For the second consecutive year, Phortify was represented at the European Optical Society Annual Meeting (EOSAM), taking place from 24–28 August 2026 in Tampere, Finland.
Heidi Ottevaere from Vrije Universiteit Brussel presented “Phortify: A European Photonics Education and Training Network for Next-Generation Skills” during the special session “Optics and Photonics Education in EU: Programmes, Skills and Pathways.”
The session brought together representatives from European photonics education initiatives, including Phortify, Erasmus Mundus and CARLA, alongside the European Photonics Industry Consortium (EPIC), creating a platform to exchange perspectives on the future of photonics education and skills in Europe.
Following the presentations, Heidi Ottevaere joined Nathalie Destouches, Alice La Porta and Neringa Noreikiene for a panel discussion on strengthening the connection between education and industry. The conversation addressed key challenges, including anticipating rapidly evolving industry skills needs, attracting new talent to photonics, and improving the visibility and coordination of education and training opportunities across Europe.
Returning to EOSAM for a second year reflects Phortify’s continued engagement with the European optics and photonics community and its commitment to building stronger connections between education, training and the future needs of the photonics sector.
