News & Events

Upcoming Events

Glyndwr Talks with Professor Caroline Gray OBE – 19th October 2022

Location: Wrexham Glyndwr University

CPE Project Director, Professor Caroline Gray OBE, hosts the first in a series of Glyndwr Talks public lectures on Wednesday 19th October at Wrexham Glyndwr University.

Caroline will discuss the inception of the CPE model and how it has worked, before presenting several case studies showcasing how the capabilities of Wrexham Glyndŵr University’s CPE researchers based at the OpTIC Centre, alongside colleagues from other Welsh Universities, have fulfilled the needs of small and medium sized enterprises.

For more information and to book your place, visit https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/darlith-gyhoeddus-yr-athro-caroline-grayprof-caroline-gray-public-lecture-tickets-416625677617

CPE Future of Photonics Event – 20th October 2022

Location: University of South Wales, Treforest Campus, Pontypridd

Join us on Thursday 20th October to celebrate the success of the CPE Project!

The Future of Photonics Showcase Event will feature talks and presentations from all 4 CPE partner universities (Wrexham Glyndwr University, Bangor University, Aberystwyth University, and University of South Wales) to highlight the many positive outcomes that the CPE project has achieved so far through academia and industry collaboration.

Along with exhibition stands and plenty of networking opportunities, we are sure to help ‘shine a light’ on your business challenges!

Time: 2:00pm – 4:00pm

(Arrival, afternoon tea and networking from 1:30pm)

Location: The Student Union, University of South Wales, Treforest Campus, Forest Grove, Pontypridd CF37 1UF

For more information, call 01443 482587, or please R.S.V.P via email to Rebekah.Stone@southwales.ac.uk

Wales Technology Awards 2022 – 20th October 2022

Location: Mercure Cardiff Holland House Hotel and Spa, Cardiff, Wales

The Centre for Photonics Expertise (CPE) will be attending the Wales Technology Awards 2022 ceremony where we have been shortlisted in the Best Photonics Application and Academia & Business Partnership of the Year award categories.

The winners will be revealed at the prestigious Wales Technology Awards black-tie dinner on Thursday 20th October 2022 in Cardiff, where guests can don their suits and gowns to celebrate their industry, clients, colleagues, and peers. The awards are an established way to connect with other tech leaders, discover innovative organisations, and celebrate the ingenuity of Welsh technologies.

For more information and to book your ticket for the event, visit Wales Technology Awards 2022

Wales STEM Awards 2022 – 27th October 2022

Location: Mercure Cardiff Holland House Hotel and Spa, Cardiff, Wales

The Centre for Photonics Expertise (CPE) is thrilled to be amongst the prestigious businesses and individuals shortlisted in the 2022 Wales STEM Awards.

The awards will celebrate those leading the sector in Wales, those businesses creating an impact on the Welsh economy, those addressing the STEM diversity gap and skills shortage, and those inspiring and raising aspirations of the next generation.

CPE have been shortlisted in both the ‘STEM Company of the Year – Under 50 Employees’ and ‘STEM Educational Programme of the Year – Public Sector’ categories. All finalists across 12 award categories will now be considered by an industry-leading panel of judges, with the winners being announced at the awards ceremony at the Mercure Cardiff Holland House Hotel on 27^th October 2022.

For more information and to book your tickets, visit Wales STEM Awards 2022.

You can catch up on our past webinars here:

Wales Tech Week 2021: Photonics in Action – How to Keep Growing and Innovating

Wales Tech Week 2021: Grafmarine – Driving Zero Emissions at Sea

Emerging Tech Fest 2021: How industry-academic partnerships with Centre for Photonics Expertise (CPE) can boost industry in Wales

Emerging Tech Fest 2021: How Photonics is Driving Innovation in Wales

Watch our BDM Hazel Hung’s webinar for a general overview and case studies of the CPE program.

Watch Dr David Coathup’s webinar for information on the state-of-the-art CPE facilities available at the OpTIC Centre.

Past Events

Eisteddfod 2022 – 30th July-6th August 2022

Location: Tregaron, Wales

Centre for Photonics Expertise (CPE) are excited to be attending the national Eisteddfod 2022, where you can visit our exhibition stand at any time throughout the week.

Find out more about the event by visiting Eisteddfod 2022 and we hope to see you there!

Welsh Business Show / Wales Construction Show – April 2022

Location: Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff, Wales

CPE attended both the Welsh Business Show and the Welsh Construction Show at Cardiff City Stadium.

CPE hosted an exhibition stand at the Welsh Business Show and networked at the Welsh Construction Show, where plenty of interest was expressed in both the achievements of the CPE project so far and the possibility of getting involved.

Across both events, we were able to make a variety of valuable connections and enjoyed some interesting discussions with a number of enterprise representatives.

VIP Thin-Film Coating Plant Open Day – 30th March 2022

Location: The OpTIC Centre, St Asaph, Wales

On Wednesday 30th March, CPE hosted an official VIP Open Day for the newly-launched High Vacuum Thin-Film Coating (HVTFC) R&D Facility at the OpTIC Technology Centre in St Asaph.

The £1.2million facility represents a unique new contribution to world-leading, advanced research and business opportunity in Wales and the wider UK.

Across both morning and afternoon sessions, the event included an address from Vaughan Gething MS, Minister for the Welsh Economy, along with presentations from guest industry speakers, guided tours of the facility, various exhibition stands, and networking opportunities.

Attendees included representatives from Welsh Government, UK funding agencies, and the wider photonics industry.

