Photonics Scotland Survey 2024

Over the last four years the Photonics Scotland annual survey has provided a comprehensive analysis of the sector, generating data that has catalysed discussions and activities with a number of key external stakeholders in areas such as skills, exports and inward investment.

The surveys have also provided an up-to-date evidence base that was critical to the inclusion of photonics and quantum as key opportunity areas within the Scottish Government’s National Strategy for Economic Transformation (NSET) and Scotland’s National Innovation Strategy. More recently, evidence provided through our surveys has supported the decision to name photonics and quantum as one of Scottish Government’s strategic industry clusters.

Government Ministers have been clear that further interventions will be evidence based. It is therefore crucial that as many organisations as possible complete this year’s survey. The data gathered will allow Photonics Scotland to maintain the momentum built over the last 4 years, providing an opportunity to re-emphasise the vital economic contribution our sector brings to Scotland and, importantly, identify and inform interventions to support our sector’s future growth.

The deadline for this survey is Friday 4th October.

All data received will be aggregated and anonymised before any subsequent reporting. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact alison.mcleod@technologyscotland.scot.

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* 1. Name

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* 2. Organisation

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* 3. Job title

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* 4. Email address

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* 5. What percentage of your organisation’s current business relates to photonics/quantum technologies?

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* 6. In relation to photonics and quantum technologies only, what was your organisation’s approximate turnover last year?

£0-1M

£1-3M

£3-5M

£5-10M

£10-20M

£20-50M

£50-100M

£100-200M

£200M+

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* 7. Compared to the previous year, is your approximate turnover:

Greater

The same

Smaller

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* 8. Are you anticipating growth in your organisation turnover in the next 12 months?

Yes

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* 9. If you answered yes to Q8 above, by approximately what percentage are you forecasting your turnover to increase by over the next 12 months?

0-5%

6-10%

11-20%

21-50%

51-100%

+100%

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* 10. In relation to photonics and quantum technologies only, how many staff does your organisation currently employ in Scotland?

1-10

11-20

21-50

51-100

101-250

251-500

501-750

750+

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* 11. Compared to this time last year, are your total employee numbers:

Greater

The same

Smaller

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* 12. Are you anticipating growth in your organisation employee numbers in the next 12 months?

Yes

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* 13. If you answered yes to Q12 above, by approximately what percentage are you forecasting your employee numbers to increase by over the next 12 months?

0-5%

6-10%

11-20%

21-50%

51-100%

+100%

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* 14. In relation to photonics and quantum technologies only, which of the following functions do your operations in Scotland include? Tick all that apply.

Research and development

Manufacturing

Sales and marketing

Consultancy/technical services

Other (please specify)

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* 15. Which market sectors does your company currently operate in? Tick all that apply.

Scientific/research

Industrial/manufacturing

Photonics supply chain

Aerospace and defence

Life sciences/healthcare

Energy

Transport

Communications

Quantum technology

Agriculture and food

Semiconductor

Space

Other (please specify)

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* 16. What percentage of your business relates to:

Scotland

Rest of UK

International

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* 17. For export sales, which are the top 3 countries that you export to?

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* 18. Which of the following activities do you believe would have greatest positive impact in relation to your international engagement. Rate in order of potential positive impact. 1 being most impactful, 7 being least.

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* 19. Other than those listed in Q18, what other interventions do you think would have positive impact on your business’s international activity?

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* 20. Has your organisation experienced a skills gap in the last 12 months? Tick all that apply.

Yes – within research and development

Yes – within operations/manufacturing

Yes – within commercial functions

Other (please specify)

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* 21. How important are the following skills development pathways to meet the current needs of your business?

	Not very important	Somewhat important	Very important	Vital
University – postgraduate	University – postgraduate Not very important	University – postgraduate Somewhat important	University – postgraduate Very important	University – postgraduate Vital
University – undergraduate	University – undergraduate Not very important	University – undergraduate Somewhat important	University – undergraduate Very important	University – undergraduate Vital
College/further education	College/further education Not very important	College/further education Somewhat important	College/further education Very important	College/further education Vital
Internships	Internships Not very important	Internships Somewhat important	Internships Very important	Internships Vital
Apprenticeships	Apprenticeships Not very important	Apprenticeships Somewhat important	Apprenticeships Very important	Apprenticeships Vital
CPD - External	CPD - External Not very important	CPD - External Somewhat important	CPD - External Very important	CPD - External Vital
CPD - Internal	CPD - Internal Not very important	CPD - Internal Somewhat important	CPD - Internal Very important	CPD - Internal Vital

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* 22. How important do you think the following skills development pathways will be to meet the needs of your business over the next 5 years?

