25-27 March 2025
EPIC Annual General Meeting 2025
Barcelona, Spain



The EPIC Annual General Meeting is the annual strategy event dedicated primarily to its members. This is an on-invitation-only event and invited are the CEO/CTO, or primary membership contact person of EPIC member companies. 1 person per company policy applies unless exhibiting. Who usually attend? As example, see here the EPIC AGM and SUMMIT 2024 list of participants biographies and companies descriptions, and pictures to get an impression.

Please find a detailed agenda and all details about the different venues and events, and travel directions in the TRAVEL GUIDE.

Received biography and company descriptions for AGM 2025 are available HERE

Agenda

23 March 2025, Sunday

20:00 – 22:30 Welcome Dinner at L´Olive (address: Carrer de Balmes, 47, L’Eixample, 08007 Barcelona).

24 March 2025, Monday (OPTIONAL)

09:00 – 18:00 Visiting local EPIC member companies.
09:00 Departure by bus from Eurostars Hotel Grand Marina (address: Moll de Barcelona, S/N, Ciutat Vella, 08039 Barcelona).
09:45 – 11:30 UPC-CD6 + presentation from spin-offs and Fotónica21.
12:00 – 13:30 Sensofar.
14:00 – 15:30 Microrelleus.
16:00 – 17:30 Mapsi.
17:30 – 18:00 Drive back to Hotel Eurostars Grand Marina

19:30 – 22:00 Pre-event Dinner at 7 Portes (address: Pg. d’Isabel II, 14, Ciutat Vella, 08003 Barcelona).

25 March 2025, Tuesday (FULLY BOOKED)

09:00 – 18:00 Visiting local EPIC member companies.
09:00 Departure by bus from Eurostars Hotel Grand Marina (address: Moll de Barcelona, S/N, Ciutat Vella, 08039 Barcelona).
09:30 – 11:00 Inmersia
11:30 – 13:15 ICFO – The Institute of Photonic Sciences.
13:30 – 14:00 Quside presentation + 3 minutes pitch time from ICFO spin-offs.
14:00 – 15:00 Lunch.
15:30 – 17:00 monocrom.
17:00 – 18:00 Drive back to Hotel Eurostars Grand Marina

19:00 – 22:00 Welcome Reception and Networking Dinner at Marina Port Vell (address: Moll de La Barceloneta, 1, Ciutat Vella, 08039 Barcelona). ALL EPIC AGM ATTENDEES EXPECTED.

26 March 2025, Wednesday

07:15 Meet for the Run/Walk at Memoria del Portal de la Pau (address: Passeig Josep Carner, Ciutat Vella, 08039 Barcelona)
07:30 – 09:00 Morning Run/Walk (optional – but all attendees are expected to join!) at San Sebastian Beach and Breakfast at Honest Greens. Return by boat to Moll de Drassanes 
09:00 – 09:45 Registration, networking coffee break & expo at World Trade Center

09:45 – 12:00 Spanish EPIC member company presentation

  • Alcyon Photonics, Jimena García-Romeu, CEO
  • AIMEN, Pablo Romero, Composite Additive Manufacturing Team Leader
  • CEIT, Santiago M Olaizola Izquierdo, Group Leader Laser Precision Manufacturing
  • ICFO, Sergi Ferrando, PHOTONCAT Manager
  • IMASENIC, Renato Turchetta, CEO
  • iPronics, Christian Dupont, CEO
  • KD, Oscar Ciordia, Marketing Manager
  • Mapsi Photonics, David Cardador Maza, CEO
  • MEETOPTICS, Barbara Buades, CEO
  • New Infrared Technologies, Arturo Baldasano, CEO
  • Ommatidia LIDAR, Eduardo Margallo, CEO
  • Quside Technologies, Carlos Abellan, CEO
  • Sensofar, Marc Canales, CEO
  • UPC-CD6, Santiago Royo, Director
  • UPVfab Micro-fabrication pilot line, Pascual Muñoz, Director
  • VLC Photonics, Iñigo Artundo, CEO