9th Dec 2021, 8.30am-5pm, Aerospace Wales Expo 2021

Location: Coleg Cambria, Connah’s Quay

Centre for Photonics Expertise, CPE, are excited to announce that we will be exhibiting at the Aerospace Wales Expo 2021. This capability showcase and supply chain opportunities event will be held on Thurs 9th Dec at Coleg Cambria, Connah’s Quay in North Wales.

CPE will be joined with companies such as Photonics Connected, Global Laser, and Glyndwr Innovations in the “Photonics Zone”.

Why not join us at the event by registering here: Aerospace Wales Expo 2021

27th Oct 2021, 8am-2pm, North Wales Business Exhibition 

Location: Coleg Cambria, Connah’s Quay

Organised by DBF (Deeside Business Forum), North Wales Business Exhibition is back again for 2021. Come along and have a chat with us about solving technical business challenges

21st Oct 2021, Day of Photonics 2021

Join CPE Wales to celebrate Day of Photonics on 21st Oct.

We have a jam packed schedule for the day. With podcasts and Photonics Phacts throughout the day, follow us on social media as the photonics frenzy unfolds!

See our dedicated Day of Photonics page for more information. Click Here.

9th Sept, Wales StartUp Awards 2021

CPE are proud to be supporting the Wales Start Up Awards.

View the shortlist here . Results will be announced during an evening event, on Thurs 9th September at the Depot in Cardiff, celebrating the successes of new businesses across Wales.

Wales Tech Week, 21-25 June 2021

Technology Connected’s five day virtual festival, Wales Tech Week, returns this summer following a successful inaugural event in 2020. Click here for more info.

Mon 21st June, 11.45-12.45: Photonics in Action – How to Keep Growing and Innovating

Mon 21st June, 15.00-15.45: Driving Zero Emissions at Sea

8 March 2021, Women in STEM – International Women’s Day

Come and celebrate Women in STEM with us on March 8th (1-2.30pm).

This event is a collaboration between M-SPARC and five Bangor University STEM projects, including CPE. Hear from our Programme Director, Prof Caroline Gray, and Business Development Manager, Dr Hazel Hung, on their journey in to STEM.

Register for the event here.

26-28th Jan 2021, Emerging Tech Fest 2021

Centre for Photonics Expertise are delighted to announce we are partners of Emerging Tech Fest 2021. Read more.
Book your space here: https://www.emergingtechfest.com

How industry-academic partnerships with Centre for Photonics Expertise (CPE) can boost industry in Wales

Working with Academia, Tues 26^th January, 10.30-11.30

Come and meet the CPE team where we will showcase how we work with businesses across Wales to support product and process development. Find out how recent advances in photonics technology can boost your productivity and drive innovation across a wide variety of industry sectors.

How Photonics is driving Innovation in Wales

Emerging Tech, Thurs 28^th January, 14.15-15.15

Centre for Photonics Expertise (CPE) invites you to join their panel of industry experts from a wide variety of sectors to discuss their journey of development and innovation. Find out how photonics is relevant to industry and the exciting projects that they are working on.

22 Oct 2020, Mid & South West Regional Roadshow 2020

Organised by Business Wales and the Welsh Government, this event features a full day agenda highlighting the development opportunities and activities in the region.

CPE will be hosting a virtual exhibition stand where our BDM team will be available for a 1:1 chat.

Register for the event here.

Wales Tech Week, CPE Webinar Series

CPE’s Wales Tech Week webinar series will discuss how we can support product and process development in Welsh businesses as well as showcase the range of engineering resources and state of the art facilities available. See our blog post for full details.

Please join us and register for the following events:

Tuesday 14^th July, 10.30-11.00

• CPE’s lead partner, Wrexham Glyndwr University, will demonstrate the range of specialist precision optic facilities available at The OpTIC Technology Centre in St Asaph.
• Register here: “Develop your products, processes and technology working with the CPE”

Tuesday 14^th July, 14.00-15.30

• Our CPE team at Bangor University are experts in advanced imaging techniques and laser processing, whether it’s cutting, welding, engraving or surface texturing.
• Register here: “Cutting-edge photonics research at Bangor University”

Wednesday 15^th July, 12.15-12.45

• Hosted by the USW Exchange business network, CPE’s Business Development Manager, Hazel Hung will address how and why businesses should engage with CPE.
• Register here: “Funded R&D Support with CPE”

5 Mar 2020, The OpTIC Centre, Glyndwr University, St Asaph

Innovative Photonics in Wales

• CPE are hosting an event with support from SPARCii and ASTUTE to bring together a program for the day which will showcase real world applications of photonics and where technologies are impacting businesses today.
• Register for the event here.

4 & 7 Feb 2020, 9:00-13:00, USW Treforest and Newport Campus

CPE Drop-in Clinics 

• To explore how you can work with CPE on RD&I for your business at no cost to you, you can register for one of our free drop-in slots to discuss your ideas with a member of the team.
• Meetings are held 1:1 at USW Exchange or can be via Skype video calling.
• 4 Feb – Treforest Campus. Register for the event here.
• 7 Feb – Newport Campus. Register for the event here.

29 Jan 2020, Llandudno

Emerging Tech Fest 2020

• CPE will be hosting a stand at this exciting event on emerging technology. Come and find us for a chat.
• Our very own CPE Director and OpTiC Technology Centre Director, Caroline Gray, will be on the expert panel discussing Emerging Technologies in Health.
• Register for the event here.

14 Jan 2020, 17:30-20:00, USW Newport Campus

Maximise Your Membership – Innovation in Business

• Join the South Wales Chamber or Commerce for an evening of cutting-edge Tech Innovation in association with USW at the newly opened Exchange Hub, Newport City Campus.
• Invited speakers from CPE (Hazel Hung), CEMET and Simply Do.
• Register for the event here.