A new Institute of Photonics launched at the Faculty of Science and Forestry of the University of Eastern Finland (UEF) aims to enhance education and research in photonics and to promote international collaboration in the field. “The objective of the Institute of Photonics is to bring together and enhance cooperation between different fields of photonics at the University of Eastern Finland,” said professor Pasi Vahimaa, the newly appointed director of the institute. “We are seeking to create a distinct and a tight package. Having a distinct brand will also make it easier for us to find new Finnish and international partners.” The institute also aims to spread UEF’s reputation globally to recruit students in the master’s and doctoral level photonics programs as well as promote its reputation and its photonics research domestically. “The fact that we are an international player with a high standard of research is the best asset we can offer companies, as our research can be the source of a new business,” Vahimaa said. “Although we are based in eastern Finland, our activities are not limited to that region alone. Instead, we wish to help Finnish companies at large to better exploit the opportunities offered by optics at the level that is necessary in the global markets.” Strategic outlines of the photonics research will be defined by the institute’s board of directors, which will be chaired by professor Timo Jääskeläinen, dean of the Faculty of Science and Forestry. Other members include professors Jyrki Saarinen, Seppo Honkanen, Markku Hauta-Kasari and Markku Kuittinen. Advisory Group members of the Institute of Photonics include Antti Vasara, executive vice president of Tieto Plc.; Eero Salmelin, director of Nokia; Jari Kervinen, vice president of Abloy Plc.; Pekka Savolainen, director of Tampere University of Technology; professor Harri Lipsanen of Aalto University; and professor Pentti Karioja of VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland. For more information, visit: www.uef.fi/photonics