Sofradir elected to Photonics21 Board of Stakeholders

Sofradir, Palaiseau (near Paris), November 13, 2018 – Sofradir, a global leader in developing and manufacturing key classes of advanced infrared (IR) detectors for military, space, scientific and industrial applications, today announces its election to the Board of Stakeholders (BoS) at Photonics21, the European Technology Platform (ETP) representing the European photonics community. The BoS is the main decision-making body of the platform. Sofradir’s appointment is effective as of November 19, 2018.

As board member, Sofradir will support Photonics21 BoS’ role in defining and prioritizing the photonics research and innovation roadmaps to be proposed to the European Commission for funding. It will raise awareness of infrared and thermal imaging within the European photonics sector as well as their potential for application in a cross-section of industries.

Sofradir’s representative, Patrick Abraham, private and public partnership manager at Sofradir, was one of 39 candidates elected. He brings close to 30 years’ experience in a diverse range of photonics applications from fiber-optics communication to infrared imaging and in forging strong relationships within the photonics R&D community in Europe. He has experience with H2020 and ECSEL collaborative projects and Private and Public Partnership (PPP) development. His skills include promoting and managing innovation as well as having a clear understanding of academic and industrial needs.

‘”Sofradir is proud of Patrick’s selection to the Photonics21 Board of Stakeholders, where we have no doubt he’ll make a significant contribution,” said David-Billon Lanfrey, chief strategy officer at Sofradir. “Photonics is a key enabling technology across a wide range of industries. It is therefore essential that European players in the private and public sectors actively coordinate efforts on making the European photonics sector strong. Through this it will be capable of harnessing these innovations to bring viable solutions for addressing societal challenges, such as climate change, disease detection and efficient food production in Europe and beyond.”

Mr. Abraham will act as an ambassador for infrared and thermal imaging by raising awareness of this technology within the European photonics community. Stakeholder board members are appointed for four years. Sofradir remains within Work Group 5 for Security, Metrology and Sensors, where it has been a member since 2014.

About Photonics21

Photonics21 aims to establish Europe as a leader in the development and deployment of photonics technologies within various applications fields such as ICT, lighting, industrial manufacturing, life science and safety as well as in education and training. The ETP Photonics21 coordinates photonics research and innovation priorities and provides input to the European research framework program Horizon 2020.

About Sofradir

Sofradir is a global leader in developing and manufacturing key classes of advanced infrared (IR) detectors for military, space, scientific and industrial applications. Its vast IR product portfolio covers the entire spectrum from visible and near infrared to very far infrared. Sofradir pioneers developments in cooled IR detectors based on a sophisticated high performance technology: Mercury Cadmium Telluride (MCT), as well as Indium Antimonide (InSb), Indium Gallium Arsenide (InGaAs) and Quantum Well Infrared Photodetector (QWIP) technologies. Many of the world’s system makers use Sofradir’s military-grade, battlefield proven IR detectors for missile seekers, targeting pods, armored vehicle sights, handheld thermal imagers and other airborne, naval and ground vehicle applications. Sofradir is the leading European manufacturer for IR detectors deployed in space. Founded in 1986, Sofradir is headquartered in Palaiseau, near Paris. Sofradir owns two subsidiaries: ULIS, a high volume manufacturer of uncooled microbolometers based in Veurey-Voroize and US-based Sofradir-EC, a provider of uncooled and cooled IR imaging cores and engines, located in Fairfield, New Jersey. Together Sofradir, ULIS and Sofradir-EC employ more than 1000 staff.

www.sofradir.com