The Photonics Research Labs have their origins in the former Optical and Quantum Communications Group, initially hosted from 1991 to 2005 at the Communications Department. The group is a founding member of the Institute of Telecommunications and Multimedia since 2005.

From an optical telecom core the group has evolved to the application of the photonic technology to a wide range of diverse applications where the optical and photonic technology together with microwave photonics brings its added value.

The group is structured in different Research Labs that focus in different related technologies with different fields of applications.

Antenna beamforming, surveillance radar systems, optical sensors, integrated photonic circuits, high performance computing architectures and optical interconnects, biophotonic sensors, automobilism and robotics are the different fields of applications in the expertise of the labs.

Currently the joint effort of the Photonic Research Labs holds a strong knowhow in the photonic and optical field for any application where light can shine.

Nowadays, the PRL is currently formed by more than 30 young telecom engineers and physicists, and is part of the Institute of Telecommunications and Multimedia Applications (iTEAM) of the Universitat Politècnica de València.