Quantum Photonics 2025: Trade fair for quantum photonics celebrates successful premiere in Erfurt

Impetus for research, security, and industrial applications

The Quantum Photonics trade fair has established a new platform in Erfurt for photonic quantum technologies—a field with enormous potential for the future. Around 500 trade visitors met representatives of leading companies, research institutions, and political actors on May 13 and 14, 2025. The fair offered both a diverse exhibition and a high-caliber conference program with international participation.

Technological developments and political promotion of the location

Photonic quantum technologies are considered a key technology for secure communication, high-performance measurement technology, and future-proof computing. An international innovation ecosystem has formed in Thuringia around optics research and photonics—a locational advantage that is also emphasized by state politicians. State Secretary Mario Suckert and Prof. Dr. Andreas Tünnermann from Fraunhofer IOF emphasized in their presentations the strategic importance of research, skilled training, and transfer projects for the region. With companies such as Hamamatsu, X-Fab, Lasos, and others, the trade fair was broadly based – from photodetectors to chip integration and laser technology.

Security, AI, and quantum computing in focus at the congress

The accompanying specialist congress addressed key societal challenges. Applications in cyber security, such as quantum key distribution (QKD), were just as much a focus as quantum computing and the interface with artificial intelligence. Contributions from Bundesdruckerei, the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light, IBM, and Fraunhofer showed how strongly the topic is differentiated in research and application. The QuNet initiative also presented concrete scenarios for secure communication in government and military contexts. The response from visitors and exhibitors was overwhelmingly positive. Numerous discussions were held, new partnerships initiated, and technological developments presented on the very first day. This successful kick-off event lays the foundation for a recurring platform that effectively brings together quantum photonics from research and industry.