On August 13, 2026, Optence e.V. celebrates its 25th anniversary. The network was founded on the initiative of the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) to promote photonics technologies in Germany. Since then, Optence has facilitated knowledge transfer between industry and research through joint projects, technical events, and direct exchange between its members.
TOPAG is a founding member of Optence. For what was then a young company in the laser industry, the network’s support provided a valuable connection to potential research partners.
Shared Success
Optence paved the way for TOPAG’s first publicly funded project, DISMAT. Funded by the State of Hesse, DISMAT received the Hessian Cooperation Award. Starting in 2008, TOPAG worked together with GD Optics and RheinMain University of Applied Sciences in Rüsselsheim to develop refractive and diffractive optics for beam shaping.
Technical Exchange Continues: Focus Group Laser Technology
Optence organizes much of its network activity around focus groups dedicated to specific topics. In the Focus Group Laser Technology, researchers and industry professionals come together to discuss new applications and emerging process trends. Each session opens with technical presentations on current developments across different laser types. TOPAG co-organizes the program together with Optence.
