360 CARLA Symposium strengthens photonics careers and innovation at OPS 2025 in Stockholm

The 360 CARLA Symposium took place as part of the Optics & Photonics in Sweden (OPS) 2025 Conference, held on 22–23 October at KTH Electrum in Kista, Stockholm. Organized by PhotonicSweden and embedded within the 360 CARLA European program, the event brought together students, researchers and industry professionals to strengthen Sweden’s photonics ecosystem and promote career development across Europe.

50 Master’s students from universities across Sweden were selected and sponsored by Thorlabs, Kista Science City AB, and SCCC (Swedish Chips Competence Centre), allowing them to join the conference free of charge. Through their participation, students gained full access to the technical sessions, exhibition, and job fair, creating valuable opportunities to explore career paths and connect with companies active in the field.

Across the two days, the programme featured 21 speakers from academia and industry, as well as four keynote lecturers who addressed emerging technologies and strategic perspectives for the future of photonics. Prof. Wim Bogaerts discussed programmable photonics for next-generation signal processing; Dr. John Lincoln offered insights into the economic and societal impact of photonics; Prof. Yen-Chieh Huang explored photonic chips for electron acceleration; and Charlott Samuelsson presented Mycronic’s five decades of innovation in the display and semiconductor sectors.

Scientific sessions and poster presentations highlighted advances in areas such as AI-enabled photonics, terahertz technologies, quantum applications, optical metrology, and precision manufacturing. Meanwhile, the exhibition area—featuring 30 Swedish and international companies—served as an active networking hub. The Job Fair Corner provided a dedicated space for students and employers to discuss internships, thesis projects, and recruitment opportunities, strengthening the connection between Sweden’s research and industrial communities.

By combining technical excellence, career development and strong industry engagement, the 360 CARLA Symposium at OPS 2025 succeeded in inspiring the next generation of photonics professionals. With its mix of sponsored student participation, leading research presentations, and an industry-driven exhibition, the event reaffirmed Sweden’s role as a growing leader in optical and photonic innovation within Europe.