Event Logistics & Structure
Total Expected Attendance: Over 23,000 optics and photonics professionals, featuring more than 1,500 exhibiting companies.
Venue Footprint: The event spans multiple halls across The Moscone Center, utilizing the lower levels of the North and South buildings alongside Level 1 of Moscone West.
Dual-Exhibition Format:
SPIE BiOS Expo (30–31 January 2027): The weekend kick-off focusing purely on biomedical optics, biophotonics, and healthcare technology.
Photonics West Exhibition (2–4 February 2027): The main flagship exhibition covering lasers, quantum, and optoelectronics.
Core Symposia & Tracks
The technical program encompasses over 100 focused conferences organized into core technical pillars, which align closely with Cardiff University's semiconductor focus:
OPTO: Addressing optoelectronic materials, devices, and semiconductor technologies.
LASE: Highlighting laser manufacturing, laser sources, and microfabrication applications.
Quantum West: Dedicated to the industrialization of quantum 2.0 systems, hardware, and infrastructure.
Co-Located Tech Expos: Specialized pavilions on the show floor for AR/VR/MR, Vision Tech, and Embedded Vision.
Special Industry Features
Industry Stage: Offers marketplace updates, business panels, and professional development sessions.
The Startup Challenge & Job Fair: Targeted platforms designed for venture pitch events and recruitment in the light-based technology sector.
SPIE Prism Awards (3 February 2027): A high-profile gala acknowledging the year's top commercial product innovations.