Quantum Technologies and Photonics Forum
The VDMA's Quantum Technologies and Photonics Forum has set itself the goal of bringing the importance and relevance of the represented key technologies closer to the machine builders for technological progress and thus to secure the technological lead of our members.

The Quantum Technologies and Photonics Forum was founded with the vision of showing members the potential of quantum technologies and photonics, paving the way for applications and thus improving the future and competitiveness of mechanical engineering.
To this end, the existing competences and resources in the VDMA in the specialist field of quantum technologies and photonics are being bundled and more strongly networked.

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Cooperation
- The Forum uses synergies! In order to anchor quantum technologies and photonics more strongly in the awareness of politicians and our members, we do public relations work and organise events on the topics.
- We show presence! At national and international trade fairs and conferences.
- Building bridges between research and application!
- We represent the industry throughout Europe! We form the interface between European industry, research and politics.
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Important questions on this topic
Discover the world of quantum technology in this podcast! Experts discuss the latest advances and applications.
The 9th meeting of CEN/CLC/JTC 22 Quantum Technologies took place in Paris from 14 to 16 April 2025. 8 delegations from Europe and representatives of the EU Commission took part. The meeting was hosted by AFNOR and the companies Quandela and Pasqal.
CEN-CENELEC JTC22-WG2 is developing a norm for characterizing ion traps used in quantum computing and sensing. The goal is a standardized framework for specification and testing.
Inter Expo Consult GmbH, VDMA and BMWK are organising the German Pavilion at LASER World of PHOTONICS INDIA 2025 from 17-19 September 2025 at the Bangalore International Exhibition Centre, concurrently with productronica India.
Photonics West, a leading trade fair for optics and photonics, took place in San Francisco from 28 to 30 January 2025. The German Pavilion was applied for by VDMA WG Laser for the first time.
JTC22-WG3 develops Technical Report for Benchmarking of Quantum Computers
Traveling Wave Parametric Amplifiers are a key component in cryogenic quantum computing systems. A European Norm is being developed.
The Leibniz-IPHT is researching biophotonic methods and technologies that are entering new dimensions in terms of resolution, sensitivity, specificity, speed, accuracy and automation.
We, the Micro Technologies department of VDMA EMINT, would like to create a research guide for our members with relevant research institutes from the world of microtechnology. The aim is to give our members an overview of the research landscape and thus an easy tool for finding potential project partners.
JTC22-WG2 specifies metrics for entangled photon sources (EPPS), which are crucial for quantum communication
New standardization activity: "'Gaps in QKD System and QKD Network Security Assurance"
This article lists introductory and overview materials on quantum technologies. It contains introductions to the technologies, information on the market situation in Germany and abroad as well as strategy papers.
Results of meetings on the standardization of quantum technologies at European and international level.
From September 15 to 19, 2024, the 13th CIRP Conference on Photonic Technologies [LANE 2024] will take place in the Stadthalle Fürth.
The Institut für Strahlwerkzeuge (IFSW) at the University of Stuttgart cordially invites you to participate in the 12th Stuttgart Laser Technology Forum (SLT).
Laser manufacturers and laser users from various industries will meet for the 14th time at the AKL - International Laser Technology Congress from April 17. – 19., 2024.
From November 20 to 22, 2023, the 4th plenary meeting of CEN/CLC/JTC 22 Quantum Technologies took place in Turin, Italy.
The OPC UA Companion Specification 40530 has been finalised by the Joint Working Group and the final document is now available for download on the VDMA and OPC Foundation homepages.
The steering committee of the Quantum Technologies and Photonics Forum held a workshop to develop new formats to support machine builders to better identify the potential applications of quantum technologies.
Great atmosphere in full halls, lively discussions and a very international audience: the global photonics industry met at LASER World of PHOTONICS from 27 to 30 June 2023.
With over 200 high-ranking representatives from industry, science and politics, the Photonics Partnership Annual Meeting 2023 took place in Brussels on April 26 – 27, 2023. The annual meeting of Photonics21 is one of the most important events for the
The event series "Quantum Leaps in Mechanical Engineering", founded by the VDMA Forum Quantum Technologies and Photonics, now took place for the fourth time and led 40 VDMA members and guests to the DLR Institute for Quantum Technologies in Ulm to le
On 14 August 2023, the 5th meeting of NA 043-02-05 AA "Quantum Technologies" took place at the invitation of the chairman Dr Thomas Gerster, PTB, within the framework of a web conference, in which 16 experts from industry and research participated.
