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19. Aug. 2025
Brno, August 19, 2025 – The Czech Republic is preparing to present the best of its laser, photonic, and space technologies to the world. As part of the EXPO 2025 world exhibition in Osaka, Japan, the Czech Pavilion will host the prestigious international conference “Photonics & Lasers: Designing the Future Society – Vision 2040,” whose main initiator is the Czech Optical Cluster and its partners. The conference will take place on September 9–11, 2025, and will bring together top scientists, technology leaders, innovative companies, and representatives of the public sector from Europe and Asia. Innovative technological solutions will also be presented at the conference by CEITEC VUT and its partner start-up CactuX.
EXPO: A global platform for showcasing the most advanced technologies
The EXPO 2025 world exhibition will take place from April 13 to October 13, 2025, in Osaka, Japan, and represents the world's most important platform for showcasing technologies, scientific achievements, and innovations. The Czech Republic's participation has not only symbolic but also practical significance – it enables the presentation of Czech research, space projects, and industrial potential in a global context and strengthens the Czech Republic's position as an innovative country capable of delivering solutions for a digital and sustainable future.
Conference "Photonics & Lasers: Designing the Future Society – Vision 2040"
The conference is organized by the Czech Optical Cluster, and all partners are involved in its content and implementation. The Czech Optical Cluster, together with the ELI ERIC research infrastructure, is also coordinating the expedition with the Czech Pavilion in Osaka.
Main Czech participants
I. Research organizations:
- ELI ERIC – European research infrastructure for extreme laser technologies
- HiLASE Centre – Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences
- CEITEC BUT – Central European Institute of Technology at Brno University of Technology
- Astronomical Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences
II. Technology companies:
- SQS Fiber Optics – optical fibers for space applications
- IQS Nano – manufacturer of advanced optical nanostructures
- CactuX s.r.o. – start-up for X-ray inspection and non-destructive testing
- Rigaku Innovative Technologies Europe – components for X-ray telescopes and spectroscopy
International cooperation: Japanese partners
The conference is co-organized with leading Japanese institutions:
- ILE Osaka (Osaka University)
- KPSI / QST (Kansai Photon Science Institute)
Japanese participants will include representatives from JAXA, the University of Tokyo, Nagoya University, Kyoto University, SPring-8, and others. Representatives from industry, startups, and Nobel Prize winners have also confirmed their participation.
CEITEC BUT: Research for the future
CEITEC BUT is a modern scientific centre based in Brno that conducts basic and applied research in the field of materials and materials science. The Advanced Instrumentation and Methods for Materials Characterization research group, led by Prof. Jozef Kaiser, is going to participate in the conference. Both of its laboratories are going to exhibit:
- The X-ray Computed Micro- and Nano-Tomography Laboratory (CTLAB CEITEC), led by Tomáš Zikmund, will present a unique non-destructive method for inspecting battery cells, which allows visualization of changes after hundreds of charging cycles.
- The Laser Spectroscopy Laboratory (LIBS LAB CEITEC), led by Pavel Pořízka, will present the development of a laser-induced plasma spectroscopy method for industrial and space applications, with an emphasis on rapid analysis of elemental composition. The presentation will showcase applications in geology, which enable on-site analysis of materials, and in astrogeology, which enable the study of lunar regolith (the top layer of rock on the Moon) in simulated deep vacuum conditions.
CactuX: From the laboratory to the world
The Brno-based deep-tech start-up Cactux, s.r.o. founded at CEITEC BUT, brings innovation in the field of automated X-ray inspection. Thanks to partnerships with leading global manufacturers, the company's solutions for CT scanning (including motorized manipulators, thermal chambers, and calibration tools) and industrial quality control are finding application around the world.
The Brno-based start-up Lightigo s.r.o., also born out of CEITEC BUT, will also present its products at the conference. The company focuses on laser spectroscopy and the development of advanced analytical solutions for science and industry.
EXPO as a gateway from Brno to the world
The conference will feature inspiring lectures, thematic blocks, and panel discussions involving leading Czech and Japanese experts. The event will be complemented by a number of networking activities and business meetings, including the signing of memoranda of cooperation. The programme will include the ceremonial signing of a cooperation agreement between CEITEC BUT and Rigaku.
For CEITEC BUT and CactuX, participation in the conference is a key step towards deepening international cooperation in key sectors such as laser technology, photonics, and space research.
“The strategy of our research group at CEITEC BUT is to transfer the developed methods to industry. Participation in EXPO is a major event for us, where we want to present our new inspection method to the battery industry and possibly find new challenges and partnerships for further research and development.”
Tomáš Zikmund, Head of the X-ray Computed Micro- and Nano-Tomography Laboratory at CEITEC BUT
“We have long been involved in the development of technologies using laser radiation and greatly value our cooperation with the Czech Optical Cluster and its members – they are key partners for us in a number of research and innovation projects. Our next steps are also directed toward space applications, which we consider to be extremely promising. We are therefore delighted to be able to present the results of our work to the wider public and show how cutting-edge research can be applied not only in industry but also in space exploration.”
Pavel Pořízka, Head of the Laser Spectroscopy Laboratory at CEITEC BUT
“Our main motivation for participating in EXPO 2025 is to raise the profile of the field of X-ray technologies, in which we have been active for a long time. We want to show the benefits of technology transfer of applied research results in this field – not only within the Czech Republic, but also on a global scale. This year, we are also focusing intensively on expansion into APAC markets, where we see great potential for the use of our solutions. We believe that sharing know-how, establishing new partnerships, and presenting our technologies to a wider professional audience are the keys to further growth.”
Zuzana Stravová, co-founder and COO of CactuX
Media contacts
CEITEC BUT
- Tomáš Zikmund – tomas.zikmund@ceitec.vutbr.cz, +420 776 563 396
- Pavel Pořízka – pavel.porizka@ceitec.vutbr.cz, +420 541 142 758
CactuX s.r.o.
- Zuzana Stravová – stravova@cactux.cz, +420 728 480 918
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