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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

17:00 - 18:00

Registration & Arrival

18:00 - 19:00

Executive Key Note: Materials, Semiconductor & Europe’s
Technology Sovereignty
Geoffrey Pourtois (IMEC Fellow)

19:00 - 22:00

Conference Dinner

Day 2, November 4th

Welcome & Introduction

09:00 - 09:15

Welcome & Framing
Dr. Ian Howard / Dr. Sophia Schmitt

09:15 - 09:45

Why Next Generation Materials Matter for ZEISS
Dr. Julian Kaller (Senior Expert ZEISS Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology)

Session I:
Discovering new material Platforms

09:45 - 10:30

Metasurfaces for future imaging technologies
Prof. Mark Brongersma (University of Stanford)

10:30 - 11:00

Coffee break

11:00 - 11:45

Metamaterials enabled by rapid 3D laser nanoprinting
Prof. Martin Wegener (Karlsruhe Institute of Technology)

11:45 – 12:15 

Emerging Function Nanomaterials for Catalytic Applications 
Dr. Megan Parker (Karlsruhe Institute of Technology) 

12:15 - 13:45

Lunch & Networking 

Session II:
From Technology to Ecosystems

13:45 – 14:30 

From Metaoptics Research to Commercial Products 
Dr. Rob Devlin (Metalenz) 

14:30 – 15:15

How can Material Innovation open new markets?
Dr. Mark Goebel (Merck Optronics)

15:15 – 15:30

Coffee break

15:30 – 16:15 

Orchestrating Industrialization - Partnerships, Economics, and Readiness in Deep Tech 
Dr. Viktor Schütz (ZEISS PNO) 

16:15 – 16:30 

Wrap up and closing 

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, starting with the keynote at 6pm on November 3rd, followed by the conference day on November 4th.

  • 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.