Photonics is “a strategic asset for Europe’s competitiveness, resilience and security”, says EU Tech Commissioner Henna Virkkunen at 20th Anniversary Event
The 2025 Photonics Partnership Annual Meeting (PPAM 2025), held on 15–16 May at the historic LePlaza in Brussels, gathered over 220 participants from academia, industry, and policy. Marking the 20th anniversary of Photonics21, the event underscored Europe’s leadership in photonics and its strategic importance for the EU’s future.
In a video address, Executive Vice-President Henna Virkkunen highlighted photonics as key to Europe’s sovereignty, sustainability, and competitiveness. “Photonics is a strategic asset,” she said, urging the community to close innovation gaps and reduce dependencies in critical technologies.
Opening the event, Photonics21 President Lutz Aschke called for photonics to be a cornerstone of EU Framework Programme 10 (FP10), stressing its role in Europe’s competitiveness and strategic autonomy. A dynamic LED performance by artist Lemmi set the stage for the celebration.
Gustav Kalbe (Acting Director, DG CONNECT) outlined the EU’s evolving priorities, calling photonics vital for sectors such as AI, quantum, healthcare, and manufacturing. Michael Förtsch (CEO, Q.ANT) highlighted integrated photonics as the key to overcoming the energy demands of AI computing, with the potential for 50× performance and 30× efficiency gains.
A fireside chat between Kalbe and Science|Business CEO Maryline Fiaschi explored funding strategies, industry adoption, and the central role of photonics in Europe’s technological future.
A major highlight was the Photonics21 Innovation Award, presented to Victor Rodriguez (IO-CSIC, Madrid) for his work on SureVision – a novel technique for rapid, precise vision prescriptions using a tunable lens and chromatic flicker perception. The award was presented by Lutz Aschke and Selection Committee Chair Roberta Ramponi. Innovation Award Winner Victor Rodriguez: “We want to change the vision of the world.”
On day two, EU officials including Werner Steinhoegl, Jason Jung, and Yves Gigase detailed upcoming funding opportunities, including through the Chips Joint Undertaking. Valerio Pruneri (ICFO) presented PIXEurope – a new pilot line for photonic integrated circuits. The meeting also launched the preparation of the next Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA), with workshops shaping priorities for FP10 and the next Multiannual Financial Framework.
