Technologies

<!DOCTYPE html> <html class=""> <head id="head"> <meta charset="utf-8"> <meta http-equiv="X-UA-Compatible" content="IE=edge"> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width,initial-scale=1.0"> <title>Technologies | NPI </title> <link href='https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Roboto:400,400italic,300,300italic,700,700italic|Roboto+Condensed:400,300italic,300,400italic,700,700italic|Anton' rel='stylesheet' type='text/css'> <link href="https://netdna.bootstrapcdn.com/font-awesome/4.1.0/css/font-awesome.min.css" rel="stylesheet"/> <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://unpkg.com/flickity@2/dist/flickity.min.css"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="/npi/bundle.css"/>  <script>(function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start': new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0], j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src= 'https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f); })(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-5Q24RT');</script>  <style> .nav-skip { display: block; position: absolute; top: -3rem; left: 0; transition: position 0.2s ease-in-out; padding: 0.5rem; z-index: 9999; border: 0; } .nav-skip:focus, .nav-skip:active { top: 0; background: white; } </style> </head> <body>  <noscript> <iframe src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-5Q24RT" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"> </iframe> </noscript>  <div class="page"> <div id="cookieConsent" class="alert alert-info" role="alert"> <p class="site-modals__modal-copy"><p>This website uses cookies to deliver some of our products and services as well as for analytics and to provide you a more personalized experience. <a href="/cookienotice">Visit our Cookie Notice</a> to learn more.</p> <p>By continuing to use this site, you agree to our use of cookies. We’ve also updated our <a href="/privacypolicy">Privacy Notice</a>. <a href="/privacypolicy">Visit our Privacy Policy</a> to see what’s new.</p> </p> <br/> <button id="acceptCookies" class="btn btn-success" tabindex="1">Accept All Cookies</button> <button id="rejectCookies" class="btn btn-secondary" tabindex="1">Decline</button> </div> <a class="nav-skip" href="#content" aria-label="Skip To Content">Skip To Content</a> <header class="clearfix main-header bg-white" id="masthead"> <nav class="main-navigation max-wrap" role="navigation"> <a class="logo" href="/" title="The National Photonics Initiative (NPI)"> <img alt="The National Photonics Initiative (NPI)" class="img-responsive" src="/npi/media/npi/siteimages/NPI-logo.png" /> </a> <div class="navbar-header-container"> <div class="navbar-header"> <div class="visible-xs"><a class="mobile-logo" href="/" title="The National Photonics Initiative (NPI)"><img alt="The National Photonics Initiative (NPI)" class="img-responsive" src="/npi/media/npi/siteimages/mobile-logo.png" /> <span>National Photonics Initiative</span></a></div> </div> <div class="menu-button"> </div> </div> <div class="menu-wrap"> <ul class="flexnav" data-breakpoint="800"> <li> <a href="/home/importance-of-light" aria-label="0" >Importance of Light</a> <ul> <li> <a href="/home/importance-of-light/technologies" aria-label="Navigation Technologies" >Technologies</a> </li> <li> <a href="/home/importance-of-light/what-is-photonics" aria-label="Navigation What is Photonics?" >What is Photonics?</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li> <a href="/home/about-npi" aria-label="0" >About NPI</a> <ul> <li> <a href="/home/about-npi/history" aria-label="Navigation History" >History</a> </li> <li> <a href="/home/about-npi/npi-for-government" aria-label="Navigation NPI for Government" >NPI for Government</a> </li> <li> <a href="/home/about-npi/npi-for-industry" aria-label="Navigation NPI for Industry" >NPI for Industry</a> </li> <li> <a href="/home/about-npi/npi-for-academia" aria-label="Navigation NPI for Academia" >NPI for Academia</a> </li> <li> <a href="/home/about-npi/npi-steering-committee" aria-label="Navigation