Introducing new medical devices into the healthcare system is no easy task. This is not only due to strict regulations but also because medical professionals need extensive training on new technologies—a process that can take several years.
Despite these challenges, medical professionals are increasingly open to adopting technologies like photonics to address everyday challenges. As emphasized during the EPIC Meeting at ICFO, cross-disciplinary collaboration is not just beneficial but essential for progress.

In the photonics industry, many SMEs are nearing a pivotal transition in leadership as the first generation of leaders approaches retirement. This was the focus of discussion at the recent HR Workgroup, where we discussed about the five essential leadership skills every future-ready leader needs and the role of AI in leadership development, including predictive analytics and personalized training.

OLEDs, micro-LEDs, microlens arrays (MLAs), and color measurement technologies are increasingly being adopted in the automotive industry. These advancements offer significant advantages over traditional lighting systems, including improved efficiency, enhanced longevity, and greater design flexibility. In this article, Jérémy Picot-Clémente explores the latest innovations in this field, highlighting contributions from EPIC members such as Luminus Devices, Noctiluca, QNA Technology, DELO Industrial Adhesives, Focuslight, TechnoTeam Bildverarbeitung, and the automotive supplier FORVIA HELLA.

Explore insights into Lithuania’s laser market in this editorial, introduced by Gediminas Račiukaitis.

Emerging technologies like AI and quantum computing request commitment to innovation. Check out the editorial of Nicoletta Casanova, CEO of FEMTOprint, where she reflects on the company´s journey from a small Swiss venture to a global leader in high-precision glass micro-manufacturing and how glass is now essential within these exciting upcoming technologies

Andrés Cifuentes, CEO at ASE Optics Europe, reflects in the EPIC Spotlight’s editorial on the company’s growth from optical design consulting to series production, the importance of a diverse team, strong supplier relationships, and how the future of photonics lies in agile innovation for emerging markets like new space and Quantum Optics.

Is it possible to improve the performance of microscopes? In this article, Antonio Castelo, discusses recent advances in microscope technology that enhance the efficiency, accuracy, and speed of imaging biological samples. He also highlights several EPIC members who are at the forefront of these innovations, including Illumisonics, Prospective Instruments, Opto, CoolLED and Chromacity.

Check out the editorial of Martina Mueller, CEO of 3D AG, sharing her insights on the photonics sector, from the pressures on innovation costs to the challenges of talent acquisition and the important role of collaboration.

The semiconductor and consumer electronics industries are two prominent adopters of Laser Microprocessing especially for ultrathin components.

To address the shortage of talent in photonics, we need to start engaging young students and encouraging them to pursue careers in physics. However, this activity has a low return on investment and few are willing to work in this direction.

Medical implants have recently benefited from established photonics manufacturing processes, such as laser cutting and marking, as well as emerging ones like additive manufacturing and surface structuring.

The EPIC meeting aimed to connect photonics innovators with early adopters in the Agrifood sector. Furthermore, addressing these global challenges requires an international collaborative approach that transcends national boundaries.

During the EPIC HR Workgroup meeting focused on “Hiring in North America,” our HR experts shared several key insights regarding the current state of the labor market and salary expectations in the region.

The EPIC Annual General Meeting & Summit gathered more than 350 attendees in Juan Les Pins, France. This small village on the French Riviera provided an exceptional setting for networking activities such as the EPIC Run or an early morning swim.

The reliability of Exail’s lithium niobate (LiNbO3)-based modulators comes from the company’s core expertise in fiber-optic gyroscopes, some of which have clocked more than 6 million hours in orbit on more than 30 satellites without incident. Courtesy of Exail.

This meeting aimed to connect researchers, doctors, and integrators of photonics technologies. Cultivating enhanced collaboration between clinical centers and industries from the initial stages of product development is imperative. Specifically, input from medical pathologists is crucial to creating photonics applications adoptable in cancer diagnosis, laying the foundation for translational photonics research within a clinical context.

Photonics has contributed significantly to public health in different ways: advancing rapid, cost-effective, personalized interventions; allowing the visualization of different biological structures, functional units and infection agents; or as the basic technology for the development of specific diagnostic devices. Dermatology, the branch of medicine dealing with the skin, has been one of the fields which has taken benefit of all the advantages of the photonic technologies, such as their high resolution, speed and the capability of light waves to penetrate various biological barriers without causing unwanted interactions.

The battery market will have a significant impact in Europe in the coming years, and photonics, in particular lasers and sensors, is set to play a major role. The manufacturing of batteries for electric vehicles necessitates a shift from traditional factories to the establishment of gigafactories – large manufacturing facilities dedicated to the production of components and products related to electrification and decarbonization technologies. Laser cutting and welding techniques have already been seamlessly integrated into battery production lines, reducing time and costs while increasing productivity.

Photonics Integrated Circuits drive the heart of quantum advancements, as showcased at the EPIC Industrial Quantum Photonics Technology Meeting held at TOPTICA.

Europe has witnessed remarkable developments in quantum sensing technology in recent years. Various companies have entered the field from different perspectives and made significant strides in harnessing the power of quantum phenomena to create highly sensitive and precise sensors. These sensors have the potential to revolutionize a wide range of industries, including healthcare, telecommunications, navigation, and more.

This week we have celebrated the EPIC Meeting on Photonics for Defense in Poland were we discussed on how Photonics is revolutionizing the defense industry.

Photonics will revolutionize Space Technology

Finding Photonics talent is challenging due to its emerging status and limited interest from student interest.

Exploring the complexities of design and simulation in extended reality. As XR pushes the boundaries of immersive technology, the challenge of creat-ing a flawless simulated reality presents unique design hurdles. In this critical analysis, we unpack the fundamental issues, identifying potential solutions and forecasting future developments in the XR landscape.

European companies are now at the forefront of developing groundbreaking approaches to the packaging of photonic integrated circuits (PICs).

The meeting brought together key players in the AR/VR industry. The primary topic of discussion was the need for technology to be presented in a user-friendly form factor, necessitating even smaller optical components. However, the main challenge lies in balancing design requirements with user needs.

CEOs and HR managers from various EPIC members joined the kick-off meeting on 05 May. Together, we aim to address talent acquisition challenges in photonics.

Industry leaders discuss the status of fibre optic sensing technologies, evaluate the possibilities of integrated solutions and address the need for education on the real value of fibre optic sensors.

EPIC has announced Kestutis Jasiunas as the recipient of the EPIC Lifetime Achievement Award for his outstanding contributions and leadership in the laser industry.

The European Photonics Industry Consortium is delighted to announce that the recipient of the EPIC CEO Award 2023 is Håkan Karlsson, the head of the Photonics division at HÜBNER Group and CEO of Cobolt.

During the Annual General Meeting 2023 celebrated in Helsinki, Finland, the European Photonics Industry Consortium has announced that Basil Garabet, CEO of NKT Photonics will be the new President of EPIC.

During the Annual General Meeting 2023 celebrated in Helsinki, Finland, the European Photonics Industry Consortium has confirmed Shahida Imani, CEO of Chromacity, to join its Board of Directors.