As we reflect on the Optica Global Advanced Manufacturing Alliance Meeting 2025, held right here in Heidelberg, Germany, from May 13 to 15, we are immensely proud to have hosted such a pivotal event and extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who participated and contributed to its overwhelming success.

This meeting brought together key leaders and brilliant minds from across the entire photonics supply chain – from material providers to end-users – all focused on shaping the future of advanced manufacturing. The discussions were insightful, the connections forged were invaluable, and the path forward for photonics innovation has been illuminated.

Attendees witnessed a rich tapestry of cutting-edge topics:

• The crucial role of semiconductor manufacturing processes in advancing photonics, tackling challenges like material integration, fabrication precision, scalability, and high-throughput testing.
• Groundbreaking photonic sensors for monitoring, healthcare, and industrial automation, including advancements in fiber optics, LiDAR, and light-based detection systems.
• Innovative photonic device packaging and system integration techniques, such as 3D stacking and system-in-package solutions, addressing thermal management and interconnect reliability.
• The latest breakthroughs in precision optics, covering design, fabrication, and metrology, which are driving innovation in imaging, communications, and applications across healthcare, manufacturing, and defense.
• Transformative advancements in consumer electronics, including high-resolution displays, AR waveguides, light engines, and co-packaged cameras and sensors that are redefining user experiences and immersive environments.

We were honored to feature inspiring keynote presentations from:

• Azmina Somani, Senior Vice President Research & Development at Jabil
• Folkert Horst, Senior Research Scientist at IBM
• Viktor Schütz, Head of Partnership Management & VP at ZEISS Microoptics
• Christophe Peroz, Program Development Lead at Google

Their visionary insights set a dynamic tone for the meeting.

Furthermore, the engaging panel discussions were enriched by the expertise of our esteemed panelists:

Bruno Figeys (imec), Mohssen Moridi (Silicon Austria Labs), Patrick Galliker (Scrona), Philipp Dietrich (Keystone Photonics), Azmina Somani (Jabil), Lars Johnsson (Metalenz), Stanislav Aksarin (Scantinel Photonics), Henrik Madsen (Spiosystems), Peter Kirkegaard (IMT Microtechnologies), Michael Bryan (Phlotonics), Martin Spreeman (Corning), Laura Horan (Vanguard Automation), Andrey Voloshin (Hamamatsu Photonics Europe), Guillaume Basset (CSEM), Philip Paul (Heidelberg Instruments), Tobias Mueller (Aixemtec), Benoît d’Humières (Tematys), Darren Berns (IDEX Optical Technologies), Oliver Matyssek (DELO), Simon Schwinger (JAT), Olaf Dambon (Edmund Optics Son-X), Alexander Kessel (intego), Martin Hermatschweiler (Nanoscribe), Thomas Achleitner (EVG), Petri Stenberg (Dispelix), Harun Solak (EULITHA AG), Jukka Perento (Inkron Oy), Frank Wippermann (Fabulens), and Igor Zhurminsky (3D AG).

Thank you all for sharing your deep knowledge and fostering stimulating conversations!

Beyond the formal sessions, the networking opportunities were a highlight. The conference dinner at the historic castle provided a memorable evening of camaraderie, and the cleanroom tour at Heidelberg Instruments offered a firsthand look at some of the technologies driving our industry forward.

The Optica Global Advanced Manufacturing Alliance Meeting 2025 was more than just a conference; it was a catalyst for collaboration, a platform for addressing skill gaps, and a forum for shaping industry standards in photonics-based solutions.

Thank you once again to Optica, all our speakers, panelists, and attendees for making this event a landmark success. We look forward to seeing the innovations and partnerships sparked here flourish and to continuing to drive the future of advanced manufacturing in photonics together.