SPIE Defense + Security Special Event VLPI: Engineering the Next Era of Photonic Integration

Industry Event

VLPI: Engineering the Next Era of Photonic Integration

28 April 2026 • 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM EDT | Prince George Exhibition Hall, Industry Stage

Photonics is redefining what's possible across defense, sensing, and advanced communications, and VLPI (very large photonics integration) is where that transformation takes shape. A bold, community-driven initiative, VLPI exists to accelerate scalable photonic integration, closing the gap between visionary research and the real-world systems that depend on it. The initiative makes its formal global debut at SPIE Defense + Sensing 2026, a defining moment signaling that the field is ready to move from promise to impact. And the momentum builds: beginning at SPIE Defense + Sensing 2027, the Global VLPI Design Competition invites students, researchers, and startups worldwide to design scalable photonic architectures that meet the real demands of modern applications. This is more than a competition; it's an open call to the next generation of photonic builders to push boundaries, develop what hasn't yet existed, and help shape technologies that will define the decades ahead. Your ideas deserve a global stage. VLPI is on that stage. The VLPI vision converges on complete end-to-end optical functionality within a single integrated circuit or tightly coupled chiplet assembly. The state-of-the-art in 2026 demonstrates that this vision is within engineering reach.

Moderator