Bavaria represents an outstanding location of international importance for photonics. About 20,000 people work in the Free State of Bavaria in the area of optical technologies. The Bavarian portion of nationwide production in Germany amounts to over 50 % in the segments of lighting technology, information technology and communication technology, and to approx. 25 % in the fields of medical technology and life science. In many areas, the Bavarian photonics sector particularly stands out due to its activities. Accordingly, many famous global players have a site located in Bavaria, whereby the key regional focuses are in the areas of Munich-Augsburg, Erlangen-Nuremberg and Regensburg.

Due to the high number of photonics-relevant universities, technical colleges and research institutions, Bavaria holds a top-ranking position worldwide regarding basic and application-oriented research in the field of optical technologies.