With revenues of 55 billion € in 2008, and a corresponding growth of nearly 30% compared to 2005, and 300000 people directly employed the European Photonics industry is one of the most important industry sectors and key enabling technologies for Europe in the 21st century. To withstand growing competition from low labour cost countries there is a need to join forces in industry, research and politics to meet the needs of optics and photonics industries and to solve their common problems.In 2005 the European Technology Platform Photonics21 has been established to further shape the European Research Area in Photonics by bringing together all relevant stakeholders and develop a common research strategy for Photonics in Europe. Photonics21 today unites the majority of the leading photonics industries (thereof a significant share of SME) and relevant R&D stakeholders along the whole economic value chain throughout Europe. It comprises more than 1600 members.The proposal "Innovation and Implementation Strategy Photonics21 – InnPho21" " is submitted by the Photonics21 secretariat at the request, with the consent and on behalf of the Photonics21 Executive Board.To this end InnPho21 will significantly shape the Photonics European Research and Innovation Area by•\taccelerating community building and cooperation at European and national level•\tproviding a constantly updated common European Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda in Photonics•\tfostering the strategic link between photonics industry and research and improve transparency•\tfurther structuring and strategic positioning of the Photonics and Organic and Large Area Electronics Community (OLAE)•\tbridging the current gap within the innovation value chain to accelerate the move from R&D to market deployment•\tenhancing the role of Photonics21 platform towards an active partner in the steering process of a linked up photonics innovation strategy in Europe (towards FP8).