2025 was an exceptionally dynamic year for Czech Optical Cluster.
Our mission – to connect science, industry, and education in optics and photonics – came to life through numerous events, projects, and partnerships.
✅ International Projects and Cooperation:
◾ We launched two major Horizon Europe projects – PhotonQBoost and LASER-PRO Excellence Hub, paving the way for innovations in photonics, quantum technologies, and laser applications. These projects brought new expertise and opportunities for our members to engage in European research networks.
◾ Active involvement of cluster manager Petr Přikryl as a member of Photonics21
✅ Presence at Prestigious Global Events:
◾ EXPO 2025 in Osaka – we proudly represented the Czech Republic with the conference Photonics, Lasers, Space: Designing the Future Society – Vision 2040.
◾ Laser World of Photonics in Munich – our joint booth with cluster members showcased the strength of Czech optical industry.
◾ Optics & Photonics International Exhibition in Japan – active participation in a leading global trade fair.
✅ Workshops and Networking – we (co-)organized numerous expert events:
◾ Polish-Czech Photonics workshop and the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with PPTF – Polish Technological Platform on Photonics.
◾ Conference on Sustainability & Life Cycle of Defence Systems in cooperation with University of Defence in Brno (Univerzita obrany)
◾ Correlative Materials Characterization Workshop – the fifth edition focused on cutting-edge analytical techniques, in cooperation with CEITEC – Central European Institute of Technology and Brnoregion Microscopy.
◾ Microscopy 2025 – the annual conference held in Liberec, in cooperation with Československá mikroskopická společnost
◾ MEZI SEBOU – our traditional networking meetings in offline and hybrid format.
◾ Annual Members´ Meeting and Workshop “Shaping the Cluster´s Future 2030” in Bořetice
✅ STEM Education and Outreach – promoting optics and photonics among young talents is one of our priorities:
◾ Optics Day at Brno University of Technology (Vysoké učení technické v Brně) – an event designed to raise awareness of optical disciplines, showcase real career opportunities, and motivate students to pursue STEM education.
◾ We also partnered on the Innovation in Vocational Education conference in Olomouc
◾ Our website now features a Jobs & Internships section connecting schools with companies and helping students find practical experience in the field.
✅ New Members
◾ We welcomed five companies to the cluster: Olympus, OptiXs, Activair, TechSoft Engineering, and Hikade Technologies.
Thank you to all members, partners, and supporters for your collaboration in 2025!
We look forward to more joint projects, innovations, and meetings in 2️⃣ 0️⃣ 2️⃣ 6️⃣