12:00 – 13:30 Networking lunch & expo

13:30 – 13:45 Opening of the Annual General Meeting 2025

13:45 – 15:15 Conference on EPIC Update

  • EPIC Board of Directors Update
  • EPIC Activities 2024 & 2025 presented by the Marketing Team
  • Upcoming activities presented by the Technology Team
  • Voting approval of EPIC financial accounts 2024

15:15 – 16:00 Networking coffee break & expo. Ranting Session.

16:00 – 17:45 STRATEGY & MARKETS SESSION

Speakers include:

  • Jean-François Morizur, CEO, Cailabs (France)
  • Gerard van den Eijkel, CEO, Dutch United Instruments (The Netherlands)
  • Martynas Barkauskas, CEO, LIGHT CONVERSION (Lithuania)
  • Charlene Hu, Chairperson, Swiroc (Taiwan)
  • Martin Hermatschweiler, CEO & Co-Founder, Nanoscribe (Germany)
  • Advocacy and Lobbying update – Markus Wilkens, Head of Operations, Photonics21
  • 1 minute pitch – anyone about a problem they would like to solve
    • Vitrealab

17:45 EPIC CEO Award 2025

17:55 EPIC Lifetime Achievement Award 2025

18:05 EPIC Sustainability Award 2025

18:30 Gather in the lobby and departure to dinner venue
19:00 – 22:00 Networking Dinner at Poble Espanyol (address: Av. de Francesc Ferrer i Guàrdia, 13, Sants-Montjuïc, 08038 Barcelona).

27 March 2025, Thursday

07:00 – 08:00 Morning Swim (optional, self-organized) at San Sebastian Beach and Breakfast at Honest Greens. Return by boat to Moll de Drassanes.

Exclusion of liability: The participation in the swimming event is at your own risk. The organizers assume no liability for any damages or injuries that may occur during the event. Each participant is responsible for their own safety and health. By participating, each participant explicitly agrees not to make any claims against the organizers.

 

08:15 – 09:00 Networking coffee & expo

09:00 – 10:30 TECHNOLOGY &  MARKETS SESSION

Speakers include:

  • Andre Richter, CEO, VPI Photonics (Germany)
  • Panagiotis-Alexandros Bokaris, Head of Digital Optics, L’Oreal (France)
  • Martin M. Roth, Leibniz-Institute for Astrophysics Potsdam (Germany)
  • Alex Ayalon, Senior Director R&D and Innovation, Elbit Systems (Israel)
  • Edwin Wolterink, VP Technology & Innovation, Anteryon (Netherlands)

10:30 – 10:45 – 1 minute Problem Pitching session: anyone who faces a technology or manufacturing challenge can pitch their problem. Can one of the participates be part of the solution or share some ideas?

10:45 – 11:30 Networking coffee & expo

11:30 – 13:15 INVESTMENT / BUSINESS SESSION

Speakers include:

  • Basil Garabet, CEO, NKT Photonics (Denmark)
  • Mike Powell, Managing Partner, Renevo Capital Limited (United Kingdom)
  • Ronny Timmreck (serial entrepreneur) (Germany)
  • Jean-François Vinchant, CEO, SEDI-ATI Fibres Optiques (France)
  • Maik Mueller, CEO, Nynomic (Germany)
  • 3 minutes pitch – any EPIC members looking for capital
    • Cognifiber
    • Emberion
    • InSpek

13:30 – 15:00 Networking lunch
15:00 Official end of the meeting
15:30 – 18:00 Optional social activity if you are not yet ready to leave Barcelona! All attendees are very welcome but separate registration is required. Catamaran Sailing Tour (address: Moll de Drassanes, Plaça Portal de la Pau, s/n, 08039 Barcelona)

