About ORC
The Optoelectronics Research Centre (ORC) of Tampere University of Technology (TUT) is the leading nanophotonics and optoelectronics research centre in Finland.
According to an international evaluation report published in 2012 by the Academy of Finland ORC is "extremely well-organised and its research quality is outstandingly high."
ORC was founded by Prof. Markus Pessa in 2000. We currently employ 55 researchers (total personnel about 70) and have an estimated annual budget over €6.0. Investments in scientific equipment amount to over €23 million with five commercial MBE reactors, surface analysis equipment (including XPS, AES, UPS, STM, MBSS) and complete optoelectronic device processing and characterization facilities, which makes ORC one of the best-equipped academic research units in Finland.
In 2011 the Surface Science Laboratory (SSL) from the Department of Physics joined ORC in order to increase the critical mass for future infrastructure development and research projects.
Optoelectronics - light in the nanoscale
Optoelectronics, also known as photonics, is the alliance of optics and electronics, emphasizing the magnificent properties of light. Applications extend throughout our everyday lives, including compact disc players, fibre optic communication systems, bar code scanners, materials machining, radars, sensors, and mobile phones.
Nanophotonics has been identified as one of the three most established leading-edge fields of research at TUT.
Research - from basic research to industrial applications
Our research ranges from basic studies of material properties to practical applications. We are positioned as a bridge between academia and the industry. Our research groups are semiconductor technology, ultrafast and intense optics, surface science, nanophotonics and few cycle optics.
Some of our recent research highlights include a high-power yellow laser for guide star applications and an 800 W fiber laser.
We produce around 150 publications yearly.
Projects and networks
ORC’s research portfolio consists of over 40 research and collaborative projects, including European Space Agency and EU FP7 projects. We take part in large collaborative COST Actions such as MP0805 “Novel gain materials and devices based on III-V-N - compounds” and are an active member of Photonics21 technology platform working under the umbrella of European Commission.
We also coordinate a Marie Curie IRSES project LaserNaMi, focusing on staff exchange between the partners in EU and China.
Photonics Finland - national technology platform
Photonics Finland is a national networking initiative coordinated by ORC. The two-year project started in spring 2012, and is funded by TUT, LUT, UEF, Aalto University, University of Oulu, VTT and Pirkanmaa Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment. It connects people and organizations who are working with photonics related research, component and system manufacturing business as well as those developing and using the versatile applications of photonics-based products. Photonics Finland promotes matchmaking, outlines national technology strategy and roadmaps photonics technology in close co-operation with the industry and research communities.
Collaboration with the industry and spin-offs
ORC has been exceptionally successful in developing new technologies and transferring know-how to industrial use and offers a wide range of services for business. One of the most visible societal impacts of ORC is the establishing of laser diode manufacturing industry in Finland.
Five companies – Coherent Finland, Modulight, EpiCrystals, Corelase, and RefleKron – have their origins in research carried out at ORC and they employ about 100 people at the moment. Two of these spin-off companies are now owned by the world’s biggest laser manufacturers, namely Coherent and Rofin-Sinar.
To exploit and disseminate our scientific achievements, ORC together with Institute of Production Engineering and Technology Centre Hermia (now Hermia) set up the Laser Competence Centre Finland (LCC Finland) in 2005. LCC Finland is an umbrella organization and network, aiming to enhance the know-how of the latest laser technology and transfer new technology to industry.
In 2008 ORC won an Honorable Mention at the national InnoFinland contest, awarded by the President of the Republic of Finland, for commercializing optoelectronics based on compound semiconductor technology.
Studying at ORC
ORC has more than 25 PhD students and around ten of them are funded from various graduate schools. About four PhD theses and six MSc theses are completed every year. We teach over ten courses on various aspects of optoelectronics and surface science.
Our alumni are employed by the industry or pursue academic careers at universities.