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Event

Materialize the Future

How Material Innovation Creates Value Across Industries
Where: ZEISS Innovation Hub @ KIT
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Together with leading experts from academia and industry, we will explore how advances in materials, photonics, and semiconductor technologies are enabling future products, new markets, and new forms of collaboration. The program will feature keynote talks, industry perspectives, and networking opportunities with partners from across the innovation ecosystem.

Agenda

The conference will take place on 3 - 4 November, with a day of informative sessions, engaging discussions and valuable networking opportunities. After the conference we will be hosting a series of workshops centered around the ZEISS Catalyst Program. Invitations to these workshops will be sent separately.

Please note that this agenda might be subject to change. 

ZEISS Innovation Hub @ KIT

November 3rd - 4th 2026 | Agenda

Day 1, November 3rd

By invitation only

13:30 - 14:30

Registration & Arrival

14:30 - 17:30

Individual Partner / Project discussion

10:00 - 17:30

Collaboration Catalyst – Expert Round Table

18:00 - 19:00

Executive Key Note: Materials, Semiconductor & Europe’s
Technology Sovereignty

Dr. Sri Samavedam (Senior Vice President IMEC)

19:00 - 22:00

Conference Dinner

Day 2, November 4th

Welcome & Introduction

09:00 - 09:15

Welcome & Framing
Ian Howard / Sophia Schmitt

09:15 - 09:45

Why Next Generation Materials Matter for ZEISS
Dr. Julian Kaller (Senior Expert ZEISS SMT)

Session I:
Discovering new material Platforms

09:45 - 10:15

The Future of Metasurfaces for Optical System
Prof. Mark Bromersma (University of Stanford)

10:15 - 10:45

Metamaterials and Advanced Photonic Materials
Prof. Martin Wegener (Karlsruhe Institut of Technology)

10:45 - 11:15

Coffee break

Session II:
Engineering the Next Generation Devices

11:15 - 12:00

2D Materials beyond the Lab
tbd (BlackSemi)

12:00 - 12:45

How can Material Innovation open new markets?
Dieter Schroth (Merck Optronics)

12:45 - 14:15

Lunch & Networking

Session III:
From Technology to Ecosystems

14:15 - 15:00

From Metaoptics Research to Commercial Products
Rob Devlin (Metalenz)

15:00 - 15:45

Orchestrating Networks – Building the Ecosystem that enables deep-tech industrialization
Viktor Schütz (ZEISS PNO)

Location & Direction

How to get to ZEISS Innovation Hub @ KIT

ZEISS Innovation Hub @ KIT Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 6 76344 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen Germany

FAQs

  • On November 3rd, we will be hosting a series of workshops centered around the ZEISS Catalyst Program. Invitations to these workshops will be sent separately. The conference will start with a keynote at 6pm on 3rd of November followed by a networking dinner. On November 4th there will be keynote speakers as well as informative sessions, engaging discussions, and valuable networking opportunities.

     

  • You are warmly invited to register for our conference at the ZEISS Innovation Hub @ KIT on November 4th. If there are available spots, we are looking forward to getting to know you!

  • The conference will be held in English.

  • No, the event is free of charge. However, please note that participation requires prior registration.

  • Depending on how close to the event location you would like to stay, we can recommend the following hotels:

  • In case you are staying in Karlsruhe city, we recommend taking public transport which includes tram and bus to the stop "KIT-Campus Nord Südtor". Alternative options are the KIT shuttle or a taxi.

Impressions

Partner Summit 2022, 2023 and 2024
  • One of 2022s highlights was the collaboration with Emmanuel Witzthum, a composer and artistic director of creative digital experiences.