Oulu, Finland – June 3–5, 2025
The Optics and Photonics Days 2025 (OPD2025) brought together the experienced experts, young talents and technology innovators in the photonics field to enjoy the three inspiring days at the Oulu Music Centre. With 380 participants from 23 different countries, this year’s event stood as a vibrant testament to the unifying power of photonics community globally.
A Gathering of Minds and Markets
The OPD2025 conference was more than a scientific meeting—it was a true convergence of academia, industry, policy, and innovation. Among the attendees, 223 came from industry and 157 from academic institutions, emphasizing the strong ties between commercial application and research. The sold-out exhibition featured 41 companies and organizations, while 90 scientific posters showcased cutting-edge advancements in photonics research.
From the opening session onward, one message resonated loud and clear: collaboration is the cornerstone of photonics progress. Whether tackling global healthcare challenges, driving next-generation mobility, or advancing sustainable manufacturing–no single company can achieve the necessary breakthroughs alone.
Inspiring Visions from Leading Plenary Speakers
A major highlight of OPD2025 was its lineup of visionary plenary speakers, who brought together perspectives from both research and industry.
The event opened with acemic talk from Professor Roel Baets, a pioneer in integrated photonics from Ghent University – IMEC, contributed his perspective on the evolution of silicon photonics with the topics ”Silicon Photonics: New Applications, New Challenges”, his reputation, long-standing leadership and contributions to research on integrated photonics (silicon, silicon nitride, III-V) and its applications in datacom/telecom as well as in medical and environmental sensing ensured high expectations and strong engangement from the audience.
Another excellent academic plenary talk came from Professor Carsten Rockstuhl, who leads research at both the Institute of Theoretical Solid State Physics and the Institute of Nanotechnology at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology. His talk, “Scattering in Nanophotonic Systems,” explored the evolving theoretical landscape of light-matter interaction in complex structures. While classical scattering theory is created over 100 years ago, Rockstuhl showcased how modern photonics has redefined the field—driven by advances in computational power, novel materials, and experimental capabilities.
Another standout plenary was delivered by Dr. Herbert Ernst, Fluidics Strategy Capability Lead at Jabil Inc., with a talk titled “Bringing Photonics to Life: Navigating the Path from Development to Deployment.” Ernst explored the complex interplay between photonics, fluidics, acoustics, and other enabling technologies—not as isolated breakthroughs, but as interconnected systems that must be integrated intelligently to achieve commercial success.
Hannu Talvitie, Director of Technology Strategy at Vaisala, who presented on “Taking Every Optical Measure for the Planet.” His talk illustrated how photonics technologies are instrumental in enabling climate action, resource efficiency, and environmental monitoring—core themes for a company that has become a global leader in atmospheric measurements.
Celebrating Excellence in Photonics
One of the annual highlights of the event was the Photonics Finland Company of the Year Award 2024, awarded to SPECIM, Spectral Imaging Ltd. Recognized for its leadership in hyperspectral imaging and sustained commitment to innovation, SPECIM exemplifies the excellence driving Finland’s photonics sector. Read more: Photonics Finland awards SPECIM as Company of the Year 2024
Leadership and Community Recognition
The event also marked a key transition in leadership, as Dr. Sanna Aikio (VTT) was elected as the new Chair of Photonics Finland, and Niklas Saxén, Hyreca Oy as a Vice Chair of Photonics Finland.
Aikio brings deep expertise in photonics applications and a clear vision for fostering national and international collaboration. The chair will be elected every two years and the position vary between academia and industry. Read more: Sanna Aikio elected Chairperson of Photonics Finland
Additionally, Photonics Finland welcomed new honorary members in recognition of their outstanding long-term contributions to the field and the community. They all have roots in the Finnish Optical Society, which is the predecessor of Photonics Finland.
Honorary Member Recognition is a way to acknowledge the key roles of the persons in building the foundation on which Finnish photonics now stands — both scientifically and industrially. The honorary membership reflects not only their professional achievements but also their lasting legacy and commitment to the Finnish photonics ecosystem. Read more: New honorary members of Photonics Finland
Honoring Talent and Research Excellence
OPD2025 also recognized outstanding academic contributions by sharing awards for The Best Doctoral Thesis, The Best Oral Presentation, and for The Best Posters (two awared). These awards highlights the critical role of young researchers and reinforces the importance of supporting emerging photonics talents in the field.
The spirit of OPD also include a yearly developing combination of young talents and experienced generations working together for creating an environment for sharing ideas, networking, and to transform knowledge.
