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The Quantum Photonics trade fair in Erfurt in 2025 marked the premiere of a new platform for photonic quantum technologies. The event brought together around 500 trade visitors from industry, research, politics, and security agencies on May 13 and 14. The aim was to promote exchange between basic research, industrial development, and practical application. From the outset, Quantum Photonics 2025 positioned itself as a trade fair with clear depth of content and strategic ambition. The combination of an exhibition and a high-caliber conference program proved to be a winning formula. Companies, research institutions, and political actors used the premiere to present technological developments, initiate collaborations, and strengthen Germany's position in the international competition for quantum technologies. The enormous future potential of quantum photonics for the economy and society became particularly clear.
Photonic quantum technologies are considered a key technology for secure communication, precise measurement technology, and high-performance computing. In Thuringia, an internationally visible innovation ecosystem has developed in recent years around optics, photonics, and quantum technologies. The premiere of Quantum Photonics in Erfurt specifically addressed this development and made it visible to a broad specialist audience. Representatives of state politics emphasized the strategic importance of this topic. State Secretary Mario Suckert highlighted the role of targeted research funding and skilled worker development, while Prof. Dr. Andreas Tünnermann from Fraunhofer IOF underscored the importance of transferring research into industrial applications. It is precisely this connection that is considered crucial for translating technological excellence into economic value creation. With companies such as Hamamatsu, X-Fab, Lasos, and other players, the trade fair covered a broad technological spectrum. The spectrum ranged from photodetectors and laser systems to chip integration and specialized manufacturing technologies. The premiere in Erfurt thus demonstrated that quantum photonics is no longer just a research topic, but is increasingly gaining industrial relevance.
A central component of Quantum Photonics 2025 was the accompanying specialist congress. Lectures and panel discussions highlighted applications of quantum photonics in security-relevant and socially sensitive areas. One focus was on cybersecurity, in particular quantum key distribution (QKD) as the basis for tap-proof communication. Representatives from the Federal Printing Office, the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light, IBM, and Fraunhofer showed how strongly the field differs between basic research and concrete application. The interaction between quantum computing and artificial intelligence was also discussed intensively. New approaches are emerging here that could fundamentally change both computing power and data processing. The QuNet initiative, which presented concrete scenarios for secure communication in a governmental and military context, received particular attention. The contributions made it clear that quantum photonics is gaining importance not only technologically but also geopolitically. Accordingly, there was considerable interest in regulatory issues, security standards, and international cooperation.
In addition to research and security, industrial applications are increasingly coming into focus. Numerous discussions at the trade fair revolved around scalability, production processes, and the market launch of new technologies. Quantum photonics offers new long-term business opportunities, especially for medium-sized companies—for example, in sensor technology, semiconductor manufacturing, and medical technology. Quantum Photonics 2025 deliberately saw itself as a bridge between the laboratory and the market. Exhibitors and visitors used the premiere to discuss specific project ideas and explore opportunities for cooperation. The high intensity of discussions on the very first day of the trade fair underscored the need for a specialized platform for this technology sector.
The response from exhibitors and trade visitors at Messe Essen was consistently positive. Particular praise was given to the technical depth, the clear thematic focus, and the opportunity to bring together research, industry, and politics in one place. Many participants expressed their support for the trade fair to continue and see Quantum Photonics as a platform with long-term relevance. The successful premiere in Erfurt has laid the foundation for a recurring trade fair. Quantum Photonics 2025 has shown that quantum photonics is not just a topic for the future, but already has concrete applications, economic relevance, and strategic importance today. The trade fair could thus establish itself permanently as a meeting place for one of the key technologies of the coming decades.
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