28-30 April 2026
EPIC AGM & SUMMIT 2026
Juan Les Pins, Nice, France



This is EPIC’s premier executive event, with attendance consisting primarily of CEOs. 85% of the 300 participants are CEOs, from 30 countries, 10% traveling from overseas. This year we are combining the traditional EPIC AGM, dedicated for CEOs strategic topics (Innovation, Entrepreneurship, New Markets, Investment, etc.) and the World Technology Summit oriented to CTOs to discuss the challenges, trends and opportunities in photonics technologies. But, this is foremost an exceptional and amazing networking event!
PARTICIPANTS: Received biography and company descriptions for SUMMIT 2024 are available HERE and a full list of participants is available HERE

REGISTRATION: The event is mainly on invitation, if you have not received a direct personal invitation or are unsure if you are welcome to attend, please contact Carlos. If your company is not member but you would like to participate, please contact Lidia. The event is open to EPIC members, photonics integrators and end-users, and invited participants, preferably but not strictly limited to 1 participant per company.

VENUE: The event is taking place at the Palais des Congres of Juan-Les-Pins located 20 minutes by car or train from the airport of Nice, the second best connected airport of France allowing convenient access for international travelers. Juan-les-Pins, a town in the commune of Antibes, is known for its long sandy beaches and seafront promenade. The ideal venue to host the inaugural EPIC SUMMIT!

Address: Palais des Congrès Antipolis – 60 Chemin des Sables 06160 Antibes, FRANCE

TRANSPORTATION: instructions  for Nice Airport “Saint Augustin” direct train to Juan-les-Pins are available HERE

ACCOMMODATION: TBA.

WHAT TO SEE: Recommendation on what to see in Juan-les-Pins are available HERE

EXHIBITION: There is room for 30 exhibitors. Exclusively for members of EPIC. See Exhibition and Sponsorship Package – TBA.

SPONSORSHIP: We very much welcome, and rely on the support of sponsors to organize such a quality event at a reasonable price. Exclusively for members of EPIC. See Exhibition and Sponsorship Package – TBA.

Agenda

The event is mainly on invitation, if you have not received a direct personal invitation or are unsure if you are welcome to attend, please contact EPIC before registering.

EPIC AGM & SUMMIT 2026

27 April 2026, Monday

18:30 – 22:30 Pre-event dinner for participants – TBA.

28 April 2026, Tuesday

EPIC AGM Annual General Meeting (EPIC-MEMBERS ONLY)

09:00-12:00 (welcome coffee at 08:30) Cluster meeting (on invitation only)
09:30-12:30 Company visit – TBA.

12:00-13:30 Registration & Networking Lunch & Exhibition

13:30 Welcome by Basil Garabet, CEO, NKT Photonics, and President of EPIC – European Photonics Industry Consortium
13:45 Annual Activity Report 2025 presented by the EPIC Marketing Team
13:55 Upcoming activities presented by the EPIC Technology Team
14:15 Voting approval of EPIC financial accounts 2025 + Auditor report

14:30 – 15:15 Session 1 (EPIC-MEMBERS ONLY)

15:15 – 16:30 Networking Coffee Break & Exhibition

16:30 – 18:00 Session 2 (EPIC-MEMBERS ONLY)

17:50 Closing Remarks by Carlos Lee

18:00 EPIC SUMMIT OPENS – ALL PARTICIPANTS WELCOME

18:00-21:00 Networking Reception all participants

29 April 2026, Wednesday

06:55 Gather at the recommended hotel
07:00-08:15 Run/Walk 45 minutes and Breakfast – TBA.
08:30-09:30 Registration & Networking Coffee Break & Exhibition
09:30-17:00 EPIC SUMMIT 2026

09:30-11:00 EPIC SUMMIT SESSION Markets / Strategy / Investment

  • Welcome by Carlos Lee, Director General, EPIC
  • Bruno Desruelle, CEO Photonics, Exail (France) – Photonics-based navigation & sensing
  • Jean Schmitt, Managing Partners, JOLT Capital (France) – Deep-tech growth investment
  • Kaname Hashida Meguro, Product Manager, DOWA Electronics Materials (Japan) – Semiconductor Wafers
  • Kristin Holzhey, CEO, TRIOPTICS (Germany) – Optical measurement & testing
  • Leon Hol, Managing Director, NTS Optel (Netherlands) – High-precision optical inspection & metrology
  • Linda Smith, CEO, CERES Technology Advisors (USA) – M&A advisory for photonics
  • Marisa Edmund, Chairman, Edmund Optics (USA) – Optical components & imaging systems
  • Mike Ersoni, EVP Commercial, Excelitas (USA) – Photonic solutions for OEMs
  • Paul Ryckaert, CEO, Xenics (Belgium) – Infrared imaging & detection
  • Ralf Kuschnereit, Executive Vice President Advanced Photonic Solutions, JENOPTIK (Germany) – Optical systems, lasers & imaging solutions
  • Smriti Sakhamuri, Executive Director, HHV Advanced Technologies (India) – Coatings & vacuum technologies
  • Vijay Ramya Kolli, Head of Strategic Production Market, Oxford Instruments (United Kingdom) – Precision equipment for nanoanalysis & semiconductors