NPI Steering Committee" >NPI Steering Committee</a> </li> <li> <a href="/home/about-npi/resources" aria-label="Navigation Resources" >Resources</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li> <a href="/home/news-media" aria-label="0" >News & Media</a> <ul> <li> <a href="/home/news-media/press-releases" aria-label="Navigation Press Releases" >Press Releases</a> </li> <li> <a href="/home/news-media/npi-newsletter" aria-label="Navigation NPI Newsletter" >NPI Newsletter</a> </li> <li> <a href="/home/news-media/event-photos" aria-label="Navigation Event Photos" >Event Photos</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li> <a href="/home/get-involved" aria-label="0" >Get Involved</a> <ul> <li> <a href="/home/get-involved/congressional-optics-photonics-caucus" aria-label="Navigation Congressional Optics & Photonics Caucus" >Congressional Optics & Photonics Caucus</a> </li> <li> <a href="/home/get-involved/distric-visits" aria-label="Navigation District Visits" >District Visits</a> </li> <li> <a href="/home/get-involved/spread-the-word" aria-label="Navigation Spread the Word" >Spread the Word</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li> <a href="/home/sponsors-partners" aria-label="0" >Sponsors & Partners</a> <ul> <li> <a href="/home/sponsors-partners/sponsors" aria-label="Navigation Sponsors" >Sponsors</a> </li> <li> <a href="/home/sponsors-partners/become-a-partner" aria-label="Navigation Become a Partner" >Become a Partner</a> </li> </ul> </li> </ul> </div> </nav> </header> <main id="content"> <div class="page-banner" style="background-image: url(http://www.lightourfuture.org/NPI/media/npi/siteimages/banners/subpages/dusty-dark.jpg?ext=.jpg);"> <div class="banner-content max-wrap"> <div class="row reset-col"> <div class="col-sm-offset-4 col-sm-8 col-md-offset-3 col-md-9 col-lg-offset-9 col-lg-3 reset-col"> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div id="page" class="max-wrap"> <section class="bg-white"> <div class="row reset-col"> <header class="page-header"> <div class="share-tools hidden-xs no-print btn-group"> <a class="print-this btn btn-ghost btn-primary" href="javascript:window.print()"><i class="fa fa-print"> </i> Print</a> <div class="btn-group" role="group"> <button aria-expanded="true" aria-haspopup="true" class="btn btn-ghost btn-primary dropdown-toggle" data-toggle="dropdown" id="shareMenu" type="button"><i class="fa fa-share-alt"> </i>Share <span class="caret"> </span></button> <ul aria-labelledby="shareMenu" class="dropdown-menu"> <li> <a title="Share on Twitter" href='https://twitter.com/intent/?text=Technologies%20#Photonics&url=https%3a%2f%2fwww.lightourfuture.org%2fhome%2fimportance-of-light%2ftechnologies' target="_blank"><i class="fa fa-twitter"> </i> Twitter</a> </li> <li class="divider" role="separator"> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https%3a%2f%2fwww.lightourfuture.org%2fhome%2fimportance-of-light%2ftechnologies&title=Technologies&summary=https://www.lightourfuture.org" target="_blank" title="Share on LinkedIn"><i class="fa fa-linkedin"> </i> LinkedIn</a> </li> <li class="divider" role="separator"> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3a%2f%2fwww.lightourfuture.org%2fhome%2fimportance-of-light%2ftechnologies" target="_blank" title="Share on Facebook"><i class="fa fa-facebook"> </i> Facebook</a> </li> <li class="divider" role="separator"> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.reddit.com/submit?url=https%3a%2f%2fwww.lightourfuture.org%2fhome%2fimportance-of-light%2ftechnologies" target="_blank" class="Share on Reddit"><i class="fa fa-reddit"> </i> Reddit</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="breadcrumb hidden-xs no-print"> <a href=/>Home</a> / <a href=/home/importance-of-light>Importance of Light</a> / </div> <h1>Technologies</h1> </header> </div> <div class="row reset-col"> <div class="col-md-8 col-lg-9 reset-col"> <div class="box"> <ul class="nav nav-tabs" role="tablist"> <li class="active" role="presentation"> <a