The project aimed at evaluating the R&D programme "Photonics Research Germany", funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research between 2012 and 2019, in terms of results, effectiveness and efficiency. This included the evaluation of the relevance and adequacy of the funding approach, to measure programme activities, outputs and outcomes, and to identify the causal contribution of the programme to outcomes and impacts, using a control-group approach. Based on the findings, the evaluation derived recommendations for future funding of R&D in the field of photonics and quantum technology.