The Photonics Finland annual meeting took place on 29th November 2024. The upcoming year focuses on expanding the impact and engagement of photonics across Finland, guided by the currently prepared Finnish Photonics Roadmap. The primary goals for 2025 include implementing roadmap initiatives, attracting new members through targeted development efforts, managing projects to maximize member value, and enhancing event offerings to support member engagement and knowledge sharing.
For 2025, the Photonics Finland budget reached over 700,000 euros; the main expenses arise from the organization of events such as Optics and Photonics Days (OPD) and Photonics Finland pavilions at trade fairs Photonics West and Laser World of Photonics. European projects have a main role in funding Photonics Finland actions, but also in creating new opportunities and networks for Photonics Finland members.
Cooperation at all levels
The new Chairman of Photonics Finland’s Scientific Advisory Board, Professor Jyrki Saarinen from the University of Eastern Finland, is intensifying efforts in photonics education. By strengthening partnerships with higher education institutions, Photonics Finland is building the foundation for a robust, future-ready industry. Also, the photonics innovation ecosystem in cities project continues the development by fostering cooperation through the separately built Photonics Advisory Board.
Events that make the difference and create value
Photonics Finland creates events that meet the needs of the members from academia to industry, also not forgetting students and other affiliated organizations. The main event for the upcoming year is Optics & Photonics Days (OPD), which will be held 3–5.6.2025 in Oulu, Finland. The Photonics Finland pavilion will be organized for the Photonics West 2025 and Laser World of Photonics 2025 exhibitions. Photonics Finland and PREIN flagship will be organizing a photonics panel discussion at Suomi Areena 2025, the biggest national discussion event in Finland.
The Photonics in Finland survey for Industry and Academia will be carried out during the spring of 2025 to update the previously 2023 published numbers and to see where Finnish photonics is heading during the upcoming years.
Kim Grundström, the Chairman of the Board, Photonics Finland, sees the future as bright: “The excellent development of Photonics Finland’s project portfolio offers the tools to further develop the cooperation between our members, our networked partners, and our stakeholders, and more ways to strengthen our services to our members. Photonics Finland is doing well, and the enthusiasm of its community encourages new actors and companies to follow and participate in the development of excellence emerging from Finland”.