aria-controls="tab0" data-toggle="tab" href="#tab0" role="tab" aria-expanded="true"> <i class="fa fa-fighter-jet"> </i> Defense & National Security </a> </li> <li class="" role="presentation"> <a aria-controls="tab1" data-toggle="tab" href="#tab1" role="tab" aria-expanded="false"> <i class="fa fa-medkit"> </i> Healthcare & Medicine </a> </li> <li class="" role="presentation"> <a aria-controls="tab2" data-toggle="tab" href="#tab2" role="tab" aria-expanded="false"> <i class="fa fa-bolt"> </i> Energy </a> </li> <li class="" role="presentation"> <a aria-controls="tab3" data-toggle="tab" href="#tab3" role="tab" aria-expanded="false"> <i class="fa fa-gears"> </i> Manufacturing </a> </li> <li class="" role="presentation"> <a aria-controls="tab4" data-toggle="tab" href="#tab4" role="tab" aria-expanded="false"> <i class="fa fa-laptop"> </i> Information Technology </a> </li> </ul> <div class="tab-content"> <div class="tab-pane active" id="tab0" role="tabpanel"> <img alt="Defense & National Security" class="col-md-5 pull-right thumbnail" src="http://www.lightourfuture.org/NPI/media/npi/siteimages/sailor-79529_640.jpg?ext=.jpg"> Optics and photonics greatly enhance the United States’ ability to gather intelligence, defend its citizens and protect its troops in the field. Optical sensing technology makes surveillance and reconnaissance possible and it identifies chemical, biological and nuclear threats to the homeland.<br /> <br /> Photonics makes laser-guided weapons more accurate, provides lasers for critical missile defense capabilities and permits personalized use of flexible display technology, which allows our men and women in uniform to remain informed and safe during operations with night vision, GPS and physiological feedback. Coordinated investment and associated technology development in remote sensing, photonic integrated circuit manufacturing, advanced lasers and cyber security will ensure future military and economic security. </div> <div class="tab-pane " id="tab1" role="tabpanel"> <img alt="Healthcare & Medicine" class="col-md-5 pull-right thumbnail" src="http://www.lightourfuture.org/NPI/media/npi/siteimages/doctor-659896_640.jpg?ext=.jpg"> From laser eye surgery to CT scans, photonics is responsible for medical advances that save and dramatically improve millions of US lives. Photonics plays a key role in next-generation health care, both in enhancing the ability to observe and measure symptoms and the capability to treat patients earlier with less invasive, more cost effective methods.<br /> <br /> Photonics-based health care tools offer sensitivity, precision, speed, and accuracy, which enable rapid diagnosis and effective therapy — key ingredients for high-quality, cost-effective care. Further investment in bio photonics will result in smaller, more portable, automated, point-of-care diagnostic devices that have the potential to improve outcomes and the ability to reach patients who, because of location, income or other factors, lack access to health care. </div> <div class="tab-pane " id="tab2" role="tabpanel"> <img alt="Energy" class="col-md-5 pull-right thumbnail" src="http://www.lightourfuture.org/NPI/media/npi/siteimages/construction-646465_640.jpg?ext=.jpg"> Photonics increases the efficiency and safety of US energy production and consumption. The renewable energy sector is an area of potentially significant job growth and a space in which photonics research can help lower US energy consumption and reduce our reliance on foreign oil, thus strengthening national security and revitalize the US economy.<br /> <br /> Renewable energy technologies are especially attractive since most energy sources depend on fossil fuels, a limited resource that can be dangerous to extract and harmful to the environment. The oil and gas industry, for example, increasingly uses optical systems to monitor wells, thereby increasing production and mitigating risks. Additionally, solid-state lighting, such as LEDs, developed through photonics research, could cut US lighting electricity usage by about 45 percent by 2030, with forecasted energy savings of $30 billion dollars at today’s energy costs and a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to 40 million cars.