Osaka University has been one of key photonics research centers in the world for a century, with many of its faculties and schools conducting research and education from basic to applied levels and thereby producing numerous talented engineers. 

From 2001 to 2006, its Graduate School of Engineering pursued a program, “Frontier Research Center,” as one of Super COE programs supported by the Government of Japan, with five focused projects including nanotechnology and photonics.

Under the framework of this program, aggressive efforts were made to establish photonics as an academic discipline and interconnect it with other disciplines. It was in the spirit of such endeavors that in 2005 "Nano Photonics Initiative" was formed as an independent multidisciplinary research institution, gathering together researchers of electrical engineering and applied physics. This initiative has since committed itself to the advancement of nanophotonics research, creation of new industries, and human resources development through a variety of initiatives, which include the startup of three venture businesses under the lead of the university, sponsorship of three rounds of the “International Nanophotonics Symposium Handai” convention, e-learning courses for working adults, and publication of books series, "Handai Nanophotonics: Vol. 1, 2, 3," from Elsevier.

Originally a virtual organization within Osaka University, the Photonics Center is carrying on the mission of this Nano-Photonics Initiative, providing opportunities for researchers in this broad-based discipline to engage in education, research, and information sharing. 

With the completion of the Photonics Center Building in 2011, the Center has further consolidated its foundations. With the participation of over 20 laboratories from many different graduate schools and majors courses, as well as numerous businesses, the Photonics Center is currently promoting three projects. The details of these projects are as follows.

「町人学者－浅田常三郎評伝」（増田美香子編、毎日新聞社）によれば、理学部物理初代教授の一人であった浅田常三郎は、１９３９年（昭和１４年）に中之島にあった阪大理学部の屋上から朝日新聞社の屋上の時計塔に、水銀灯で光変調した音楽と映像を送った。これは現在の光通信のまさに先駆けである。阪大の光学研究は、実学主義に基づく社会への貢献を目指してきている。ソニー創業者の盛田昭夫氏は浅田先生の教えをうけるために阪大に来たという。
　工学部応用物理学科は、日本の光学・分光学を先導的に開拓してきた。遠赤外分光法（今ではテラヘルツとよばれている）の世界的パイオニアである吉永弘、レンズ系の最適化設計を主導した鈴木達郎、電子顕微鏡を設計し初めて原子を見た橋本初次郎、ラマン分光学の三石昭善・中島信一、分光学と分析化学・バイオサイエンスの道渡した南茂夫、画像処理と光コンピュータの一岡芳樹などの多くのフォトニクスの先駆者がいた。先達の夢はこの阪大に「世界に貢献するフォトニクスの研究センターを設立する」ことにあった。当時からアメリカにはロチェスターの光学研究所、アリゾナの光学研究センター、パリにも光学研究所があったが、日本にはフォトニクスに特化したセンターはなかったのである。