Sweden ZOOM
The conference serves as a central meeting point for Sweden’ s photonics stakeholders and a catalyst for new partnerships and projects.
Optopubs: Informal Networking and Knowledge Sharing
Optopubs are informal seminar sessions that combine technical talks with social interaction. Typically featuring one academic and one industry speaker, they offer a relaxed setting for learning and networking over food and drinks.
Held regularly in Stockholm, Gothenburg, Lund, and Hudiksvall, these events attract 25 – 70 participants and are hosted by local companies, offering varied perspectives and fostering community engagement.
Key Facts: The Swedish Photonics Industry at a Glance
• 200 + active photonics companies
• 8,000 + professionals employed nationwide
• Estimated annual turnover: € 2 – 3 billion
• All major universities engaged in photonics research and education
• Strong international presence and EU project participation
• Semicon Sweden – A new initiative co-funded by the European Union to strengthen the ecosystem and Sweden’ s position in semiconductors, launched in February 2025, Semicon Sweden is a national effort led by the Swedish Electronics Association with backing from agencies like Vinnova, RISE, Lund University, and PhotonicSweden. The goal is to strengthen Sweden’ s semiconductor and photonics ecosystem, improve national coordination, and position Sweden as a key European player— especially as part of the EU Chips Joint Undertaking( Chips JU).
• Most Swedish companies involved in photonics primarily identify as part of the broader electronics industry. The Swedish electronics sector directly employs approximately 66,000 individuals and generates an annual turnover of nearly € 20 billion. However, when including companies whose products and services critically depend on both electronics and photonics technologies— such as those in telecommunications, automation, medical technology, and advanced manufacturing, the industry ' s scale expands significantly. This broader category comprises an estimated 8,000 companies, employing around 260,000 people and contributing to a combined turnover of approximately € 90 billion annually. These figures underscore the extensive integration and economic impact of photonics as an enabling technology within Sweden’ s high-tech industrial landscape.
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