<br /> <br /> Global demand for new energy sources represents a significant growth opportunity for US manufacturers and producers. US companies will need continued research and development investments and structural support to lead the world into a clean, secure, efficient energy future. </div> <div class="tab-pane " id="tab3" role="tabpanel"> Advanced manufacturing is vital for the economic well-being of the country; it is a sector in which substantial job growth is possible. Though the majority of display and photonics component manufacturing has moved overseas, the United States can be a leader in new and innovative areas of manufacturing involving a new generation of high-power and low-cost ultra short pulsed lasers, as well as additive manufacturing, also known as 3D printing.<br /> <br /> Additive manufacturing allows machines to make a range of customized products directly from electronically transmitted designs, saving costly material in the process. These advanced printers, which US President Barack Obama called the future of manufacturing, can create objects ranging from prosthetic limbs and functional human tissue to jet engine parts and shoes. While the United States may struggle to compete successfully in high-volume, labor-intensive, low-cost manufacturing, our nation can be a strong competitor in custom, precision and high added-value manufacturing. </div> <div class="tab-pane " id="tab4" role="tabpanel"> The next time you send an e-mail, Skype with your family or post on Twitter, remember that without photonics, the Internet as we know it would not exist. Optics and photonics increased the capacity of the Internet by nearly 10,000-fold over the past two decades. Bandwidth demand is expected to grow another 100-fold, and possibly more, over the next 10 to 20 years.<br /> <br /> Without improvements to address the cost, power consumption, data rate and size, demand will outstrip capacity, which may lead to higher costs and possibly even constrain the greater US and global economy. Those countries that invest in solving these challenges will gain a sizeable national security advantage by advancing the infrastructure that enables our Internet-based economy. </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="col-md-4 col-lg-3 reset-col"> <aside id="sidebar" class="box no-print"> <strong>Importance of Light</strong> <nav class="side-nav"> <ul id="menuElem"> <li> <a href="/home/importance-of-light/what-is-photonics">What is Photonics</a> </li> <li> <a href="/home/importance-of-light/technologies">Technologies</a> </li> </ul> </nav> </aside> </div> </div> </section> </div>  </main> <footer id="footer" class="max-wrap bg-dark"> <div class="row reset-col"> <div class="col-md-4 reset-col"> <div class="box border-b-mobile"> <article> <header class="article-header"> <a class="cat-link" href="http://www.lightourfuture.org/home/news-and-media" alt="NPI News and Media">NEWS</a> <h4> <a href="/home/news-media/press-releases/npi-house-science-nqi-reauth" alt="NPI Praises House Science Committee Introduction of National Quantum Initiative Reauthorization Act">NPI Praises House Science Committee Introduction of National Quantum Initiative Reauthorization Act</a> <small class="date"> <i class="fa fa-clock-o"></i> 09/11/2023 </small> </h4> </header> <p>WASHINGTON, D.C. (November 9, 2023) – The National Photonics Initiative (NPI), a broad-based collaborative alliance among industry, academia, and government to raise awareness of optics, photonics and quantum science and technology, today praised the bipartisan leadership of the House Science Committee for introducing the National Quantum Initiative (NQI) Reauthorization Act of 2023. The legislation, which reauthorizes the NQI Act for an additional five years, was introduced by House Science Committee Chairman Frank Lucas (R-OK) and Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) and is set to be formally considered by the House Science Committee the week of November 13th.