Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Optics and Precision Engineering IOF
Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Optics and Precision Engineering IOF

Program - stay tuned for our agenda 2026

The Photonics Days 2026 -
important information

 

  • The Photonics Day Jena 2026 will take place on September 15, 2026 as an on-site event held in English.

The times given are all Central European Time (CEST; UTC +2:00 hours) and 24h format.

 

This year's Photonics Day will take place in parallel with other events organized by Fraunhofer IOF and its partners, that participants from other events will attend program items of the Photonics Day.

Agenda 2025

TIME PROGRAM
9:00 A.M. - 10:30 A.M. Arrival & Registration at Photonics Day 2025

FOYER Fraunhofer IOF
10:30 A.M. - 10:45 A.M. Welcoming Remarks by Andreas Tünnermann & Andreas Marx, President of Friedrich Schiller University Jena

ZEISS Hall, Fraunhofer IOF
10:45 A.M. - 1:00 P.M. Career & Industry Brunch
On-site networking brunch with hiring companies in the field of photonics

ZEISS Hall, Fraunhofer IOF		 Hackathon "QUANTUM HACKING"

11:00 A.M. - 12:00 A.AM

Welcome & Introduction
&
Laser safety instruction
Seminar Room 1, Abbe Center of Photonics
1:00 P.M. - 1:30 P.M. Photonics4Future Lecture:
"Photonic Quantum Communication Technology"
Fabian Steinlechner (Fraunhofer IOF)

Auditorium, Abbe Center of Photonics
1:30 P.M. - 3:30 P.M. Labtour & Showroom
Guided tour of the Fraunhofer IOF in small groups

Fraunhofer IOF		 Hackathon "QUANTUM HACKING"
Lectures “The world of quantum hacking”
Experiment presentation
mandatory registration here
Seminar Room 1, Abbe Center of Photonics
3:30 P.M. - 4:00 P.M. COFFEE BREAK

Abbe Center of Photonics
4:00 P.M. - 5:00 P.M. Keynote Lecture & Talk:
"Photonics quantum technologies: from integrated quantum devices to designing large complex systems"
Christine Silberhorn / Integrated Quantum Optics, Department Physics, Institute for Photonic Quantum Systems (PhoQS),Paderborn University

Auditorium, Abbe Center of Photonics		 Hackathon "Quantum Hacking"
Participants can take part in the Keynote or use the time extra for hacking

Seminar Room 1, Abbe Center of Photonics
5:00 P.M. - 5:45 P.M. Award ceremony for the
"Applied Photonics Award 2025"

Auditorium, Abbe Center of Photonics		 Extension of Hackathon "QUANTUM HACKING" (until midnight)

Seminar Room 1, Abbe Center of Photonics
5:45 P.M. - 6:30 P.M. Idea Pitches of "Cluster of Excellence in Photonics"
&
subsequent Award Ceremony
Click here for the application form
Eligible to participate are students of Fraunhofer IOF, IAP Jena and Lichtwerkstatt Jena with a research idea related to photonics. The deadline for submissions is September 15.

Auditorium, Abbe Center of Photonics
6:30 P.M. - 8:00 P.M. Evening Program
Get Together "Photonics Day" and "Jenaer Optikgespräche"

Fraunhofer IOF

Further Information on Program 2025

© Fraunhofer IOF
Prof. Dr. Fabian Steilechner, Head of Department "Photonic Quantum Systems" Fraunhofer IOF

Lecture Photonics4Future

 

Title: "Photonic Quantum Communication Technology", Fabian Steinlechner (Fraunhofer IOF)

Abstract:

Quantum communication offers the promise of secure encryption keys, whose secrecy is guaranteed by the fundamental laws of quantum physics. In recent years, significant progress has been made toward the deployment of practical quantum networks at metropolitan scales. However, the transmission of quantum states over long distances remains a central challenge for achieving global-scale quantum communication. This talk will provide an overview of recent advancements in practical quantum communication in real fiber and free-space link infrastructure, and will highlight ongoing efforts to overcome long-distance limitations—including the use of satellite-based quantum links.

Hackathon – Quantum Communication

Hacking Quantum Communication Systems

At this unique event, you'll have the opportunity to test and expand your knowledge and skills in the fields of quantum communication. 

  • Expert Training in Quantum Communication with focus on Quantum hacking with interactive lectures.
  • Experimental manipulation of a Quantum communication setup in a small team to realize a hacking attempt.
  • Gain insight into the laboratories of Photonic Quantum Systems.
  • Check out lectures and the exhibit area of the Photonics Days. 
  • Free lunch and dinner
  • Support for travel and accommodation costs possible on request
  • Teams with the most innovative hacking attempts receive a non-cash prize

The hackathon  “Quantum Hacking” is offered by project "O-PEN" (funded by BMFTR) and
requires mandatory registration at www.quanten-kompass.de

© Fraunhofer IOF/ Fraunhofer ISI
Quantum Hackathon at Fraunhofer IOF - organized by Project "O-Pen"
© Paderborn University
Prof. Dr. Christine Silberhorn, Head of Department Physics, Institute for Photonic Quantum Systems (PhoQS,), Paderborn University

Keynote

 

Title: "Photonic quantum technologies: from integrated quantum devices to designing large complex system", Christine Silberhorn (Paderborn University)

Abstract:

Quantum technologies promise a change of paradigm for many fields of application, for example in communication systems, in high-performance computing and simulation of quantum systems, as well as in sensor technology. Current efforts in photonic quantum science target the implementation of practical devices and scalable systems, where the realization of quantum devices for real-word deployment and controlled quantum network structures is key for many applications.

Here we present our work on three different fields in this area: non-linear integrated quantum optics, pulsed temporal modes and photonic quantum computation.