Join the Innovation Days 2026: “United by Light & Driven by Curiosity”
Be part of Jenoptik’s biggest innovation event in 2026. Gain insights and learn more about the trends and technologies that move and inspire our business units.
Innovation Days 2026
October 27-29, 2026
"Lichtblick" restaurant in Jena-Göschwitz
Join us for the Innovation Days 2026, an event that brings together experts, innovators, and enthusiasts from across the company to explore the latest trends and advancements in technology most relevant to Jenoptik. This year, we bring everyone together in the Lichtblick Restaurant in Jena-Göschwitz from October 27th to October 29th.
Over the course of these three days, you can expect interactive workshops and inspiring presentations on cutting-edge topics, curated by our business units and delivered by the very people who are moving these topics forward. We will also feature keynotes and panel discussions with external experts, interactive booths, and the celebration of the outstanding work from across the company, by presenting the winners of the Jenius Innovator Award.
We look forward to seeing you at the Innovation Days 2026.
Agenda
2.00 p.m. – 2.30 p.m.
Registration/check-in
2.30 p.m. – 3.00 p.m.
Welcome & opening – by Ralf Kuschnereit & Adrian König
Kick off the Innovation Days 2026 with Ralf Kuschnereit and Adrian König as they reflect on Jenoptik’s position as an innovation leader, review the actions that keep us at the forefront of technology and set the tone for how we can continue to drive breakthrough ideas together.
3.15 p.m. – 4.45 p.m.
Acceleration of product development with the use of AI
In this session, we will take a closer look at the current state of artificial intelligence in engineering, explore how AI can speed up engineering work and product development, and highlight the new possibilities it creates. We will walk through a handful of concrete use-case examples and then run a live demo, so you can see an AI framework in action in real time.
3.15 p.m. – 4.45 p.m.
Methodology: Embedded platforms 2.0
Join us to explore the status quo of embedded platforms for scanners. The session will look ahead at emerging trends in the embedded sector, discuss how future programming will be designed, and identify the best ways for Jenoptik to leverage these innovations.
5.00 p.m. – 6.00 p.m.
Software Development: From Past to Future
The domain of software development has experienced a profound shift, moving from past rigid processes to current agile-driven global collaboration, and is starting to take a new shape with the growth of Agentic AI. This session also examines how Project, Product, and Developer roles have evolved over the last decades and is expected to mature further. Together we will also discuss and gain insights into potential opportunities ahead of us.
6.00 p.m. – 6.15 p.m.
Wrap-up
8.00 a.m. – 8.05 a.m.
Intro Day 2
8.05 a.m. – 8.45 a.m.
Academia Panel
A conversation at the intersection of photonics, research and industry, exploring how technology foresight and scouting can help identify the opportunities of tomorrow, and how academia and companies like Jenoptik can work more closely together to bridge the gap between research and innovation.
9.00 a.m. – 10.30 a.m.
Metrology for copackaged optics
Micro‑optics demands a new, high‑precision metrology tool set and fast, scalable measurements for mass production. In this workshop, we will take an in-depth look at the metrological requirements for these new miniature optical elements and then, in an interactive session, we will assess existing competencies, identify missing capabilities, and pinpoint market gaps.
9.00 a.m. – 10.30 a.m.
Under the Hood: Engineering AI into our Product
Discover how AI can solve real‑world computer‑vision challenges. We will begin with a brief overview of the fundamental concepts. We will then break down computer vision into its main task types, demonstrate how SMS currently uses each one, and illustrate how other SBUs could apply them to solve problems and enhance products. Participants will split into groups, match a problem from their own area to one of these task types and go through how someone would start a computer vision project: from defining the problem, all the way to training and testing a model.
11.00 a.m. – 1.00 p.m.
Lunch break
2.00 p.m. – 2.30 p.m.
Sustainability meets ID26
Step into the conversation on sustainable product development and discover sustainability’s impact on product cost and market advantage. We will outline where we stand today, showcase a three‑time Jenoptik Sustainability Award story from our BIO team, and discuss customer PCF demands, supply‑chain expectations, the PLM hurdles we face, and the actions needed to be more sustainable in the future.
