Exhibition Sectors
The diverse range of exhibits at Laser World of Photonics Shanghai covers all topics that pertain to optical technologies. On the one hand, due to its unique combination of research, innovative technologies and industrial application sectors, and on the other, thanks to its extensive program of related events.
Lasers and Laser Systems for Production Engineering
Lasers and laser systems for production engineering are driving the deep transition of industrial production toward digital, intelligent, and sustainable development, serving as a core pillar for cultivating new quality productive forces. In 2025, China's laser equipment market sales reached RMB 95.8 billion, marking a 6.8% year-on-year increase and accounting for 58% of the global market. From high-precision cutting and welding to additive manufacturing, laser technology is now widely applied in high-end sectors such as automotive, aerospace, and semiconductor packaging. As processing efficiency and stability continue to improve, laser manufacturing is evolving from single-process substitution to intelligent, full-line integration. Currently, the deep integration of AI with laser processing, ultrafast laser precision machining, and large-scale additive manufacturing are rapidly accelerating toward industrial application.
Laser and Optoelectronics
Laser and optoelectronics serve as the core forces driving the evolution of photonics technology and steering the innovation trajectory of the global industry. The mid-infrared band remains a research hotspot, while domestically produced high-power fiber lasers have achieved large-scale application. Continuous breakthroughs in ultra-broadband white-light pulsed lasers and significant progress in novel crystal materials are establishing a new material system that underpins the R&D of high-end laser equipment. Driven by global technological breakthroughs, laser technology continues to evolve rapidly, providing critical light sources for cutting-edge fields such as semiconductors, aerospace, biomedicine, and quantum communications.
Optics
Optical components are essential core elements of laser processes and play a pivotal role in the development of laser technology. In 2025, China's optical components market reached over RMB 200 billion. From cameras and microscopes to high-energy laser systems, the applications of optical components have expanded dramatically. Optical metasurface technology is currently accelerating toward industrial application, with the mass production of roll-to-roll metalenses breaking through commercial bottlenecks. Meanwhile, computational optical imaging continues to advance in lensless and scattering media imaging, driving optical systems toward greater precision, efficiency, and integration.
Manufacturing Technology for Optics
Manufacturing technology for optics has formed a complete closed loop from design and processing to testing, driven by the core trends of high precision, low cost, and mass production. Domestic research and industry forces continue to achieve breakthroughs, constantly improving photolithography speed and precision. Furthermore, manufacturing technologies for large, high-precision optical components have reached world-class levels. The growing demand for advanced components, such as freeform and micro-nano optics, is driving optical manufacturing toward higher precision, more complex surface profiles, and lower costs.
Optical Metrology and Quality Assurance
Optical metrology technology is redefining modern industrial quality standards through nanometer-level precision and full-process coverage, driving a paradigm shift in industrial quality control from sampling inspection to 100% in-line inspection. Breakthroughs in the integration of cutting-edge technologies have continuously enhanced semiconductor wafer inspection sensitivity. Nanoscale 3D measurement is widely applied to inspect various specialized materials, while ongoing innovations in microscopic inspection provide novel solutions. The continuous implementation of high-end inspection applications is safeguarding the high-quality development of the industry.
Infrared Technology and Application Area
Infrared technology is rapidly evolving toward higher sensitivity, miniaturization, intelligence, and broader accessibility, driving market expansion and diversifying application scenarios. The global uncooled infrared detector array market was approximately USD 2.01 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 4.12 billion by 2032, showcasing immense growth potential. Ongoing breakthroughs in infrared detector technology, enhanced by two-dimensional materials and deeply integrated with AI and edge computing, have fully unlocked its potential. This drives the expansion of infrared technology applications from high-end specialized uses to broader civilian sectors, including industrial inspection, security monitoring, medical diagnostics, and autonomous driving.
Integrated Photonics and Optical Communication
The explosive growth in AI computing power is propelling optical communications into a new era. High speed, low power consumption, and advanced integration have become core development trends, accelerating large-scale commercial deployment. Currently, 800G optical modules dominate the market, while 1.6T modules are entering large-scale commercialization. Continuous technological breakthroughs, the expanding application of silicon photonics, and the maturation of low-power packaging are accelerating the commercialization of cutting-edge innovations. These advancements support AI supercomputing, data centers, and high-speed communications, driving the optical communications industry toward higher bandwidth, lower power consumption, and more compact designs.
Biomedical Photonics Zone
Interdisciplinary innovation combining photonics with life sciences and healthcare continues to deepen, accelerating the clinical translation of cutting-edge technologies and ushering in a new era of precision diagnostics and non-invasive interventions. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) has become the gold standard in ophthalmic diagnostics, and its integration with AI enables precise monitoring across diverse medical scenarios. The deep convergence of photodynamic therapy and nanotechnology is driving the integration of targeted therapy and diagnostics. Novel non-invasive optical technologies are breaking through traditional bottlenecks, offering new and viable solutions for optical targeted therapies and gene editing. Experts from academia, clinical practice, and industry will convene for face-to-face discussions, accelerating the translation of biophotonics technologies from the lab to the clinic and driving the high-quality development of the healthcare sector.
