CAPE Overview

The Centre for Advanced Photonics and Electronics (CAPE) was a unique partnership between the University of Cambridge and a small group of international photonics and electronics companies whose market orientation places them in a non-competitive supply-chain or valuechain relationship with respect to each other. The mix of partners and interests shifted over the years, with a total of 10 companies from USA, EU, Japan, China, and the UK involved.  CAPE Partners’ engagement has provided a unique opportunity to interact, broaden each other’s views and make a greater impact on society and enhance the business value of our enterprises

CAPE’s objective was threefold:

  • Technology advancements through landscaping and project work,
  • Business opportunities between CAPE Partners,
  • Outreach activities to a wider community

The mission of CAPE was “Technology from Science” - this was delivered through multidisciplinary research in strategic areas of interest covering all levels from materials, processes, components, and systems to customer expectation. The CAPE model of vertically integrated and commercially relevant university-industry research developed a research portfolio at the cutting edge of contemporary technology.

CAPE funding during the first phase of CAPE (2004-2010) amounted to £7.5 million, with a further £15.4 million invested during the second phase (2011-2024). CAPE was also instrumental in the University attracting further funding of over £14 million from other sponsors and industry partners, which together with the initial £12 million support from the University for building infrastructure gives an overall investment of £48.9 million. 

The research outcomes from CAPE include important early-stage IP, many publications and presentations, as well as a cohort of over 70 trained PhD students and researchers who have worked on CAPE projects. In addition, CAPE Partners have taken several projects forward to the stage of mass production, such as holographic head-up displays and Smectic-A liquid-crystal technology. 

CAPE created a special funding scheme, the CAPE Acorn Fund, to support innovative research initiatives from young researchers, complementary to their main research topic. This scheme funded 70 projects including final year undergraduate projects, 6 month studies for PhD students and more substantial 9-12 month Blue Sky projects for early-career researchers.

CAPE also hosted a series of 47 Advanced Technology Lectures given by distinguished speakers from the university, wider academia and from industry. 

We would like to thank all CAPE Partners, Steering Committee and Technology Focus Group members, investigators, researchers, office staff, CAPE lecturers and all our stakeholders in the University who have supported us over the last 20 years and contributed to the successes of CAPE

To find out more about CAPE's achievements over the last 20 years, download  our brochure. 

Prof Daping Chu (small)Professor Daping Chu
Director of CAPE