Accommodation

Next to World Trade Center, room contingent with special rate is blocked till 23rd February
Eurostars Grand Marina 5 GL (Moll de Barcelona WTC, Ciutat Vella, 08039 Barcelona)

10 minutes walking distance from the World Trade Center, room rates from 120 Euro per night
Andante Hotel (Av. Drassanes 23-25, 08001 Barcelona)
15% discount only bookable through: https://reservations.andantehotel.com/andantehotel.com/es/availability?prom=EPIC

15 minutes walking distance from the World Trade Center, room rates from 110 Euro per night
Ikonik Ramblas Hotel (La Rambla, 22, 24, Ciutat Vella, 08002 Barcelona)

Venue

World Trade Center Barcelona (address: Moll de Barcelona s/n, edifici Est, 1ª planta, 08039, Barcelona)

Speakers

Charlene Hu (Chairman & President) is an accomplished business leader with over two decades of experience in the semiconductor and technology sectors. As the Chairman & President of Swiroc, she has been leading the company since 2019, guiding its strategy and business development. Charlene holds an EMBA from National Chiao Tung University (2010–2012) and an MS in Operations Research from Stanford University (1994–1995).

Chairperson at SwiRoc

Panagiotis-Alexandros Bokaris (Head of Digital Optics) is the Global Head of Innovation in Diagnostics & Sensors at L’Oréal Research & Innovation. His team develops innovations that range from consumer diagnosis to product recommendation or personalization, including appearance modeling and virtual try-on. Alexandros holds a Diploma in Engineering from the University of Patras (2011) and the Erasmus Mundus Master Degree CIMET (2013). He obtained his PhD in computer science from the University of Paris-Saclay (2016), while being a visiting PhD student at the University College London (2015). His research interests span the space of computer vision, graphics and augmented reality. Since 2023 he is a adjunct professor at the Sorbonne University.

Head of Digital Optics at L’Oreal

André Richter (General Manager) is an expert with 25+ years of experience in optical communications, photonics, and fiber optics. He received his M.Sc. degree from Georgia Tech, USA, and Ph.D. from TU Berlin, Germany. André co-authored 140+ publications and contributed to 15+ international R&D projects. Being with the VPIphotonics team since 1997, André has generated numerous novelties in industry research and education, commercialization, and market development. He held management positions for technical services, product management, research & development before being appointed General Manager in 2013.

Martin Roth (Scientist) served as Research Assistant at Universitäts-Sternwarte München from 1986 to 1991. He then became an Observer at Wendelstein Observatory in 1991 before joining AIP in 1994, where he worked as Head of Program until 2023. At AIP, he was instrumental in developing integral field spectrographs like PMAS, VIRUS, and MUSE, and contributed to projects such as MOSAIC and BlueMUSE. Since 2009, Martin has been the Chair of innoFSPEC Potsdam. He was a Professor at the Institute for Physics and Astronomy, University of Potsdam from 2011 until April 2023. Since his retirement from teaching, he continues to work full-time in the Astrophotonics department at AIP with responsibility for the development of the Institute for Technology (ITE) at the emerging Deutsches Zentrum für Astrophysik (DZA) in Görlitz.

Edwin Wolterink (VP Innovation & Business Development) began his career at Philips CFT Research after graduating from Eindhoven University of Technology. He gained extensive experience in product and process development, focusing on the implementation of new products and advanced manufacturing technologies across the Hard Disk Drive, Semiconductor, and Optical Storage industries. His passion for optics deepened during his time at Philips Optical Storage, where he managed the development of OPU production line equipment. In 2000, he joined Anteryon (formerly Philips Optics) as an R&D Manager and played a key role in founding WaferOptics technology. As Anteryon’s CTO from 2013 to 2024, Edwin led the company’s technology roadmap for optics-based modules. Today, his focus is on driving innovation and new business development, shaping the future of optical technologies.

