After a double-digit increase in sales in 2022, the signs for German photonics manufacturers continue to point to growth. According to Spectaris, based on a new survey commissioned by the market research company TEMATYS, nominal growth of eight percent is expected for 2023. The around 1,000 companies in the industry would generate sales of 54 billion euros with their 182,000 employees in the current year. Against the background of the strong price increases, the result is put into perspective slightly, but can still be considered a success. The current industry figures were presented at the "LASER World of Photonics" in Munich, which starts today.

Annual sales growth of around seven percent is expected until 2027. The areas in which German photonics is strongly positioned make a particular contribution to this positive development: optical components and materials, mobility, industry 4.0 and health. But photonics also benefits from their above-average growth rates as a driver of other innovative areas within their application markets, such as quantum technologies or precision agriculture.

The ongoing shortage of skilled workers poses an enormous challenge for the industry. Due to the strong development of the industry, an increasing need for employees is expected in the coming years in order to be able to fully develop the potential of the photonics market. From the point of view of the association, unconventional platforms such as foreign photonics fairs should also be used to accelerate qualified immigration. In addition to recruiting, tackling supply chain difficulties, particularly in the semiconductor space, remains on the agenda for companies. Planned blanket bans on substances, such as in the case of PFAS high-performance materials, are also causing companies great concern. Without numerous per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, important photonic applications could no longer be possible in the future.