Events photum

Events

Talks, evenings & community

From industry keynotes to casual networking nights, photum brings students, researchers, and companies together around photonics at the Technical University of Munich.

Industry talk at Photonics Night with Munich skyline at sunset

08 Jul 2026

Past event

Photonics Night

Talks & networking · 85+ attendees

With Thorlabs · Cucuyo · ZEISS · TUM research

Technical University of Munich

View recap

TBA 2026

Community

Optics & Drinks

Photonics in next-gen computer chips

A low-barrier entry point connecting students across physics, EE, CS, and entrepreneurship, mini talks, lightning talks, networking, and drinks.

Technical University of Munich

I'm interested

TBA Future

Conference

MUPR Munich University Photonics Retreat

A student-led photonics retreat, in planning

We're exploring a multi-day format bringing together students, researchers, and industry. Keynotes, technical tracks, poster sessions, and workshops.

Munich

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Jul 2026 · Recap

Photonics Night, a full house in Munich

Our first major evening brought together students, researchers, and industry around talks, live demos, and networking at TUM.

Packed room during Photonics Night at TUM

More than 85 people joined us for an evening of short talks, hardware demos, and casual networking. Speakers from Thorlabs, Cucuyo (free-space optical communication), ZEISS, and TUM research chairs shared how photonics shows up in industry and academia, followed by pizza, drinks, and conversations that kept going well past the last slide.

Attendees85+ Talks & demos6+ Partners on stageThorlabs · Cucuyo · ZEISS

Evening highlights

Talks from industry and TUM research, live hardware on stage, and an open networking session with students from across Munich.

Speaker presenting in front of large windows at sunset — KeynoteIndustry perspective on photonics, with Munich at golden hour.

Presenter holding a Cucuyo free-space optical communication device — CucuyoFree-space optical communication terminal, demonstrated live on stage.

Thorlabs optical setup on a precision breadboard — ThorlabsPrecision optics and alignment hardware used in the demo setup.

photum members demoing the club optical communication prototype — Club projectOur optical communication prototype, presented to the audience.

ZEISS presentation on technological advancement — ZEISSTechnological advancement and 21st century challenges in optics.

TUM research presentation on photonics in communication networks — TUM researchHow photonics is applied in next generation communication networks.

Audience applauding at the end of Photonics Night — Community85+ attendees, students, researchers, and industry guests from Munich's photonics scene.

After the talks

Networking at sunset

Photonics Night did not end when the slides stopped, we headed to a rooftop above Munich for drinks, conversations, and golden hour views across the city.

Students networking on a rooftop terrace at sunset with Munich skyline in the background — RooftopOpen networking above Munich, conversations that kept going after the last talk.

photum community on a rooftop at dusk with the Olympiaturm visible on the horizon — CommunityStudents and guests from across Munich's photonics scene, at golden hour.

Attendees sharing pizza during the networking break — Food & drinksPizza and open conversations after the rooftop session.

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Get in touch

Whether you want to join, collaborate, sponsor an event, or just say hello, we'd love to hear from you. No prior experience needed.
photum.studentclub@gmail.com

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