VP Technology & Innovation at Anteryon

Michael Powell (Managing Director and Partner) is the Managing Director and Partner of Renevo Capital Limited. Mike focuses on the TMT, advanced materials sectors. He has advised multiple companies on M&A, financing, and corporate strategy. He is extremely well connected internationally, particularly in Europe, the North Americas and China. Mike's specialty is photonics and efficiency technologies and he bring 30 years of senior level experience in leading, advising, managing and negotiating corporate projects and transactions for both private and public companies. Prior to his experience in technology M&A banking and the founding of Renevo Capital Limited, Mike had an extensive history in operational roles within technology businesses, starting as a defence contractor with GEC Marconi. He then entered a period of serial entrepreneurship by founding, funding, growing and ultimately selling three business: IOC international PLC, K2 Optronics Inc and Pelikon ltd. He managed IOC as CEO from start-up to its subsequent float on the London AIM stock exchange in 1997 and 2000. He subsequently sold it to NASDAQ quoted SDLI before moving to the Bay area to found K2 Optronics which was later sold to Emcore. In 2002, Mike returned to the UK and joined the founding team of Pelikon as CEO. In 2008 he sold Pelikon to NASDAQ listed MFLEX.Mike has a degree in Physics from Imperial College and is a keen athlete, competing regularly in triathlons. He is also a level 2 qualified Triathlon coach.

Managing Director & Partner at Renevo Capital Limited

Maik Müller (CEO) has been a member of the Management Board of Nynomic AG since May 2015 and is responsible for Technology, Operations and Research and Development at the holding company. He was also appointed to the Management Board of tec5 AG from October 2010 to April 2023 and had full responsibility for the operational management of the tec5 Group worldwide.

Ronny Timmreck (CEO) is a deep-tech entrepreneur with a background in physics, specializing in photonics, and a PhD in organic electronics. He has built and scaled multiple technology companies, raising over €12M in funding and securing major industry partnerships. His entrepreneurial journey began with leXsolar, an edtech company that became a market leader before he successfully exited it. He co-founded SENORICS, where he led the development of a breakthrough sensor technology, built a team of 40+, and secured significant venture funding. As CEO of deepXscan, he managed the strategic consolidation of an X-ray imaging startup. Now, as CEO of vitrealab, he is scaling a cutting-edge photonic technology to bring it to market, solving one of Augmented Reality’s biggest challenges. By turning this innovation into a successful product, he is driving the next evolution of AR hardware. He also invests in and mentors deep-tech startups, focusing on fundraising and scaling strategies.

Serial Entrepreneur

Basil Garabet (President & CEO) is the President and CEO of NKT Photonics which he has successfully grown since 2015. Basil is a serial entrepreneur with a 40-year tenure in Photonics where he has started, led and turned round a number of International Photonics companies. Basil’s career has spanned leading positions in JK Lasers, EM4, Altitun, Melles Griot and Lasertron. Basil is closely involved in promoting Photonics globally, especially research in new applications such as Quantum, and performs numerous honorary duties including Board seats on EPIC, Bifrost Communication, and the Danish Quantum Community. Basil holds an MSc in Lasers and Their Applications. Basil Garabet is President of the EPIC Board of Directors.

Jean-François Morizur (CEO) is the CEO and Co-Founder of Cailabs, a global deeptech company. Before launching the company in 2013, he worked at the Boston Consulting Group as Senior Associate. A graduate of the École normale supérieure in Paris, Jean-François holds two doctoral degrees in quantum optics, from Sorbonne University and the Australian National University. While working on his thesis at the Kastler Brossel Laboratory, he co-invented Multi-Plane Light Conversion (MPLC), a groundbreaking technology that underpins Cailabs' products. As Cailabs’ CEO, he is responsible for driving the company's vision and strategic direction. Under his leadership, Cailabs has emerged as a leading company in its field, pushing the boundaries of what is achievable in the world of optical products with groundbreaking applications in space, defence, energy and other major industries.