</p> <a class="readmore-link" href="/home/news-media/press-releases/npi-house-science-nqi-reauth" alt="read more">Read More</a> </article> </div>; </div> <div class="col-md-4 reset-col"> <div class="box border-b-mobile" id=""> <article> <header class="article-header"> <a class="cat-link" href="/home/about-npi/resources" alt="NPI Resources">RESOURCE</a> <h4> <a href="http://www.lightourfuture.org/NPI/media/npi/Resources/082321-Dept-of-Commerce-Funding-Opportunities-Announcement-Update.pdf?ext=.pdf" target="_blank" alt="FYI: Department of Commerce Announces Investing in America's Communities Funding Opportunities">FYI: Department of Commerce Announces Investing in America's Communities Funding Opportunities</a> <small class="date"> <i class="fa fa-clock-o"></i> 8/25/2022 11:38:13 AM </small> </h4> </header> </article> <article> <header class="article-header"> <a class="cat-link" href="/home/about-npi/resources" alt="NPI Resources">RESOURCE</a> <h4> <a href="http://www.lightourfuture.org/NPI/media/npi/Resources/022620-Quantum-FAQs_.pdf?ext=.pdf" target="_blank" alt="Frequently Asked Questions on Quantum">Frequently Asked Questions on Quantum</a> <small class="date"> <i class="fa fa-clock-o"></i> 8/25/2022 11:38:01 AM </small> </h4> </header> </article> <article> <header class="article-header"> <a class="cat-link" href="/home/about-npi/resources" alt="NPI Resources">RESOURCE</a> <h4> <a href="http://www.lightourfuture.org/NPI/media/npi/Resources/NPI_OnePager_Lighting-Our-Future_update.pdf?ext=.pdf" target="_blank" alt="Photonics: Lighting Our Future">Photonics: Lighting Our Future</a> <small class="date"> <i class="fa fa-clock-o"></i> 8/25/2022 11:39:22 AM </small> </h4> </header> </article> <a class="readmore-link" href="/home/about-npi/resources" alt="More Resources">More Resources</a> </div> </div> <div class="col-md-4 reset-col"> <div class="box" id=""> <h4 class="txt-lighter">NPI eNewsletter</h4> <small class="txt-lighter">Sign up here to receive regular news and updates about NPI.</small> <div id="form-NPINewsletterSignUp-5662_wrapper-e7f91d26-8b05-4f22-ab5e-45ba9e7729db"><form action="/kentico.components/en-us/kentico.formwidget/kenticoformwidget/formsubmit?formName=NPINewsletterSignUp&prefix=form-NPINewsletterSignUp-5662&displayValidationErrors=False" data-ktc-ajax-update="form-NPINewsletterSignUp-5662_wrapper-e7f91d26-8b05-4f22-ab5e-45ba9e7729db" id="form-NPINewsletterSignUp-5662" method="post" onsubmit="window.kentico.updatableFormHelper.submitForm(event);"> <div class="ktc-default-section"> <div class="row" style="margin-bottom: 1rem;"> <label class="control-label" for="form-NPINewsletterSignUp-5662_name_Value">Name</label> <div class="editing-form-control-nested-control"> <input class="form-control" data-ktc-notobserved-element="" id="form-NPINewsletterSignUp-5662_name_Value" name="form-NPINewsletterSignUp-5662.name.Value" title="Enter Name" type="text" value="" /> <div class="field-validation-valid" data-valmsg-for="form-NPINewsletterSignUp-5662.name.Value" data-valmsg-replace="true"></div><div class="field-validation-valid" data-valmsg-for="form-NPINewsletterSignUp-5662.name" data-valmsg-replace="true"></div> </div> </div> <div class="row" style="margin-bottom: 1rem;"> <label class="control-label" for="form-NPINewsletterSignUp-5662_email_Value">Email Address</label> <div class="editing-form-control-nested-control"> <input class="form-control" data-ktc-notobserved-element="" id="form-NPINewsletterSignUp-5662_email_Value" name="form-NPINewsletterSignUp-5662.email.Value" title="Enter Email" type="text" value="" /> <div class="field-validation-valid" data-valmsg-for="form-NPINewsletterSignUp-5662.email.Value" data-valmsg-replace="true"></div><div class="field-validation-valid" data-valmsg-for="form-NPINewsletterSignUp-5662.email" data-valmsg-replace="true"></div> </div> </div> <div class="row" style="margin-bottom: 1rem;"> <div class="editing-form-control-nested-control"> <script