Baden-Württemberg’s location in the centre of Europe offers a significant advantage in that it guarantees access to many important markets.

Companies in the optical industry in Baden-Württemberg develop and produce technologically high-quality products and are therefore leading players in Germany and Europe. These optical products enjoy high national and international demand and are used throughout the world.

Optical technologies in Germany

• Whether in lighting engineering, information and communications technology, display technology, measurement engineering, medical technology and biotechnology or manufacturing technology – light is increasingly used for the most varied applications. Optical technologies set the pace for innovation and are regarded as one of the technologies of the future for the 21st century.

• The industry for optical technologies is one of the most important sectors for growth and future potential in the German economy and is a branch of the optical, medical and mechatronics industry.

• In Germany there are over 1,000 manufacturers of optical and photographic equipment which generate a turnover of over 5.3 billion Euros and employ around 35,000 people. As the optical technologies are key inter-disciplinary technologies which are at home in many different sectors, such as medical technology, mechanical engineering and car manufacture, the semiconductor industry and the energy sector, it can be assumed that the sector has an even greater importance in Germany than these figures suggest.

• In the environment in which the sector operates, which is subject to rapid change and is constantly developing due to innovation, the German manufacturers secure their market position with innovative technologies, tailor-made solutions and specialised niche products.

• Manufacturers in the photonics sector have proved to be particularly innovative. The high level of innovation is underlined by their strong commitment to research and development which, at around 10% of turnover, is about double that of the manufacturing industry.