The Czech Republic is preparing to showcase the very best of its scientific and technological expertise to the world. As part of the World Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan, the Czech Pavilion will host a prestigious international conference titled “Photonics, Lasers, Space: Designing the Future Society – Vision 2040”. The event is organized by the research infrastructure ELI ERIC in collaboration with the Czech Optical Cluster and other Czech and Japanese partners. Scheduled to take place from 9 to 11 September 2025, the conference will bring together leading scientists, technology experts, innovative companies, and public sector representatives from Europe and Asia.
EXPO 2025: A Global Stage for the Future
The Osaka EXPO represents one of the world’s foremost exhibition platforms for science, technology, and innovation. The Czech Republic’s participation holds both symbolic and strategic value—it allows Czech research, space projects, and industrial capabilities to be presented in a global context and reinforces the country’s position as a forward-thinking nation offering solutions for a digital and sustainable future. Moreover, the event serves as a significant opportunity to reaffirm and deepen Czech-Japanese cooperation.
Lasers, Photonics, and Space as Pillars of the 21st Century
Laser and photonic technologies are rapidly shaping key sectors ranging from energy and healthcare to quantum technologies, space exploration, and metrology. The Czech Republic excels in these areas not only through its advanced research infrastructure but also through active participation in international space missions and the development of sophisticated components and systems.
The conference will focus on the following thematic areas:
- Energy: Laser-driven nuclear fusion, photonics for sustainable energy sources
- Healthcare and Biotechnology: Non-invasive therapies, advanced diagnostics
- Quantum Technologies and Metrology: Optical clocks, precision measurement
- Space Research and Technologies: Exploration of the Solar System and deep space via space missions, X-ray spectroscopy, optics, and other space-related technologies
- Industrial Applications: Laser machining, inspection systems, advanced materials, semiconductor metrology
Czech Partners: Research Excellence and High-Tech Industry
The conference “Photonics, Lasers, Space: Designing the Future Society – Vision 2040” is an initiative of ELI ERIC, which has long fostered international cooperation with leading Japanese institutions in the field of laser and photonic technologies. The event is held in coordination with the Czech Optical Cluster.
Its content and organization involve key Czech research institutions and high-tech companies specializing in laser, photonic, and space technologies. The Czech Optical Cluster, as a professional platform, unites top-tier companies, research institutions, and universities, playing a pivotal role in systematically connecting research, industry, and education. Its mission is to create conditions for the long-term development of the optics industry in the Czech Republic, enhance the global competitiveness of its members, and promote Czech optics within European innovation structures.
Participating Research Institutions:
- ELI ERIC (Extreme Light Infrastructure)
- HiLASE Centre (Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences)
- CEITEC BUT (Central European Institute of Technology, Brno University of Technology)
- Astronomical Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences
Technology Companies:
- SQS Vláknová optika a.s. – Developer and manufacturer of fiber optics and optoelectronic systems
- IQS nano – Developer of ultra-precision 3D printing systems for optics, photonics, microfabrication, and bioengineering
- CactuX s.r.o. – Startup focused on non-destructive testing and X-ray inspection
- Rigaku Innovative Technologies Europe s.r.o. – X-ray detectors, optics, and sources for the semiconductor industry and materials research
- Lightigo – Contactless elemental analysis using LIBS technology
International Cooperation: Partnering with Japan
The conference is co-organized with leading Japanese institutions, including:
- ILE Osaka (Institute of Laser Engineering, Osaka University)
- KPSI, QST (Kansai Photon Science Institute, National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology)
Experts from JAXA, the University of Tokyo, Nagoya University, Kyoto University, and the SPring-8 research center are expected to participate, alongside key representatives from the industry and innovative companies.
Czech Science and Technology with Global Reach
The conference program will feature inspirational keynote speeches, thematic panels, and roundtable discussions with top experts from both the Czech Republic and Japan. The three-day event will also include educational activities for students, networking opportunities, business meetings, and the signing of cooperation memoranda.
