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) and involving 12 partners from 7 countries, the initiative aims to build a strong talent pipeline for Europe’s digital industries.
Phortify (Photonics education network for next-gen innovation and digital skills excellence for industry and society, €5 million EU funding) is a Digital Europe Programme action delivered by a consortium of 12 partners coordinated by Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB). The initiative harmonises learning outcomes and quality assurance, enables cross-border mobility, and awards certifications to accelerate Europe’s photonics talent pipeline.
Phortify creates a shared photonics curriculum across seven Master’s programmes, complemented by industry-co-designed self-standing modules for professionals. Students and researchers will gain access to Europe’s leading laboratories, digital resources, and instructors. This new initiative will build a continent-wide talent pipeline for industry, giving companies access to graduates and professionals trained on real tools, workflows, and challenges in photonics.
University of Eastern Finland is the only Phortify -project partner from the Nordic countries. Professor Jyrki Saarinen is looking forward to strengthening the European educational collaboration:
“UEF is working together with Europe’s leading photonics universities to build educational collaboration and networks, both for students and for companies. The European Commission has identified photonics as one of the key competencies for Europe’s digitalization, and Finland plays a significant role in this field.”
Photonics—the science and engineering of light—enables technologies from high-speed communications and medical imaging to advanced manufacturing and AI. With a global market projected to reach €1.4 trillion by 2032, Phortify ensures Europe remains competitive by equipping the next generation with cutting-edge skills.
The programme places strong emphasis on diversity and inclusion, offering scholarships, mobility support, and mentorship opportunities for underrepresented groups. A digital library, hybrid learning model with remote and XR-enabled labs, and industry-supervised projects will make top-quality training accessible across borders.
Phortify Partners
Belgium
Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB)
Universiteit Gent (UGent).
Italy
Politecnico di Milano (POLIMI)
Istituto di Fotonica e Nanotecnologie
Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (IFN-CNR)
Germany
Active Fiber Systems GmbH (AFS)
Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena (FSU)
Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology (Leibniz-IPHT)
Spain
Institut de Ciències Fotòniques (ICFO-CERCA)
Netherlands
Technische Universiteit Eindhoven (TU/e)
SMART Photonics B.V.
Poland
Warsaw University of Technology (WUT)
Finland
University of Eastern Finland (UEF).
How to participate
- Get started: Visit www.phortify.eu or contact us at info@phortify.eu. Companies interested in collaborating—whether by offering internships, hosting guest lectures, or exploring other opportunities—are warmly invited to contact us directly.
For more information: www.phortify.eu | info@phortify.eu
Co-funded by the European Commission under the Digital Europe Programme (No. 101226191).
Media contact: Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels Photonics, info@phortify.eu
Web & social: phortify.eu – LinkedIn — Instagram
Image: Photonics Joensuu