Aachen Conference 'AI In Photonics' Brings Industry And Research Together

Artificial intelligence (AI) is already having a profound impact on value creation in laser manufacturing and optical design. Yet only a fraction of the potential between these fields has been realized. To help unlock these opportunities, SPECTARIS –the German industry association for optics, photonics, analytical and medical technologies – and the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT are hosting the two-day conference “AI in Photonics”. The first day introduces participants to AI methods, tools, and applications, providing a solid foundation in the field. The second day focuses on the latest developments in industrial and scientific AI applications. The two conference modules, taking place on October 13 and 14, 2026, can be booked individually or as a package.

AI is playing an increasingly important role in improving the efficiency, precision, and quality of photonic processes. What began with process monitoring and quality inspection, where AI can now distinguish actual defects from acceptable variations with remarkable accuracy, is evolving into active, predictive process optimization. As researchers gain a deeper understanding of the underlying causes of process variations, AI is becoming capable of predicting defects while production is still underway. The next logical step is active intervention to correct them automatically. As a result, laser manufacturing is moving ever closer toward developing a vision of autonomous first-time-right production.

“Data science provides photonics with a powerful set of tools that are exceptionally well suited to advancing laser material processing as well as to designing optical systems and laser beam sources,” says Professor Carlo Holly, Head of the Chair of Technology of Optical Systems at RWTH Aachen University and Head of the Data Science and Measurement Technology Department at the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT in Aachen. He will chair the second day of the conference, AI in Photonics – Industry Meets Research, to which SPECTARIS is inviting participants on October 13 and 14, 2026, with technical support from the supporting organizations Fraunhofer ILT and the German Association of IT SMEs (BITMi), as well as the two clusters REGINA e.V. and LASER.region.AACHEN.

The future of AI-enabled photonic manufacturing has begun
AI has become part of everyday life, thanks in large part to large language models such as ChatGPT, Gemini, and DeepSeek. The highly specialized and complex AI applications used in photonics, however, remain unfamiliar territory for many users. At the same time, this emerging field is evolving at an extraordinary pace, making it difficult to keep up with the latest developments. The Aachen AI conference addresses these challenges head-on. The first day, conducted in German, is designed for newcomers as well as industrial users who have had little or no exposure to the possibilities of AI-enabled photonic manufacturing. Researchers from Fraunhofer ILT and RWTH Aachen University will introduce participants to a range of AI methods, explain the fundamental principles behind AI applications in laser material processing, and demonstrate how AI can enhance process monitoring, quality optimization, and production efficiency. This seminar-style introduction is followed on the second day by an English-language conference program featuring speakers from industry and research. They will present the latest developments and emerging trends in scientific and industrial AI applications and discuss their impact on the advancement of laser-based manufacturing and optical design. Designed for more experienced users, the second module provides a platform for exchanging experience and best practices while offering fresh ideas for advancing photonic manufacturing processes through AI.

Explore AI and expand your professional network
“Both conference days offer excellent opportunities for networking and in-depth technical discussions with AI researchers from Fraunhofer ILT and my chair,” says Holly. “Successfully adopting AI also depends on personal connections and the exchange of experience and best practices. That's exactly what our conference, AI in Photonics - Industry Meets Research, is designed to foster.”