11:00-12:00 Networking Coffee Break & Exhibition

12:00-13:00 EPIC SUMMIT SESSION Markets / Strategy / Investment

13:00-14:30 Networking Lunch & Exhibition

14:30-16:00 EPIC SUMMIT SESSION Markets / Strategy / Investment

15:50 INVESTMENT PITCHING SESSION companies looking for investment (short 2-3 minutes pitch) + investors introduction
16:00 EPIC CEO Award 2026
16:15-17:30 Exhibition
18:00-22:00 Networking Dinner

30 April 2026, Thursday

07:00-07:30 Swim (optional)
08:00–09:00 Welcome Coffee & Exhibition

09:00-10:30 EPIC SUMMIT SESSION Technology / Applications I

  • Andrea Dunbar, CTO, CSEM (Switzerland) – Microtechnology & photonics innovation
  • Andreas Tünnermann, Director, Fraunhofer IOF (Institute for Applied Optics and Precision Engineering) (Germany) – Applied optics & photonic engineering
  • Aref Chowdhury, VP Strategy & CTO, Network Infrastructure, Nokia (USA) – Optical & telecom networks
  • Ashkan Seyedi, Director LinkX Products, NVIDIA (USA) – AI-driven computing & photonics solutions
  • Bernard Kress, Director Optical Engineering, Google (USA) – AR/VR optics & waveguide design”
  • Teck Lee Chee, CEO, Moveon Technologies (Singapore) – Optics Engineering and Fabrication
  • Heike Riel, IBM Fellow, Department Head Science & Technology, IBM (Switzerland) – Quantum Computing, AI, Nanotechnology

10:30-11:30 Networking Coffee Break & Exhibition

11:30-13:00 EPIC SUMMIT SESSION Technology / Applications II

  • Emilie Viasnoff, Head of Optical Solutions, Synopsys (USA) – Optical design software & solutions
  • Lv Qitao, CTO, Han’s Laser (China) – Industrial laser systems
  • Roman Koerner, CTO, TRUMPF Photonics Components (Germany) – VCSELs & photonic chips
  • Maria Chiara Carrozza, President. CNR (National Research Council) (Italy) – scientific and technological research
  • Michelangelo Masini, Head of Corporate Research & Technology, Carl Zeiss (Germany) – optical systems and optoelectronics
  • Sina Malobabic, Director of R&D, Laser Components (Germany) – Lasers, detectors & optics
  • Stratos Kehayas, President Photonics Division, G&H (Gooch & Housego) (United Kingdom) – Precision optics & photonic systems
  • Wilhelm Kaenders, CTO & Founder & President, Toptica Photonics (Germany) – High-end laser systems

13:00–15:00 Networking Lunch & Exhibition

Panel discussion on supply chain / deglobalization / competitiveness / manufacturing / entrepreneurship / investment and M&A / Consolidation

 More speakers to be confirmed, especially from Taiwan, Korea, Japan, Singapore, Canada, this will be a truly global event and attract integrators and end-users of Photonics.

15:00 END OF EPIC SUMMIT 2026

15:00-19:00 Social Programme (optional) – TBA.

Speakers
VP Strategy & CTO, Network Infrastructure at Nokia
Director LinkX Products at NVIDIA
Director Optical Engineering at Google
CEO Photonics at Exail
Head of Optical Solutions at Synopsys
IBM Fellow, Department Head Science & Technology at IBM
Managing Partner at JOLT Capital
Managing Director at NTS Optel
Lv Qitao
CTO at Han’s Laser
EVP Commercial at Excelitas
Executive Vice President Advanced Photonic Solutions at JENOPTIK
Director of R&D at Laser Components
President Photonics Division at G&H (Gooch & Housego)
Head of Strategic Production Market at Oxford Instruments
CTO & Founder & President at Toptica Photonics
Head of Corporate Research & Technology at Carl Zeiss


More speakers will be announced soon.

Attendees

More attendees will be announced soon.

Attendees
    Useful resources
    Programme Manager
    Coordination
    Carlos Lee
    Carlos Lee
    Director General
    Event Manager
    Logistics, venue, accommodation, and transportation
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