type="text/javascript"> var renderRecaptchaform_NPINewsletterSignUp_5662_recaptcha_Value = function () { grecaptcha.render('google-recaptcha-form-NPINewsletterSignUp-5662_recaptcha_Value', { 'sitekey': '6LehlzsUAAAAALgtQzdfsoEcOQ25aCRnOKejtOEv', 'theme': 'light', 'size': 'compact', 'type': 'image', }); }; </script> <script src="https://www.google.com/recaptcha/api.js?onload=renderRecaptchaform_NPINewsletterSignUp_5662_recaptcha_Value&render=explicit&hl=en" async defer></script> <input class="form-control" data-ktc-notobserved-element="" id="form-NPINewsletterSignUp-5662_recaptcha_Value" name="form-NPINewsletterSignUp-5662.recaptcha.Value" type="hidden" value="" /> <div id="google-recaptcha-form-NPINewsletterSignUp-5662_recaptcha_Value"></div> <noscript> <div> <div style="width: 302px; height: 422px; position: relative;"> <div style="width: 302px; height: 422px; position: absolute;"> <iframe src="https://www.google.com/recaptcha/api/fallback?k=6LehlzsUAAAAALgtQzdfsoEcOQ25aCRnOKejtOEv" style="width: 302px; height: 422px; border-style: none; border: 0; overflow:hidden;"></iframe> </div> </div> <div style="width: 300px; height: 60px; border-style: none; bottom: 12px; left: 25px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; right: 25px; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px solid #c1c1c1; border-radius: 3px;"> <textarea id="noscript-google-recaptcha-form-NPINewsletterSignUp-5662_recaptcha_Value" name="g-recaptcha-response" class="g-recaptcha-response" style="width: 250px; height: 40px; border: 1px solid #c1c1c1; margin: 10px 25px; padding: 0px; resize: none;" data-ktc-notobserved-element></textarea> </div> </div> </noscript> <div class="field-validation-valid" data-valmsg-for="form-NPINewsletterSignUp-5662.recaptcha" data-valmsg-replace="true"></div> </div> </div> </div><input class="btn btn-primary text-uppercase" type="submit" value="Submit" /><input name="__RequestVerificationToken" type="hidden" value="CfDJ8NbM1M-By-pHlh4rpvZSFXR-88-wwm-oWWwzIOm3ETGsfp9NGuF-5MYIw-aFei4IIaRjkEcJPFf-xMpou7UJIpeV6HOnOkylxEQcqSHGbSc-wwegdf_9pTsC_rRonLH3OBr5FqdiHL-CD6Kn371BYBI" /><script type="text/javascript"> if (document.readyState === 'complete') { window.kentico.updatableFormHelper.registerEventListeners({"formId":"form-NPINewsletterSignUp-5662","targetAttributeName":"data-ktc-ajax-update","unobservedAttributeName":"data-ktc-notobserved-element"}); } else { document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', function(event) { window.kentico.updatableFormHelper.registerEventListeners({"formId":"form-NPINewsletterSignUp-5662","targetAttributeName":"data-ktc-ajax-update","unobservedAttributeName":"data-ktc-notobserved-element"}); }); }</script></form></div> ; </div> </div> </div> </footer> <footer class="max-wrap bg-darker copy-foot"> <div class="row reset-col"> <div class="col-sm-6 reset-col"> <div class="box"> <ul class="inline-links"> <li> <a href="/home/news-media" aria-label="News" >News</a> </li> <li> <a href="/home/privacy-policy" aria-label="Privacy Policy" >Privacy Policy</a> </li> </ul> <span class="copy"> Copyright © 2025 National Photonics Initiative </span> </div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 reset-col"> <div class="box"> </div> </div> </div> </footer> <div class="scroll-to-top"> <a href="#masthead" aria-label="Return to top"> <i class="pe-7s-angle-up"></i> </a> </div> </div> <script src="https://code.jquery.com/jquery-3.6.0.min.js" integrity="sha256-/xUj+3OJU5yExlq6GSYGSHk7tPXikynS7ogEvDej/m4=" crossorigin="anonymous"></script> <script src="https://code.jquery.com/jquery-migrate-3.3.2.min.js" integrity="sha256-Ap4KLoCf1rXb52q+i3p0k2vjBsmownyBTE1EqlRiMwA=" crossorigin="anonymous"></script> <script src="https://unpkg.com/flickity@2/dist/flickity.pkgd.min.js"></script> <script src="https://unpkg.com/isotope-layout@3/dist/isotope.pkgd.min.js"></script> <script src='/npi/bundle.js'></script> <script> $('.flexnav').flexNav(); $('.carousel').carousel(); </script> </body> </html>

CINXE.COM

Technologies | NPI