The VDMA Working Group on Lasers and Laser Systems for Material Processing is the conceptual sponsor of the world's leading trade fair for photonics components, systems and applications. With its member companies from the laser and automation technology sectors and its Quantum Technologies and Photonics Forum, the working group is the perfect link between the LASER World of PHOTONICS, the World of QUANTUM and the leading trade fair for intelligent automation and robotics - automatica, which will be held simultaneously for the first time from June 27 – 30, 2023.
Members of the steering committee are fixed and define goals and actions of the Forum
The OE-A Roadmap Working Group is developing the OE-A Roadmap for Flexible and Printed Electronics. The publication represents the common perspective of all OE-A members.
Learn the basics of the trendy topic of second generation quantum technologies here.
Series Quantum Leaps in Mechanical Engineering in June 2022 at IBM Germany
Several trade associations and regional subsidiaries are partners of the VDMA Quantum Technologies and Photonics Forum.
The exclusive follow-up event to our sixth Future Business Summit took place live in Geneva and brought the future to life. Photos, video interviews and presentations are available now.
Live in Geneva, 08.-09.06.2022: Experience top research and innovation on precision metrology and quantum technology, on quarks and cosmology, with international collaboration at its best. Conveyed by CERN experts, including guided tours. The exclusive follow-up event to our 6th Scenario Study.
The web seminar took place on October 6, 2021.
The LMN 2021 will take place in the context of the South China International Industry Fair from August 4-6 in Shenzhen. AG Laser in VDMA is supporting the fair by presenting a paper at the conference.
Photonics21 has published a market study to mark the end of the Horizon 2020 research framework programme.
For over 30 years scientists at Fraunhofer IMS in Duisburg have been dealing with the devel-opment of microelectronic circuits, electronic systems, microsystems and sensors.
Even prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, there were indications of cooling in the laser industry. According to figures issued by the VDMA Working Committee “Lasers and Laser Systems for Material Processing”, both production and incoming orders dropped by about 18 per cent in 2019. Yet even in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis, there are opportunities to be taken, as demonstrated for instance by applications in the Industry 4.0 field. “As a result of the travel restrictions, digitised solutions are increasingly gaining in significance for a number of fields, including remote services, predictive maintenance, and links to manufacturing execution systems (MESs) in industry,” explained Dr. Christian Schmitz, Chief Executive Officer Laser Technology of TRUMPF GmbH + Co. KG in Ditzingen and chairman of the Working Committee Laser in the VDMA. “And one key foundation is provided by the German laser industry’s work on OPC UA-based interface standards.”
The second supplementary budget was approved. With this, the correction of the BMWi energy research funds for new projects was also finally implemented.
The Fraunhofer IPK in Berlin offers system solutions with a strong digital focus for the entire range of industrial tasks - from production management, product development and manufacturing to the maintenance of capital goods.
On July 6, 2020 the team around the material processing trade fair LASYS and LASER SYSTEMS EUROPE will already enter the third round of the webinar series "Lasers in Action". Compactly in one hour four LASYS exhibitors will present the latest developments in laser technology.
The NMI, a research institute of the Innovation Alliance Baden-Württemberg, carries out application-oriented research at the interface of the biological and material sciences.
Profile Cluster of Excellence PhoenixD Leibniz University of Hannover
The Institute for Applied Optics (ITO) at the University of Stuttgart has been dealing with topics in applied optics and optical metrology for 60 years.
Fraunhofer IWU is a driver of innovation for smart production.
The ILM is an interdisciplinary institute with strong emphasis on applied photonics and optics.
The Fraunhofer Institute for Physical Measurement Techniques IPM develops tailor-made measuring techniques and systems for industry.
Fraunhofer Institute for Electronic Microsystems and Solid State Technologies (EMFT) conducts cutting-edge applied research on sensors and actuators for people and the environment.
The Department of Microsystems Engineering (IMTEK) is a department of the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Freiburg, which stands for interdisciplinary high-tech research with an application focus.
The Fraunhofer IMWS is a methodologically oriented Fraunhofer Institute working in the disciplines of materials science and materials engineering.
The Institute of Micro- and Nanotechnologies (IMN) MacroNano® is an interdepartmental institute of the Technische Universität Ilmenau.
The main focus of the research activities at the Institute for Micro Production Technology is the design and manufacturing.
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