News & Media 2
The appointment of EPIC by Photonics21 to lead the Secretariat is more than an administrative change. It is a structural shift that allows the 10th European Framework Programme (FP10) priorities to be focused on the areas where Europe can create the newest high‑tech jobs, a true strategy that aligns technological excellence with economic impact. It is a milestone for our field, and a foundation for what must come next.
Michał Nejbauer, CEO and Co-Founder of Fluence Technology, shares a remarkably honest and refreshing perspective on what it means to build a young photonics company in today’s uncertain world . In his editorial, he offers surprisingly direct answers to challenging entrepreneurial questions such as “How much capital do you need?” and “When is the best time to raise money?”; combining realism and optimism about photonics’ long-term future.
The EPIC Online Technology Meeting on Photonics for the Quantum Industry highlighted how photonic integration is helping quantum technologies move from laboratory demonstrations towards scalable, manufacturable systems. Speakers from across the supply chain discussed the importance of integration, packaging, ruggedization, low-loss connectivity, testing, and collaboration in bringing quantum solutions closer to real-world deployment.
In this edition, Thierry Georges, founder and president of Oxxius, reflects on why mergers and acquisitions are becoming an increasingly important accelerator for the European photonics industry. While photonics technologies remain fragmented, strategic partnerships and M&A activity are helping companies scale faster, strengthen capabilities, and open new markets.
An analysis of job postings and user behaviour on the Jobs in Photonics platform (September 2025–March 2026) reveals strong demand for Process and Optical Engineers, a surge in quantum-related roles, and a generation of young talent actively seeking entry points. Yet friction remains: the most-viewed roles are often the least posted, and candidates increasingly gravitate toward positions with real-world impact. Here’s what the data tells us.
In her editorial, Marisa Edmund explains that technology defines what is possible, but people define what becomes real. At Edmund Optics, growth has always been driven by relationships, collaboration, and human connection rather than a single strategy or breakthrough. In a rapidly changing industry shaped by AI and global expansion, service, trust, and learning remain central. Building strong networks, staying curious, and engaging face-to-face are essential for progress. Long-term success comes from combining innovation with connection, speed with trust, and technology with humanity.
According to Eric Mottay, Photonics West 2026 has highlighted the shift from high-profile promises in fusion, quantum, and AI to the detailed engineering work making these technologies practical. Industry leaders emphasized that while innovation can happen quickly, technology maturation and real-world application require sustained effort and time.
Photonics companies are hiring across a wide range of roles, but job seekers do not look at all vacancies in the same way.
An analysis of Jobs in Photonics postings and Google Analytics data from September to December 2025 shows a clear pattern: while hiring activity is broad, attention is strongly focused on a smaller set of highly specialised roles.
Europe’s photonics industry faces a turning point. With increasing acquisitions by non-European firms, consolidation is emerging as both a necessity and an opportunity. During the EPIC meeting on 9 October, industry leaders debated how European companies can scale, retain value chains, and safeguard technological leadership. Strategic mergers, patient capital, and coordinated growth may be key to ensuring Europe remains a global powerhouse in photonics innovation and manufacturing.
As Europe strengthens its defense autonomy, photonics has become a strategic pillar. From single-photon detection and quantum-dot SWIR imaging to AI-enhanced LiDAR, companies across Switzerland, Finland, Spain, and Germany are redefining sensing and perception in modern warfare. Highlights from the EPIC Online Technology Meeting on Photonics for Defense reveal how European innovation is shaping sovereign, high-performance capabilities across land, air, sea, and space domains.
Editorial by Eric Lindner, CEO of FBGS. The journey of FBGS Technologies reflects the broader challenges and opportunities in photonics: translating breakthrough science into scalable, customer-driven solutions. In this article, Lindner shares lessons from building a fiber sensing company—balancing innovation and market needs, embracing niche applications, and adopting a platform mindset to thrive in an evolving, data-driven world.
Lidia Briquets shares insights from the DLR–TESAT workshop. The event gathered Europe’s photonics and optoelectronics community to strengthen collaboration in the space sector, highlighting new opportunities, cross-sector innovation, and the key role of SMEs in shaping the future of European space technologies.
Photonics is experiencing a large boom leading to thousands of inventions and new applications. Mergers and Acquisitions (M&As) and investments play a critical role in sustaining the growth of the photonics industry. Read our summary of M&A deals and investments in the photonics industry from January and February 2025.
The leadership transition at JUEKE is a major milestone, with Steffen Hovestadt, Max Jürgens, and Dominik Fockenbrock stepping in as CEOs while guided by their predecessors. In his editorial, Hovestadt highlights the careful planning, structured leadership, and collaboration that made this possible.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
