Optics. Exceptional expertise – wanted worldwide.

High-powered diode lasers, laser scanning microscopes and aspherical lenses for special optical filters are prime examples of sophisticated Thuringian-made technology. Global players such as ZEISS, Schott and JENOPTIK got their start in Thuringia and set the international standard for optics.

The Thuringian optics industry at a glance: LEG – The premier partner for direct Product application areas >> 187 companies investment >> 16,200 employees Seize the opportunities that Thurin- Industrial production and systems 88 % >> Around 2,300 students majoring in op- gia offers. The State Development Health care tics, laser engineering and related fields Corporation of Thuringia (LEG) will 36 % >> Roughly 1,600 employees at private support your investment project ICT, innovative and manufacturing-related services 24 % and university research institutions from start to finish free of charge – Transportation and logistics >> Over 520 trainees in optics-related from finding a site to implementing 20 % professions your investment project to handling Energy and resource use > € 3.3 billion in revenue future expansions. Contact us. We‘re 16 % > Miscellaneous >> 67 % export ratio here to help. 5 % >> 10% of German photonics companies

*Source: OptoNet e.V. 2019, multiple mentions allowed, are located in Thuringia*. www.invest-in-thuringia.de/ percentage share of companies en/industries-technologies/optics/ Networking to Skills for advance optics. success. Modern optics is a key enabling tech- As a traditional optics stronghold, nology that cuts across disciplinary Thuringia has a deep pool of specialists lines. Thuringian clusters effectively link for all aspects of optical technology. research and production in this field.

Thuringian universities have special degree programs OptoNet and departments: A Thuringian optics cluster, OptoNet represents approx. >> Photonics at Friedrich Schiller University Jena (FSU) 100 stakeholders in the Thuringian photonics industry and >> Combined Master’s and PhD programs in optics and provides a vibrant communication, networking and coopera- photonics at the Abbe School of Photonics (FSU) tion platform. Its members include not only ZEISS and >> Optical system technology / optronics as well as JENOPTIK but also a vast number of small and medium-sized mechatronics, micro and nanotechnologies at the Ilmenau technology companies who are global leaders or major players University of Technology (TU Ilmenau) in their product and service markets. >> Laser and opto technologies, ophthalmic optics/optometry and optometry/ophthalmic technology/vision science at the Three Fraunhofer institutes, the Leibniz Institute for Photonic Ernst Abbe University of Applied Sciences Jena Technologies and numerous university institutions represent the research community in the cluster. Specialized consulting Thuringia’s companies put a high priority on ongoing employee firms and staffing providers contribute their unique skills to training. The Jena Training Center, for example – a joint venture the network; banks and investment firms leverage the of SCHOTT JENAer Glas GmbH, Carl Zeiss Jena GmbH and networking opportunities to offer their services. The JENOPTIK AG – produces highly trained specialists. Various membership of technology clusters from other regions universities provide relevant continuing education programs. and the cooperation of public institutions support site Also, OptoNet organizes JENA Optics Colloqium with support development and drive interregional collaboration. from Carl Zeiss AG, JENOPTIK AG and Thuringian research insti- (Source: www.optonet-jena.de) tutions. Jena-Erfurt-Ilmenau Technology Triangle. Together with the University of Technology of Ilmenau, the institutes and universities in Jena and Erfurt have long been a hotbed for optical technology research in Thuringia.

Jena is one of the German hubs for optical technologies. Other research outfits and companies in Thuringia: Major research institutions include: >> Institute of Microelectronic and Mechatronic Systems >> Institute for Applied Optics and Biophysics, FSU Jena (IMMS), Ilmenau and Erfurt >> Institute for Optics and Quantum Electronics, FSU Jena >> CiS – Research Institute for Microsensors, Erfurt >> Institute of Condensed Matter Theory and Optics, FSU Jena >> Institute of Applied Physics, FSU Jena >> Otto Schott Institute of Materials Research (OSIM), FSU Jena Technology for demanding applications >> Abbe Center of Photonics, FSU Jena Thuringian organizations cover key optical technologies >> Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology, Jena in a breadth that is unmatched anywhere else in Germa- >> Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Optics and Precision ny: from generating and transmitting light to modulating Engineering (IOF), Jena it over space and time. >> Günter Köhler Institute for Joining Technology and Materials Testing, Jena >> Lighting Engineering Department, TU Ilmenau Product and technology focuses >> Technical Optics Department, TU Ilmenau Metrology and sensors 30 % >> Fraunhofer Microelectronic and Optical Systems for Biomedicine Project Hub (MEOS), Erfurt Optics/mechanics 25 % >> Inorganic Nonmetallic Materials Department at the Institute Lasers/radiation sources 15 %

