FACT SHEET

Photonics
in Germany

Issue 2021/2022

Optical and photonic technologies have enjoyed consistent growth in recent years – with new markets including
augmented and virtual reality, digital health, autonomous
driving, machine vision, and smart farming all creating
new business opportunities. Increasing public investment and R&D efforts in quantum communication andcomputing have increased the number of start-ups andhelped consolidate Germany’s international technological leadership.
Europe’s Photonics Leader
Germany boasts one of the world’s most thriving and innovative photonics sectors and ranks as Europe’s leading photonics
nation, with more than 41 percent of continental production.
Germany’s photonics sector has developed to become one of
the country’s most important future industries and a motor
for innovation and growth. Approximately 1,000 companies
currently operate in the sector – including major names like
Bosch, Jenoptik, Trumpf, Zeiss, Schott, AgfaGevaert, Osramand Laserline – where business is booming. Between 2005
and 2019, revenue rose 220 percent from EUR 17 billion to EUR
37.5 billion. Exports grew 1.6 percent in 2019 to EUR 27.1 billion,
with the greatest number of sales in the European Union, followed by Asia and North America respectively.
High Demand for German Photonic Products
An export quota rate of around 70 percent testifies to theinternational competitiveness of innovative photonics solutions made in Germany. The export rate in the production
technology sector is particularly high at 80 percent, with themedical technology and life sciences sector also above 70percent. Taken in total, German photonic company export
value is considerably higher than is the case for companies
in the manufacturing sector. Average company spending of10 percent of total revenue on research and development
helps make the photonics sector one of the most researchintensive sectors in Germany.

The German Photonics
Industry in Numbers
142,500
people work in the optical and photonic
technologies sector in Germany

41%
market share of continental production –making Germany Europe’s leading photonics nation

1,000
companies operate in Germany’s photonics
sector including major global players

EUR 37.5 billion
industry turnover – with an above average
growth rate in recent years

EUR 27.1 billion
export volume in 2019 – greatest
number of sales in EU→ Further information:
www.gtai.com/electronics
Source: SPECTARIS 2020

National Excellence Network
for Photonic Research andOptecNet Network

LOCATION AVANTAGES

SchleswigHolsteinMecklenburgVorpommern

Hamburg

HansePhotonik
BremenPhotonicNet

Niedersachsen
BerlinHannoverMax Planck School of Photonics
www.maxplanckschools.de/en University/Universityof Applied Science

OpTech-Net

Max Planck InstituteFraunhofer InstituteLeibniz InstituteNorth RhineWestphalia Paderborn Göttingen

Brandenburg

Duisburg

SaxonyJena
AachenOptonetThuringia

HessenRheinlandPfalz

OptenceHelmholtz Centre
OptecNet Deutschland

SaxonyAnhalt

OptecBBDarmstadt

Erlangen

SaarlandPhotonics BW

Karlsruhe
Aalen

BadenWürttemberg

Bavaria

Munichbayern photonics

Source: Max Planck School of Photonics, OptecNet 2020

Connecting World-Class Research
Germany is home to an impressive number of regionaland national networks and clusters. The rapid proliferation of science and industry clusters can be attributed
to the country’s advanced level of industrial diversityaligned to a sustained and forward-looking innovation
policy. Generous R&D funding promotes innovation aspart of a long-term roadmap for the photonics future.

research excellence. They include the University of Hamburg, the Georg-August-University Göttingen (GAU), theAachen University (RWTH), the Friedrich-Schiller-UniversityJena (FSU), the Friedrich-Alexander-University ErlangenNuremberg (FAU), the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT),
the Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich (LMU), and the
University of Paderborn (UPB).

Max Planck School of Photonics
The Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)
supports a network of excellence under the lead of theFraunhofer Institute of Applied Optics and Precision Engineering (IOF). The Max Planck School of Photonics (MPSP) focuses
key strengths of the German photonics community and aimsto provide world-class research support to companies fromall over the world. The consortium aims to connect all major
and innovative photonics communities to an interdisciplinarycluster.

