Agenda
07 - 08 October 2025
Málaga, SPAIN
*** The Forum will be recorded and livestreamed.
****This is a preliminary agenda.
It ensures a comprehensive and inclusive discussion on investment opportunities, challenges, and strategic approaches, catering to the diverse spectrum of companies within the photonics industry.
06 October 2025
********* Malaga TechPark organizes a guided Tour at 11 am. If you are interested, please contact Lourdes Cruz at lcruz@pta.es
7:30 pm, Optica Welcome Reception at Candado Beach, Málaga. A networking evening ahead of the forum, offering a relaxed environment for attendees to connect.
Day 1: 07 October 2025
Venue: FYCMA, Palace of Congresses and Exhibitions. Bus transportation from hotels recommend by Optica to the venue provided.
| Time CET | Sessions | Participants | Session Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8:00 - 9:00 | Registration/welcome coffee | FYCMA, Palace of Congresses and Exhibitions | |
|
9:00 - 9:45
|
Welcome & Opening Remarks
|
Jim Kafka, President, Optica & Emeritus Fellow, MKS Jose Pozo, CTO, Optica & Elizabeth Nolan, CEO, Optica Reinhard Voelkel, Co-Chairman of the Global Photonics Economic Forum Antonio Hernando Vera, Secretary of State for Telecommunications and Digital Infrastructure, Spanish Government Carolina España Reina, Minister of Economy, Finance, and European Funds, Junta de Andalucia TBA, Representative Ayuntamiento de Málaga |
Opening and Welcome Introduction and objectives of the forum, highlighting the collaborative opportunities within the photonics industry. |
| 9:45 - 10:10 | Keynote 1 | Jo De Boeck, EVP & CSO, imec | |
| 10:10 - 10:35 | Keynote 2 |
Marisa Edmund, Chairman of the Board & CEO, Edmund Optics |
|
| 10:35 - 11:15 | Coffee Break & Exhibition Visit | Networking & visiting exhibitions. | |
| 11:15 - 11:40 | Keynote 3 | Scott Keeney, Co-Founder & CEO, nLIGHT | |
| 11:40 - 12:30 |
Panel Discussion 1 Defense & Security: Key Photonics Trends at the Front Line Moderator: Gregory Quarles, CEO Emeritus, Applied Energetics |
Panelists:
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|
| 12:30 - 13:00 |
Panel Discussion 2 Spain, a success story of bridging Photonics and Semiconductors Moderator: Ewit Roos, General Partner, PhotonVentures |
Panelists:
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| 13:00 - 14:00 | Lunch Break & Exhibition Visit | Networking & Lunch | |
| 14:00 - 14:15 | Update Geopolitical Industry Challenges | Michael Hochberg, President, Periplous LLC & Visiting Scholar, Cambridge Centre for Geopolitics | |
| 14:15 - 15:05 |
Panel Discussion 3 New strategies of Photonics profit from Semicon Moderator: Jose Pozo, CTO, Optica |
Panelists:
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| 15:05 - 15:30 | Keynote 4 | Mark Gitin, CEO, IPG Photonics | |
| 15:30 - 16:10 | Coffee Break & Exhibition Visit | Networking & visiting exhibitions. | |
| 16:10 - 16:35 | Keynote 5 | Michael Klug , Director, AR Optical Engineering, Google | |
| 16:35 - 17:25 |
CEO Panel Moderator: Michael Lebby, Optica Board Member |
Panelists:
|
Discussion among top CEOs about leadership and strategic direction in the photonics industry. |
| 17:25 - 17:45 | Optica Prize Ceremony | Presented by: Ulrike Fuchs, Chair, Optica Awards Council. Awards offered by Representative Ayuntamiento Malaga, and Jim Kafka, President, Optica |
|
| 17:45 |
Departure for Evening Reception. Formal dinner & networking |
Bus transportation to El Balneario Nuestra Señora del Carmen |
Day 2: 08 October 2025
Venue: FYCMA, Palace of Congresses and Exhibitions. Bus transportation from hotels recommend by Optica to the venue provided.
| Time CET | Sessions | Participants | Session Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8:30 - 9:30 |
Registration/welcome coffee |
FYCMA, Palace of Congresses and Exhibitions | |
| 9:30 - 9:40 | Welcome Day 2 | Jose Pozo, CTO, Optica & Co-Chairman, GPEF | |
| 9:40 - 10:05 | Keynote 6 | Jennifer Cable, President, Thorlabs |
|
| 10:05 - 10:55 |
Panel Discussion 4 Scaling Photonics Innovations in a Changing Global Economy Moderator: Mike Powell, Managing Partner, Renevo Capital
|
Panelists:
|
Focused discussion on aligning research initiatives with industry needs. |
| 10:55 - 11:40 | Coffee Break & Exhibition Visit |
Networking & visiting exhibitions. |
|
| 11:40 - 11:55 |
Update Global Supply Chain challenges |
|
|
| 11:55 - 12:45 |
Panel Discussion 5 Geopolitical Trade & Supply Chain Resilience: US, Canada, Europe, Japan, Singapore
|
Panelists:
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| 12:45 - 14:00 | Lunch Break & Exhibition Visit |
Networking & Lunch |
|
| 14:00 - 14:25 | Keynote 7 | Stefan Traeger, CEO, JENOPTIK |
|
| 14:25 - 15:15 |
Panel Discussion 6 Entrepreneurship & Investment in Photonics
|
Panelists:
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| 15:15 - 16:00 | Coffee Break & Exhibition Visit | Networking & visiting exhibitions. | |
| 16:00 - 16:25 | Keynote 8 | Christina Hirschl, CEO, Silicon Austria Labs | |
| 16:25 - 17:15 |
Panel Discussion 7 Photonics for Future Technologies: Quantum, AI & Data
|
Panelists:
|
How different could the world look 25 years from now? |
| 17:15 - 17:30 |
Closing Remarks & Outlook for GPEF 2026 |
Felipe Romera, Director, Malaga TechPark (PTA) Jose Pozo, CTO, Optica |
|
| 17:30 | Departure for Farewell Reception at Historic Center of Málaga hosted by University of Málaga | Networking reception from 18:00 to 20:30 | Full capacity reached |
