Photonics Germany is an alliance between the German industry association Spectaris and Optecnet Germany. The total is almost 18 percent higher than in 2020. The high growth was supported by strong domestic business, which increased by around 15 percent, and even stronger international business with a plus of 19 percent. The great importance of international business is also reflected in the export rate of 73 percent. Accordingly, 34.4 billion euros in sales were achieved abroad.

Due to the positive sales development, the number of employees rose by nine percent to around 176,300. In the last year before Corona, 2019, the German photonics industry grew by a good 16 percent.

Further growth in prospect

According to the market research company Tematys, average annual growth of around six percent and total sales of almost 60 billion euros are expected in Germany by 2025.

According to a new study by Spectaris and Messe München, the greatest potential for growth lies in the field of quantum technologies. This predicts annual growth of 20 percent up to 2030. Other fields of application for photonics are also growing rapidly, such as autonomous mobility. According to Spectaris and Messe München, others are about to be developed, for example precision farming as part of the digitization of agriculture.