The specialist congress, a part of Quantum Photonics, which is taking place for the first time, comprises the four application-related focal points Quantum for Cyber Security, Quantum meets AI, Quantum for Instrumentation and Measurement and Quantum for Mobility. Each of these topics will be presented in its own forum, including keynote speeches and practical presentations.

Prof Dr Jaw-Shen Tsai from the Tokyo University of Science will give the cross-forum keynote speech on 13 May 2025. On this day, Dr Mario Krenn from the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light (MPL) will also give his keynote speech in the Quantum meets AI forum. Bundesdruckerei will also be represented in the Quantum for Cyber Security forum.

On the second day of the event, Dr Sebastian Schmitt from Fraunhofer IOF will be the keynote speaker in the Quantum for Instrumentation and Measurement forum and Dr. Massimo Gandola from FBK IRIS will be a guest speaker.

Quantum Photonics 2025 will be opened by Prof Dr Andreas Tünnermann, chair and professor at the Institute of Applied Physics at the University of Jena and director of the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Optics and Precision Engineering IOF. With regard to the application-oriented congress, he says: “Quantum Photonics 2025 sends out a strong signal for Thuringia as a location for business and innovation. The regional innovation ecosystem in Thuringia, consisting of local research institutions and companies, enables research and development on photonic quantum systems at the highest level. The research activities focus on the question of how quantum technologies can make our lives safer, healthier and more efficient in the future. The international demand for this first-time implementation of the congress in the Free State is particularly evident: With our research in Thuringia, we are asking the right questions for users.”

Together with the congress, a trade exhibition will take place within Quantum Photonics. Exhibitors include the Fraunhofer IOF, Lasos Lasertechnik and AIM Micro Systems. The triad of application-oriented congress, trade exhibition and networking aims to create a unique combination of theory and practice and thus be a profitable event for visitors and exhibitors.

Rapid.Tech 3D, the leading trade fair for the AM (additive manufacturing) industry, will take place in parallel from May 13 to 15, 2025. As the field of additive manufacturing is used in particular for many optically based quantum technologies, the interlinking of the two congress, forum and networking areas will create synergies for exhibitors and visitors.