Defense Driven Next Generation Technologies: The Photonics of Autonomy
What sensors power the next generation of autonomous systems on the battlefield? From the precision of laser range finders to the penetrating power of infrared imaging, these components integrate into autonomous platforms to enhance decision-making speed and accuracy. We will explore advanced sensing technologies and their role in achieving operational superiority.
New Design Solutions in SAM – PICs, Metastructures, Hybrid Systems
A dive into innovative design strategies for optical systems for the semiconductor market, focusing on the integration of Photonic Integrated Circuits (PICs), Metastructures, and Hybrid Systems to solve complex engineering challenges and drive future industry standards.
4.30 p.m. – 5.00 p.m.
AI Academy
The AI Academy is designed to equip employees with AI knowledge and skills relevant to their daily work. Its main goals are to raise the level of AI knowledge across the company, to turn uncertainty about AI into curiosity, and to empower staff to apply it responsibly. Take this opportunity to expand your knowledge of artificial intelligence, how it works, and its potential applications – both for use within Jenoptik and for customer products.
5.00 p.m. – 6.00 p.m.
The Art of Staying Ahead: Panel Discussion on Innovation and Excellence
In this panel discussion, various figures from the worlds of business, academia, sports and beyond, will discuss and exchange views on how technology companies can innovate faster, more competitively, and with greater strategic focus – particularly where AI, deep tech, photonics, sensing, and industrial applications increasingly converge.
6.00 p.m – 6.15 p.m.
Wrap-up
Intro Day 3
8.15 a.m. – 09.45 a.m.
From Conception to Production: Building with Agentic AI
Moving Agentic AI from a sandbox environment to a stable production pipeline requires a shift from basic prompting to rigorous system engineering. This workshop addresses the technical realities of building autonomous systems that scale. We will cover the complete lifecycle of agent development: from initial behavioral design and tool integration to multi-agent orchestration, security guardrails, and production deployment.
10.00 a.m. – 10.45 a.m.
Jenius Innovator Award – Awarded by CFO Prisca Havranek
10.45 – 11.00 a.m.
Closing Speech
8.15 a.m. – 09.45 a.m.
The Light of Innovation: Technologies Transforming Medicine
How do lasers, microoptics, and advanced imaging change lives? Join us for a workshop dedicated to the hardware and optics powering today’s biggest medical breakthroughs. The tech behind genomics for personalized medicine will be explored as well as robotic & endoscopic advances for better patient outcomes in surgery.
Jenius Innovator Award
Great ideas deserve to be seen. The Jenius Innovator Award is our way of recognizing and celebrating the outstanding work happening across Jenoptik.
This year, the Jenius Innovator Award will have two categories:
Best Patent
All patents that have been applied for since January 1, 2025 will be eligible and automatically considered for the award, so no submission is required. A jury will evaluate the patents and declare a winner, which will be presented and awarded during the event.
Best Project Execution
This is your chance to share with the whole company what you have successfully achieved and delivered. If your team has successfully completed a development project in the last 24 months, you can submit it for consideration. The most convincing projects will be presented, and the winner will be awarded during the Innovation Days 2026.
Please submit your project until September 30, 2025.
The winners of the most recent Jenius Innovator Award were Christian Wilde, Paul David Jorda, Felix Jäger, Dr. Tim Wortmann and Dr. Patrik Langehanenberg.
If you want to know more about the winners of the Jenius Innovator Award 2024 and their projects, please click here to read the intranet story: Jenius Innovator Award 2024 (for Jenoptik employees only).
How to join
The invitation to the Innovation Days 2026 has been sent. Because of venue capacity constraints, seats are limited. If you would also like to attend, please contact one of the following colleagues according to your business unit:
- SEMI: Carlo Tuzi
- BIO: Andrea Körtvélyessy
- MPS: Iris Erichsen
- SMS: Gavin Eaton
- Corporate Center: Adrian König
Highlights from previous years
Take a look at the highlights from previous years to get a glimpse of what you can expect this year.
Recap 2024
Recap 2025