CORNERSTONE Appoints TFD as Strategic Communications Agency of Record
TFD (Think Feel Do) has been appointed by CORNERSTONE, the silicon photonics founded at the University of Southampton, to deliver a communications programme to support business development, brand awareness, and engagement. The contract was awarded following a competitive pitch process, and will see TFD deliver an integrated campaign encompassing media relations, strategic content, social media, lead generation, and industry events, targeting multiple stakeholder groups, including industry, academia, and government.
Founded in 2014, CORNERSTONE is at the heart of the UK’s silicon photonics ecosystem. In addition to providing an open-source silicon photonics prototyping foundry, it offers dedicated startup support and funding, runs a successful schools outreach programme, and plays an instrumental role in silicon photonics and semiconductor policy engagement. With the communications programme, TFD will increase awareness of CORNERSTONE’s differentiators and full breadth of its offering, highlighting its role as the UK's leading silicon photonics hub.
Commenting on the appointment, TFD CEO and Founder, Stephanie Forrest, said: “2026 is set to be a landmark year for silicon photonics. Not only has the technology emerged as a clear solution to mitigate the energy demands of AI, it will also support a host of other critical use cases, from quantum scaling to future optical networks. Given this momentum, investment is surging and silicon photonics is increasingly featuring on the national agenda.
“CORNERSTONE plays a pivotal role in the evolution and development of the UK’s silicon photonics’ sector, and we’re proud to partner with them to raise awareness about the important work they do at such an exciting time for the sector overall.”
“TFD’s deep tech expertise and impressive track record stood out during the pitch process, and we’re excited to partner with them to amplify our work and drive engagement across the UK ecosystem,” said Tom Carnay, Head of Business Operations at CORNERSTONE. “With silicon photonics entering a critical phase of industrial deployment, there is a significant opportunity to strengthen connections between research, industry, and end users within the UK, and we’re looking forward to working with TFD to communicate our vision to industry, academia, and government.”
The appointment adds to TFD's growing deep tech portfolio, which includes leading industry players such as Entrust and Hexagon Geosystems, and innovative startups including Aquark Technologies and Qoro. TFD is also the agency of record for The Economist Impact 5th Annual Commercialising Global Quantum event.
