WA-SPIE
29.1.2024 20:25:27 CET | Business Wire | Press release
SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics, and The University of Manchester announced the establishment of the SPIE-Manchester Postgraduate Scholarship in Photonics, today during SPIE Photonics West in San Francisco. The $500,000 gift from SPIE will be matched 100% by the University. Part of the SPIE Endowment Matching Program, this new endowment will support both early-career researchers and returning researchers at the University’s Photon Science Institute in partnership with the Royce Institute, the UK’s national institute for advanced materials research and innovation. This is the 11th major SPIE gift to universities and institutes as part of the Society's ongoing program to support the expansion of optical engineering teaching and research.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240126857659/en/
Doctoral students at work in the Photon Science Institute lab. (Photo: Business Wire)
With a goal of increasing diversity in optics and photonics, the SPIE-Manchester Postgraduate Scholarship will have a particular focus on funding individuals returning to research following a career break or time in industry, and those pursuing unconventional career pathways or part-time study (situations often necessitated by caring responsibilities, for example). Aligning current research and industrial needs for a robust training pipeline, an additional unique feature of the scholarship is an optional final-year placement of up to 12 months, during which students can develop industry-relevant skills in collaboration with local optics and photonics companies.
“Today marks just the beginning of the partnership between The University of Manchester and SPIE,” noted Department Head of Research for Physics and Astronomy at The University of Manchester Dr. Patrick Parkinson. “The establishment of the SPIE-Manchester Postgraduate Scholarship in Photonics is a testament to our shared values within skills training, fostering diversity in education and the vital role of photonics. This announcement holds special significance as it coincides with the University’s bicentenary year. We take great pride in using this generous donation to not only advance research and education, but also to solidify our existing partnerships and forge new industrial collaborations to deliver a doctoral training program that will ensure a sustainable workforce for the North West of England.”
“Our expanding field needs researchers and engineers, though for some who might be interested in a photonics career, traditional educational paths are barriers to their success,” said SPIE CEO Kent Rochford. “The SPIE-Manchester Postgraduate Scholarship in Photonics aims to remove those barriers and provide exciting opportunities for early-career researchers and those who may be pursuing unconventional career paths. Working internally at the university’s Photon Science Institute with the option of an industry-focused placement, promises to benefit young researchers, as well as our future diverse workforce. I very much look forward to meeting the leaders in optics and photonics technologies who will emerge from this dynamic partnership between SPIE and The University of Manchester.”
The SPIE Endowment Matching Program was established in 2019 to increase international capacity in the teaching and research of optics and photonics. With this latest gift, SPIE has provided over $4 million in matching gifts, resulting in more than $11 million in dedicated funds. The SPIE Endowment Matching Program supports optics and photonics education and the future of the industry by contributing a match of up to $500,000 per award to college, institute, and university programs with optics and photonics degrees, or with other disciplines allied to the SPIE mission.
About the University of Manchester
The University of Manchester is a member of the prestigious Russell Group and one of the UK’s largest single-site universities. We have over 40,000 students, 12,000 staff and, with 500,000 former students from more than 190 countries, are home to the largest alumni community of any campus-based university in the UK. We are ranked in the top ten of the Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings globally; are the top UK University for graduate employability according to The Graduate Market in 2022 and no fewer than 25 Nobel laureates have either worked or studied here. Manchester was also named 5th place for research power — the quality and scale of research and impact — in the UK government’s (REF) 2021. Visit www.manchester.ac.uk for further information or https://www.manchester.ac.uk/discover/vision/ for our latest strategic vision.
About SPIE
SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics, brings engineers, scientists, students, and business professionals together to advance light-based science and technology. The Society, founded in 1955, connects and engages with our global constituency through industry-leading conferences and exhibitions; publications of conference proceedings, books, and journals in the SPIE Digital Library; and career-building opportunities. Over the past five years, SPIE has contributed more than $24 million to the international optics community through our advocacy and support, including scholarships, educational resources, travel grants, endowed gifts, and public-policy development. www.spie.org.
