Policy Outputs - CORNERSTONE

This page brings together our policy reports and related publications, offering clear and accessible insight into the issues shaping the future of silicon photonics. Each output reflects our commitment to supporting evidence-based decisions, strengthening understanding, and contributing constructively to national and international policy conversations.

By sharing our analysis and recommendations, we aim to help policymakers, industry partners, and the wider public engage with the opportunities and challenges facing this field. This space serves as a hub for the work we produce to inform, guide, and support thoughtful dialogue across the ecosystem.

Policy workshop outputs: Accelerating UK Growth through Investment in Silicon Photonics Infrastructure (15 October 2025, London) This report summarises the findings and discussions of a national policy workshop convened by the CORNERSTONE Photonics Innovation Centre in October 2025. The event brought together industry leaders, academic researchers, and policymakers to explore how coordinated investment in SiPh infrastructure, alongside other system enablers, could accelerate company growth and secure the UK’s position as a global leader. The insights here aim to represent a collective view across industry, academia, and government. Roundtable event write-up: “Roundtable: Light for Future Semiconductors — Unlocking Economic Growth through Photonics” (18 March 2025, London) The roundtable brought together MPs, policymakers, industry leaders and academic experts to discuss the role of photonics in UK growth, infrastructure and innovation.

Oral evidence before the Science, Innovation and Technology Committee by Professor Callum Littlejohns, Deputy Director, CORNERSTONE Photonics Innovation Centre (1 July 2025, London) In his pitch to the Committee, Prof Littlejohns emphasised how silicon photonics can underpin UK missions in AI, net-zero, quantum and defence; and called for infrastructure and skills investment.

Response to “Under the Microscope” Parliamentary Inquiry, Science, Innovation and Technology Committee (18 March 2025) The Centre argues that silicon photonics offers the UK a strategic opportunity, linking telecom/data centres, AI, quantum, defence, healthcare, and calls for the government to invest in pilot-lines, long-term infrastructure and skills.

Engage with us

Email: If you have any questions about these outputs or would like to collaborate with us, please contact Justyna Lisinska our Specialist Policy Officer : J.K.Lisinska@soton.ac.uk