Martynas Barkauskas (CEO) is the CEO of Light Conversion, a leading femtosecond laser manufacturer located in Vilnius, Lithuania. Previously, Martynas held different positions within the company working at femtosecond laser development, managing world-wide service actives, and serving as head of sales. He holds a degree in laser physics from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and PhD in ultrafast spectroscopy from Vilnius University, Lithuania.

Martin Hermatschweiler (CEO) is co-founder and CEO of Nanoscribe ever since the company was founded in 2007. His main task is driving the company’s growth, particularly through the development of new markets. The scientific expertise of the graduate physicist lies in laser patterning of polymers as well as surface coating techniques based on semiconductor processes. Martin has been listed among the TOP 40 entrepreneurs within Germany younger than 40 by the journal “Capital” (2015).

CEO & Co-Founder at Nanoscribe

Gerard van den Eijkel (CEO) is the Founder and CEO of Dutch United Instruments and currently serves as the Technical Director Optomechatronics at DEMCON Group. In this role, he provides technical and business guidance in optomechatronics, focusing on optical systems engineering, business development, and innovation. Previously, he was the Business Unit Manager at Focal Optomechatronic Systems. His work covered imaging systems, laser systems, adaptive optics, and illumination optics for industries including high-tech, semiconductor, and space. Gerard holds a PhD in Pattern Recognition from Delft University of Technology, an MSc in Applied Physics from the University of Twente, and an MBA in General Management from TSM Business School.

Pablo Romero (Research Strategy Manager) has 25 years’ experience in research in several fields of materials processing and has been involved in the development of laser-based manufacturing R&D activities since the inception of the Laser Applications Centre in AIMEN, 20 years ago. He has been a leading researcher and coordinator for over 20 National and coordinated 7 European projects (since FP7), and has produced numerous patents, publications and research results in use in a variety of industries, from automotive to medical. Since 2010, his research concentrated in laser surface processing and ultrafast laser micromachining. Today, he is Research Strategy Manager for Laser Applications at AIMEN and manages the PULSATE European Network for adoption of Laser Based Manufacturing.

Research Strategy Manager at AIMEN

David Cardador Maza (CEO and Co-Founder), Physicist, PhD in Electronics Engineering, Postgraduate in Tech Transfer, Serial Entrepreneur. David has extensive experience in the photonics sector, having worked in this field as a researcher/developer at the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), the LAAS-CNRS (Toulouse) and Monocrom. In the field of entrepreneurship, David has participated as a partner in the creation of a company related to renewable energies: Nostraenergy. David’s PhD thesis was conducted at UPC about the development of silicon photonic structures for signal detection and processing, base know-how for the foundation of Mapsi jointly with Daniel’s thesis. He and Daniel founded Mapsi Photonics, where he is currently in charge of the company's management and commercial tasks.

Eduardo Margallo (CEO) is Mouro Labs’ founder and CEO. He successfully launched MedLumics, a medical device company based in Madrid, Spain. As its chief executive during the period 2011-2017, he led the development of the first Optical Coherence Tomography technology platform based on integrated optics, took a class II diagnostic product to market and raised more than €40M in private and public funding. Dr. Margallo holds a PhD in biophotonics from TU Delft (NL), an MBA from Brown University (USA), and MSc level degrees in telecommunications engineering, physics and electrical engineering from Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (ES), Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia (ES) and Universität Stuttgart (DE).

Alex Ayalon (Senior Director, R&D and Innovation) has been leading research and development initiatives at Elbit Systems - ISTAR since 2018. With over six years in this role, he focuses on driving innovation and advancing technological capabilities in defense and intelligence systems. Alex holds a Ph.D. in Mathematics and Computer Science from Weizmann Institute of Science and an M.Sc. in Biomedical Engineering from Tel Aviv University.

Senior Director R&D and Innovation at Elbit Systems
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