To create business relationships between photonics SMEs (small and medium enterprises) and technology integrators, a group of European defense integrators and photonics clusters have launched a business roundtable for photonics sensors for defense and security. The goal of the roundtable is to accelerate the presence of competitive technologies in defense and security applications. The group will meet four times per year in different locations around Europe. SMEs will be invited to present innovations in sensor technology, and defense integrators will discuss needs for sensing systems. Participants from both sides will be able to discuss details in networking sessions during the meetings. “This is a positive step in accelerating the exploitation of new photonics sensor applications in Europe,” said W. Knorr, head of the laser division of the bi-national French-German research institute of Saint Louis. Defense systems manufacturers and photonics clusters are invited to join the initiative. If interested, SMEs should contact the photonics cluster in their region. The clusters will decide on the participants program. Defense and security integrators interested in participating should directly contact EPIC, the European Photonics Industry Consortium. Initiating charter members are from photonics clusters and defense organizations. Participating photonics clusters include: Anticipia, France; Cluster Photonique, Belgium; Estonian Photonics, Estonia; EPIC, EU; Heinrich-Hertz Institute, Germany; OpticsValley, France; Optoelectronics Research Center, Finland; OptecBB, Germany; POP Sud, France; Rhenaphotonics Alsace, France; Route des Lasers, France; SECPHO, Spain; Swiss Laser Net, Switzerland; Scottish Optoelectronics Association, UK; Electronics, Sensors, Photonics KTN, UK; and Wroclaw Photonics Cluster, Poland. Defense organizations include INDRA, Spain, MBDA, UK and SAGEM, France. For more information, visit: www.photonics-sensors.eu