Research Institute Partners
Research institute partners represent the breadth anddiversity of Germany’s four major research associations.
They include the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Optics andPrecision Engineering (IOF), the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser
Technology (ILT), the Max Planck Institute for Biophysical
Chemistry (BPC), the Max Planck Institute for the Scienceof Light (MPL), the Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics(MPQ), the Detaches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY), theHelmholtz Centre for Heavy Ion Research Institute Jena (GSI),
and the Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology (IPHT).

University Partners
MPSP university partners are located across Germany andrepresent a significant share of university-based photonics

LOCATION ADVANTAGESSupporting Innovation
OptecNet Deutschland
The German optics and photonics industry is concentrated
within several clusters and industry associations. Regional
clusters are organized in OptecNet Deutschland – the association of the German Regional Competence Networks forOptical Technologies. Founded in 2000 as an initiative of theFederal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), OptecNet
Deutschland is the supraregional association of the sevenregional competence networks. OptecNet’s mission is to support the optical technologies as key technologies for Germany.
→ www.optecnet.dego-cluster Initiative
The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi)“go-cluster” excellence program brings together around 100
innovation clusters from across Germany. Cluster members
are at the cutting-edge of innovation and represent the technological diversity with the country’s industry and technology sectors. The initiative provides financial stimulus – in theform of support for innovative services and funding for novel
solutions – to optimize cluster management allowing member clusters to position themselves as highly effective andvisible international clusters. Membership provides numerous
advantages to innovation clusters, actors and partners. Of the18 photonics clusters and networks recognized by the Clusterplattform Deutschland, 11 enjoy go-cluster status.
→ www.clusterplattform.de
Photonic Research Germany
The BMBF has promoted pre-competitive photonics research
since 2012 within its Photonic Research Germany program,
thereby forming a central pillar of the industry R&D landscape within the country. Five areas of activity were identified as cornerstones of the 10-year funding program. These
include the use of photonics in growth markets; developmentof integrated photonic system technologies; realizationof photonic process chains; expansion of photonics base;and innovation in emerging technologies. Public funding ofaround EUR 100 million each year has been made available tothe sector to date. The Photonic Research Germany funding
program also brings national and European support measures
together under one roof and supports international cooperation activities with partners outside Europe. Furthermore, inthe current governmental legislative period, a total of EUR
650 million of quantum technology research is being funded.
→ www.photonikforschung.deIndustry Association SPECTARIS
Spectaris is the German industry association for the hightech
medium-sized business sector and representative body inthe areas of medical technology, consumer optics, analytical,
bio and laboratory technology as well as photonics. Spectaris

pools the interests of around 400 member companies from
Germany and their 300,000 strong workforce. Through its
political activities, public relations and industry marketing,the association gives its members a voice, formulates new
responsibilities and opens up new markets. This ensures theinternational competitiveness of German industry in these
sectors and thus safeguards locations and jobs.
→ www.spectaris.de/enGaining a Foothold in Germany
Despite the coronavirus pandemic, German optics
and photonics have remained robust – attracting
major investments from abroad.
CanadaCanadian industrial camera manufacturer Emergent
Vision Technologies opened a European subsidiarynear Stuttgart in July 2020. The new office offers
closer proximity to the largest markets in Europe, theMiddle East and Africa.
Netherlands
ASML, a leading Dutch manufacturer of photolithography systems for the semiconductor sector, recentlyacquired Berliner Glas which produces the ceramic andoptical modules used in its lithography products.
Switzerland/USA
Swiss-American technology company TE Connectivity
acquired Berlin-based sensor system supplier FirstSensor, accelerating its growth in the increasinglycompetitive global market.

→ Find out how your company can profit from Germany’s
research excellence. Contact our industry experts tomake an appointment: jerome.hull@gtai.com andmax.milbredt@gtai.com

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Contact
Jerome Hull
Electronics & Microtechnology
jerome.hull@gtai.com

Max Milbredt
Electronics & Microtechnology
max.milbredt@gtai.com· Market and industry reports· Market entry analyses· Business and tax law information· Funding and financing information

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