	Not very important	Somewhat important	Very important	Vital
University – postgraduate	University – postgraduate Not very important	University – postgraduate Somewhat important	University – postgraduate Very important	University – postgraduate Vital
University - undergraduate	University - undergraduate Not very important	University - undergraduate Somewhat important	University - undergraduate Very important	University - undergraduate Vital
College/further education	College/further education Not very important	College/further education Somewhat important	College/further education Very important	College/further education Vital
Internships	Internships Not very important	Internships Somewhat important	Internships Very important	Internships Vital
Apprenticeships	Apprenticeships Not very important	Apprenticeships Somewhat important	Apprenticeships Very important	Apprenticeships Vital
CPD - External	CPD - External Not very important	CPD - External Somewhat important	CPD - External Very important	CPD - External Vital
CPD - Internal	CPD - Internal Not very important	CPD - Internal Somewhat important	CPD - Internal Very important	CPD - Internal Vital

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* 23. In the last 3 years has your organisation provided any of the following:

	Yes	No	No, but would be interested
School placement/work experience	School placement/work experience Yes	School placement/work experience No	School placement/work experience No, but would be interested
Graduate placement/internship	Graduate placement/internship Yes	Graduate placement/internship No	Graduate placement/internship No, but would be interested
Apprenticeship place	Apprenticeship place Yes	Apprenticeship place No	Apprenticeship place No, but would be interested

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* 24. Which of the following interventions do you believe would have the biggest positive impact on the future talent pool in Scotland. Rate in order of potential positive impact. 1 being most impactful, 6 being least.

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* 25. Other than those listed in Q24, what other interventions do you think would have positive impact on the future talent pool in Scotland?

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* 26. Over the last 3 years what sources of funding have you used to expand your business? Tick all that apply.

Retained earnings

Venture capital

Commercial loans

External direct corporate investment

Public funding for collaborative activities with research organisations or universities

Other public funding

Capital Markets (e.g. stock offering)

R&D tax credits

Capital allowances (tax credits)

Other (please specify)

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* 27. Over the next 5 years what sources of funding do you expect to use to expand your business? Tick all that apply.

Retained earnings

Venture capital

Commercial loans

External direct corporate investment

Public funding for collaborative activities with research organisations or universities

Other public funding

Capital Markets (e.g. stock offering)

R&D tax credits

Capital allowances (tax credits)

Other (please specify)

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* 28. Which of the following statements best summarises your organisations views of the shared infrastructure landscape supporting Scotland’s photonics/quantum sector?

Our organisation has no need to access shared infrastructure.

Shared infrastructure provision in Scotland meets our needs.

Shared infrastructure provision in Scotland meets our needs but is limited in capacity.

Shared infrastructure provision in Scotland meets our needs but access is too expensive.

Shared infrastructure provision in Scotland meets our needs in some areas but not in others.

Shared infrastructure provision in Scotland does not meet our needs.

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* 29. What one investment in shared infrastructure would have most positive impact on your business? (this could include expansion of current infrastructure).

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* 30. Does your organisation provide infrastructure that can be accessed by external users?

Yes

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* 31. If you answered yes to Q30 above, please provide details.

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* 32. What impact, if any, is Brexit having on your organisation?

	Major impact	Minor impact	No impact
Manufacturing/production capacity	Manufacturing/production capacity Major impact	Manufacturing/production capacity Minor impact	Manufacturing/production capacity No impact
Supply chain	Supply chain Major impact	Supply chain Minor impact	Supply chain No impact
Research and innovation	Research and innovation Major impact	Research and innovation Minor impact	Research and innovation No impact
Sales	Sales Major impact	Sales Minor impact	Sales No impact
Skills and recruitment	Skills and recruitment Major impact	Skills and recruitment Minor impact	Skills and recruitment No impact
Collaborative and Innovation funding	Collaborative and Innovation funding Major impact	Collaborative and Innovation funding Minor impact	Collaborative and Innovation funding No impact

Other (please specify)

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* 33. To what extent are continuing global supply chain pressures impacting your business?

Significant challenge

Moderate challenge

Inconvenience we can overcome

Not at all

Creating more opportunities for us to enter new supply chains

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* 34. What impacts to your business have you seen in the last 12 months? Tick all that apply.

Longer lead times

Higher cost

Needed to redesign products

Needed to use alternative components

Had to source from new suppliers

Loss of contract/business

No impact

Other (please specify)

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* 35. What type of components have you had issues sourcing? Please type 'Yes' or 'No' for each component you have issues sourcing and give more information where required.

Photonic components (please specify)

Electronic components (please specify)

Power components including batteries

Cables & connectors

Measurement & instrumentation equipment

Passives (resistors, capacitors etc)

Other (please specify)

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* 36. What do you see as your organisation’s biggest impediment to growth?

Access to capital/investment

Access to markets

Access to skills

Competition

Supply chain pressures

Other (please specify)

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* 37. Apart from the recognised issues listed in Q36, what is/are the other problems faced by your organisation (e.g. Covid-19, war in Ukraine, Brexit, National Security and Investment Act)? Please specify with details.

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* 38. What one thing should Scottish Government and its enterprise agencies prioritise to support Scotland’s photonics/quantum sector?

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* 39. What areas/activities do you believe Technology Scotland should prioritise in the next 3 years to support the growth of Scotland’s photonics/quantum sector?