Oulu provided its best – A Warm Welcome from the City of Oulu
The City of Oulu demonstrated its commitment to innovation and global collaboration by hosting OPD participants for a special Cocktail & Networking Reception, providing attendees a warm and elegant setting for connection and conversation.
The OPD event itself is always a nice challenge to organize when it comes to all the needs what is required from the proper venue. When combining 400 people, paraller running program, exhibition area, poster session area, special events, logistics needs, and lunch & coffee servings, there are many things to take in to account. It requires a lot from organization team but especially from the venue team, and Oulu Music Center provided not just an excellent venue for the OPD arrangement but also a very flexible and professional staff to make the photonics week best as possible!
During the OPD week: CARLA 360 Career Symposium – Continuing the Momentum
The spirit of collaboration extended beyond OPD2025. On June 6, the Oulu Music Centre hosted Finland’s first CARLA 360 Career Symposium, focused on Biotech and Medical Photonics. Over 80 participants—students, early-career professionals, and experts—came together to explore career pathways and entrepreneurial opportunities in this fast-growing field.
Key speakers included:
- Katja Lefevre (Detection Technology): “From Lab to Market”
- Prof. Jyrki Saarinen (UEF): “Starting a Business in Biotech and Medical Photonics”
- Dr. Sanna Aikio (VTT): “Soft Skills and Interdisciplinary Skills”
- Dr. Jussi Hiltunen (VTT): “Photonics Careers in Academia”
Panel discussions and testimonials further empowered attendees to navigate their careers with confidence. With over 70% reporting increased interest in photonics and entrepreneurship, the event underscored the importance of continued mentorship and networking in building a strong photonics ecosystem.
“This kind of experience is exactly what we need to strengthen and improve collaboration between industry and academia.” – Speaker Feedback
Strong Feedback for OPD2025 – Finland’s Premier Photonics Event Delivers Again
The Optics and Photonics Days 2025 (OPD2025) gathered overwhelmingly positive feedback from attendees, reinforcing its status as Finland’s flagship event for the photonics community. With over 80 survey responses collected, participants praised the event’s organization, program quality, and networking opportunities.
Some constructive suggestions included improving the closing session to make it more attractive and optimizing the layout of poster areas — all valuable input for enhancing future editions.
As a conclusion OPD2025 once again confirmed its crucial role in fostering collaboration, showcasing innovation, and strengthening the photonics ecosystem in Finland and beyond.
Looking Ahead
As OPD2025 closed, it left behind more than just shared research findings—it cultivated new partnerships, inspired career trajectories, and reinforced the importance of collaboration as the bedrock of photonics advancement.
Whether from a corporate lab or a university research center, every attendee left Oulu with the same impression: the future of photonics is bright, and it will be built—together. Next time in 2025, Jyväskylä, Finland.
The new Photonics Finland Honorary Members are:
- Jouko Korppi-Tommola
- Ari Friberg
- Risto Myllylä
- Kim Grundström
- Jyrki Saarinen
- Veli-Pekka Leppänen
- Timo Vuorenpää
Shared OPD2025 Awards
- Photonics Finland Company of the Year Award 2024,
Awarded to SPECIM, Spectral Imaging Ltd.
- Best Doctoral Thesis in Photonics 2024
Awarded to MD Gius Uddin (Aalto University) for his work:
“Fabrication and characterization of two-dimensional material-based devices for photonics and electronics”
- Best Oral Presentation Award
Abhiroop Chellu (Tampere University) for the presentation:
“Ultrafast single-photon emission from a Purcell-enhanced InAs quantum dot coupled to broadband cylindrical nanocavity”
- Best Poster Awards
- Sudharsana Bhashyam Pillailokam (Tampere University):
“Pixelated laser with tailored emission spectrum photopatterned by digital holographic microscopy”
- Henri Houni (University of Helsinki):
“Real-time monitoring of gas-phase formaldehyde with laser absorption spectroscopy”
Key Highlights from the Feedback:
· Event Experience: The majority rated the overall arrangements as Excellent or Good, with comments highlighting smooth logistics and a well-curated program.
· Community & Content: Most participants joined to present research, attend sessions, and network — showing the event’s relevance to both academia and industry.
· Photonics Finland Team: The organizing team received high scores (mostly 4–5 out of 5) for their support both during registration and the event.
· Mobile App Support: Attendees found the Conference4me app helpful for navigating the program.
· Future Commitment: Nearly everyone plans to return for future events, with high Net Promoter Scores (many rating 10/10 on likelihood to recommend).