Review on the EMIMEP Summer School 2026 in Jena

EMIMEP – the European Master for Industry in Microwave Electronics and Photonics – is an international Erasmus Mundus Joint Master program bringing together students and universities from across Europe. The program combines advanced education in microwave engineering and photonic technologies with international mobility, research, and close links to industry.

From August 25 to 27, 2026, the EMIMEP Summer School brought together students, researchers, academic staff, and industry representatives in Jena. Hosted at the Abbe Center of Photonics, the three-day event was a great mix of science, new experiences, and international exchange.

The most important part of the program was dedicated to Master’s thesis defenses and presentations, where students had the chance to present their research, exchange ideas, and learn from each other. Scientific talks by researchers, industry experts, and EMIMEP alumni introduced participants to a variety of topics in microwave electronics and photonics, from EUV optics and nanophotonics to quantum technologies and metasurfaces.

We were also very happy to welcome representatives from V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University in Ukraine, one of the associated partners of the EMIMEP program. Their participation added to the international atmosphere of the Summer School and created even more opportunities for exchange between students and partner universities. Social activities of the Summer School included an excursion to Weimar, discovering Jena’s long history of optics, or the student barbecue.

On the final day, participants joined a guided industry tour at Laser Imaging Systems GmbH (KLA) in Jena-Göschwitz. KLA is a global technology company providing process-control, inspection, metrology, and data-analysis solutions for semiconductor and electronics manufacturing, helping chipmakers detect defects, control nanometer-scale fabrication processes, and improve manufacturing yield. At its Jena site, KLA focuses on laser direct imaging (LDI) systems for the printed-circuit-board and semiconductor industries. Activities in Jena include development, optical and system design, manufacturing, system integration, and technical support for these imaging systems.

ASP is proud of the success of this year’s EMIMEP Summer School and grateful to all our speakers, organizers, and participants for their enthusiasm, energy, and contributions. It was wonderful to see students from different countries learning together, exchanging ideas, and building new friendships along the way. We look forward to continuing this tradition and bringing the international microwave electronics and photonics community together again. We are already looking forward to the next EMIMEP Summer School and hope to welcome many familiar and new faces for another inspiring experience!

Link to the EMIMEP program - The new call will be open in December 2026!