To view this piece of content from cts.businesswire.com, please give your consent at the top of this page.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240126857659/en/
About Business Wire
Subscribe to releases from Business Wire
Subscribe to all the latest releases from Business Wire by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Latest releases from Business Wire
SES Launches Multi-Orbit Satellite Connectivity on Mexico’s Viva1.6.2026 20:00:00 CEST | Press release
SES, a leading space solutions company, and Viva, Mexico’s ultra low-cost airline, launched fast and reliable multi-orbit satellite inflight connectivity service on Viva’s Airbus aircraft, strengthening SES’s position as a leading provider of satellite-powered broadband inflight service in the Americas and around the world. “Viva’s passengers will soon benefit from reliable, multi-orbit satellite connectivity that will provide the same fast and dependable internet access they enjoy at home no matter where or when they fly. SES’ partnerships with growing airlines like Viva highlight how carriers throughout the Americas are leading the way when it comes to the most advanced connectivity. SES is the engine that powers inflight connectivity, a trusted partner that makes airline operations easier,” said Mike DeMarco, SES President of Mobility. A total of 60 A320s and 40 A321s are set to offer the SES solution in the coming years. With the youngest Latin American fleet of Airbus A320s and A3
Motive Powers Latin America’s Next Wave of Mobile Innovation1.6.2026 17:00:00 CEST | Press release
Motive Entitlement Server enabling satellite connectivity in the Andes to fraud-free authentication in Brazil Motive, a global leader in entitlement and connected device & service management, joined operators and industry leaders at M360 LATAM in Mexico City, showcasing live deployments across the region's most consequential use cases: Satellite Direct-to-Device connectivity for unreachable geographies, end-to-end eSIM provisioning and visibility at scale, and SIM-based silent authentication replacing fraud-exposed SMS OTP. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260531906729/en/ Across landmark deployments with multiple Claro, Vivo, and Entel operations, Motive’s Entitlement Server (Motive ES) has moved from infrastructure component to regional growth engine. These deployments are citing measurable commercial growth, enabling streamlined eSIM provisioning, improved device onboarding experiences, and new revenue oppor
Interactive Brokers Integrates AI into Client Portfolios – Informed by Agentic Technology, Controlled by the Client1.6.2026 16:00:00 CEST | Press release
Clients Can Research Stocks, Analyze Performance, and Generate Trade Instructions in Claude. The Client Approves Every Trade. Interactive Brokers (Nasdaq: IBKR), an automated global broker, today announced agentic trading through direct integration with Claude, one of the world's leading AI platforms. Available through the AI platform’s certified connector marketplace, the integration lets clients manage their accounts and access more than 170 global markets. "Interactive Brokers has used technology for over four decades to help investors make more informed decisions and interact more efficiently with markets," said Milan Galik, Chief Executive Officer of Interactive Brokers. "Investors are increasingly using artificial intelligence to research markets, analyze information and generate ideas. We believe the next logical step is to allow clients to securely connect AI tools directly to their brokerage accounts — whether they want a simple conversational interface, deeper portfolio analy
AIM Expands Life Sciences Supply Chain Capabilities and Hires New Partner, Thomas Ebel1.6.2026 15:01:00 CEST | Press release
AIM today announced the appointment of veteran pharma supply chain expert Thomas Ebel as Partner, effective June 15. Mr. Ebel brings more than 25 years of supply chain consulting experience at leading firms including CAMELOT, McKinsey, and Accenture, and will anchor a broader initiative to expand AIM’s end-to-end supply chain capabilities. According to Richard de Bakker, Statutory Director and Founder at AIM, the firm is significantly expanding its capabilities around “end-to-end” supply chain needs. “AIM is well known as a leader in supply chain development for launch, as well as optimization of existing supply chains — supporting clients in getting their finished products to patients,” said Mr. de Bakker. “We are now adding new capabilities in supply chain diagnostics and strategy, end-to-end planning optimization, supply reliability, and working capital optimization, among others. Combined with AIM’s established supply chain expertise, this expanded offering gives clients true ‘end-
Seoul Semiconductor's World-First 'HV Opto-Semiconductor' Powers Up Global Top 4 Automakers1.6.2026 15:00:00 CEST | Press release
Seoul Semiconductor Co., Ltd. (KOSDAQ: 046890), a global opto-semiconductor technology company, announced that its world's first High Voltage (HV) opto-semiconductor technology has entered mass production with four of the world's top automotive brands across the Americas, Europe, and Asia, with plans to expand supply to 10 models by the end of the year. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260601232986/en/ Comparison: Conventional 3V LED vs. Seoul Semiconductor 12V 'HV Opto-Semiconductor' (Figure: Seoul Semiconductor) The technology combines micro-scaled opto-semiconductor chips capable of 12V single-chip operation — as opposed to conventional 3V LEDs — with a high-voltage (HV) driver technology. This enables a reduction of more than 10% in the number of driver-related components used in hybrid and electric vehicles, while lowering power consumption by approximately 10%, contributing to cost reduction and simplific
In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.
Visit our pressroom