Optical Technologies and Photonics

Within the framework of the cooperation programme, commercial enterprises have received support in the research and development of new generations of lasers and in developing new fields of application.

Currently, cooperation in photonics is taking place within the framework of the European Technology Platform Photonics21, in which Israel participates.

The motivation for the Weizmann-Helmholtz Laboratory for Laser-Matter Interaction WHELMI was to jointly tackle fundamental aspects of laser-matter interaction in order to develop the concept of laser plasma proton and electron acceleration into application-ready compact accelerators of societal relevance. Established in 2017, the WHELMI International Laboratory built on the integration of two leading teams and complementary high-power laser infrastructures in Rehovot (WIS, Israel) and Dresden (HZDR, Germany). It was complemented by collaboration agreements with selected strategic partners such as LOA / École Polytechnique (France) or DKFZ (Germany).

The collaboration with the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) focused on fundamentals for new generations of lasers and on developing new fields of application as part of the LASER 2000 programme funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). The programme began in 2000 and focused on the development of ultrafast lasers (femtosecond technology). In 2004, the cooperation was reoriented towards supporting commercial enterprises in research and development projects.