By 2029, the German government will invest over €2 billion in fusion research, with the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT in Aachen already positioned as an early mover in this field. In collaborative research projects, it is researching and developing solutions for fusion power plants together with partners from industry and research. They are establishing robust supply chains and developing processes for automated mass production. Internationally, the institute cooperates closely with the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, among others. The laboratory’s National Ignition Facility has repeatedly ignited fusion plasma using what is currently the world’s largest laser, achieving steadily increasing energy surpluses in the process. Spillover effects are also emerging out of the development of this innovative power plant technology, effects that could open up new application markets for photonics.

Laser technology is breaking into new dimensions: Ultrashort-pulse and continuous-wave lasers with average powers in the multi-kilowatt (kW) range promise to boost efficiency for material processing and pave the way for entirely new fields of applications. At the AKL’26 – International Laser Technology Congress, taking place from April 22 to 24, 2026, in Aachen, several sessions will focus on multi-kW lasers.

From April 22 to 24, 2026, Aachen will once again become the meeting place for
the international laser world: The Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT
will host the 15th AKL – International Laser Technology Congress. Users,
manufacturers, and developers will be meeting at AKL’26 to discuss the latest
trends and practical solutions in applied laser technology for production.
Thanks to over 500 participants, more than 80 specialist presentations, and
around 50 exhibitors from industry and the supply sector, the congress is
considered by many to be the leading forum for applied laser technology in
Europe.

From April 22 to 24, 2026, Aachen will once again become the meeting place for
the international laser world: The Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT
will host the 15th AKL – International Laser Technology Congress. Users,
manufacturers, and developers will be meeting at AKL’26 to discuss the latest
trends and practical solutions in applied laser technology for production.
Thanks to over 500 participants, more than 80 specialist presentations, and
around 50 exhibitors from industry and the supply sector, the congress is
considered by many to be the leading forum for applied laser technology in
Europe.

The “AKL’24 – International Laser Technology Congress” took place in Aachen from April 17 to 19, 2024. For the 14th time, the congress provided a platform for an intensive professional exchange on current technology trends and perspectives in laser technology. In addition to three forums and nine sessions with a total of 82 specialist presentations, the 525 participants from 21 countries had access to a fully booked exhibition with 58 companies and 60 “Laser Technology Live” demonstrations in the laboratories of the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT and RWTH Aachen University. Two evening events and the deliberately relaxed schedule on the three days of the congress invited participants to network. In short: AKL’24 was the place to be for the laser community.

The AKL – International Laser Technology Congress 2024 fully confirmed its reputation as the leading forum for the European laser industry: There were 525 participants and 81 speakers from 21 countries, a fully booked exhibition accompanying the conference and 60 “Laser Technology Live” demonstrations in the laboratories of the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT and RWTH Aachen University. The congress focused on innovations for established laser applications as well as potential billion-euro markets of the future – including cyberphotonics, quantum technologies and laser-ignited inertial fusion energy (IFE). Once again, the Gerd Herziger Session was a highlight.