of Materials Engineering, TU Ilmenau Micro-optics/fiber optics 7 %

Optoelectronics 6 % Innovation centers: >> Innovation Center for Quantum Optics and Sensing Light technology 6 % (InQuoSens), Jena and Ilmenau Optical materials 4 % www.acp.uni-jena.de/inquosens.html Source: OptoNet e. V. 2019, multiple mentions allowed, percentage share of companies

Thuringia: where success is made. Selected companies The Free State is home to world-class companies that ADVA Optical Networking SE, set international standards in optical technologies. Meiningen Allied Vision Technologies GmbH, ZEISS Docter Optics SE Stadtroda ZEISS is a global leader in the optical Docter Optics is the international market ams Sensors Germany GmbH, Jena and optoelectronic industry. The compa- leader in optical glass projection lenses ASKION GmbH, Gera ny, which was founded in Jena in 1846, is for automotive applications and a recog- asphericon GmbH, Jena now headquartered in Oberkochen, Ger- nized supplier of optical components and CDA GmbH, Suhl many. Jena plays host to all four ZEISS di- systems to premier OEMs in various in- Grintech GmbH, Jena visions: Semiconductor Manufacturing dustries, including biometrics, digital pro- HELLMA Optik GmbH, Jena Jabil Optics Germany GmbH, Jena Technology, Medical Technology and Re- jection, printing and machine vision. Laser Imaging Systems GmbH – search Microscopy Solutions, the Plane- Orbotech, Jena tariums unit and Central Research. It is GÖPEL electronic GmbH LASOS Lasertechnik GmbH, Jena also home to the central provider of pro- Jena-based GÖPEL electronic GmbH is LAYERTEC GmbH, Mellingen duction services for the ZEISS Group. The one of the leading providers of testing NOBLEX GmbH, Eisfeld company is investing over € 300 million and inspection systems for electronic Optics Balzers Jena GmbH, Jena in a new integrated high-tech site in Jena. assemblies and printed circuit boards ORAFOL Fresnel Optics GmbH, Apolda used primarily in the automotive, avia- POG Präzisionsoptik Gera GmbH, JENOPTIK AG tion, medical device and industrial Löbichau Jenoptik is a globally active technolo- electronics industries. Schott Technical Glass Solutions gy group that operates three photon- GmbH, Jena ics-based divisions – Light & Optics, Jena-Optronik GmbH Vision & Control GmbH, Suhl Vistec Electron Beam GmbH, Jena Light & Production and Light & Safety – Products and technologies from Thurin- as well as VINCORION for mechatronics gia play key roles in space missions that solutions. (Source: www.jenoptik.com) are as spectacular as they are pioneer- ing. Customers around the globe trust LEONI Fiber Optics GmbH Jena-Optronik GmbH to supply high- LEONI Fiber Optics GmbH is a leading pro- precision sensors for satellite attitude vider of fiber optic cables for special appli- and orbit control and optical components cations in manufacturing, sensor techno- for Earth observation. Over 300 satellites logy, analytics, science, communications have Jena-made technology on board. and laser medicine.

Your LEG-Service State Development Corporation of Thuringia (LEG Thüringen) Our consulting services are Department for Investment, International Tel. +49 361 5603-450 free. Simply set an appointment Business and Cluster Promotion Fax +49 361 5603-328 with our experienced investor Mainzerhofstrasse 12 [email protected] service team. 99084 Erfurt / Germany www.invest-in-thuringia.de/en

Image credits: © Getty Images/sitox, Zeiss, iStock/skynesher, JENOPTIK, Jena-Optronik, Shutterstock/asharkyu

Version 10/2019