BALTIC PHOTONICS
Space & Defence
Baltic Photonics 2025 brings together experts from the photonics sector and a variety of industries to foster cross-sectoral collaboration. Over the years, the event has explored a broad range of topics, including medicine, micromachining, optical communication, space, and more.
This year, Baltic Photonics 2025 will focus on space and defence—two strategically important and rapidly advancing fields. The event will highlight the latest innovations, technologies, and opportunities emerging at the intersection of photonics and these sectors. In addition to the main theme, attendees can expect discussions on a wide spectrum of photonics applications and advancements.
Baltic Photonics 2025 is part of Photonics Days, a broader initiative in Lithuania that promotes scientific exchange and collaboration across borders.
đź“Ť Date: September 25, 2025
đź“Ť Location: Visoriai Information Technology Park (VITP), Vilnius, Lithuania
Baltic Photonics 2025 Speakers
Augustinas Lubys (keynote)
Kongsberg NanoAvionics - Enhancing National Security Through Space
Augustinas Lubys is the Head of Business Development & Marketing at Kongsberg NanoAvionics - a leading small satellite manufacturer providing satellite buses and mission services for commercial, academic, governmental and defense applications. Prior to joining the company, Augustinas worked in the photonics industry, focusing on laser technologies. Now having been with the company as a business developer for half of its lifespan Augustinas possesses extensive knowledge about space technology developments in the industry as well as a deep understanding of the existing ecosystems of emerging upstream and downstream players in EMEA & APAC markets
Romain Ladret PicioruČ™, PhD
Online: The place of Optronics and Space in EU Defence projects
Romain Ladret Piciorus is a Project Officer at the European Commission within the Directorate-General for Defence Industry and Space (DG DEFIS). He follows the implementation of several European Defence Fund (EDF) projects, and supports EDF’s calls’ preparation and proposals’ evaluation (specifically for sensors, space and disruptive technologies). He holds a PhD (THz sensors), and Master & Engineer diploma (generalist & optro-electronics focus). He has worked in the French Defence industry (private sector) for 5 years and joined the European Commission in 2019
Stela Tkatchova, Ph.D.
Online: EIC Space Portfolio Opportunities and Innovations
Stella Tkatchova is the Programme Manager (PM) for space systems at the European Innovation Council (EIC). As a Programme Manager, Tkatchova brings critical insights and technology/market specific knowledge, performs pro-active portfolio management and supports SME’s and start-ups to achieve breakthrough innovation
Srinath Mallikarjunan
The Building Blocks Necessary for Rapid Development of Defense Products
Srinath Mallikarjunan did his MS in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign (USA), with focus on Flight control systems and Computational Fluid dynamics. He is the author of several publications on adaptive flight control theory, state estimation and sensor fusion
Antanas Laurutis
Optics for Space and Direct Energy Applications
Antanas Laurutis (CEO) is the CEO of Altechna since 2019. He features strong technical expertise and academic background in optics, optical coatings, lasers, and laser applications. Antanas holds a BSc of “Physics and Management of Modern Technologies” and MSc in “Laser Technologies” from Vilnius University, Lithuania
Šarūnas Genys
How Small Countries Become Significant: International Examples and Lithuania’s Opportunities in the Field of Defense
Head of the Manufacturing Team at “Invest Lithuania” and Defense Industry Expert. Šarūnas advises international companies on business development in Lithuania and leads large-scale investment projects. He contributed to the creation of Lithuania’s value proposition for defense sector companies and now shares his experience and insights to help strengthen Lithuania’s image as a reliable and competitive country for defense and manufacturing investors
Evaldas PabrÄ—Ĺľa
Lasers from Lab to Life
Evaldas Pabrėža is a co-founder and CEO of Integrated Optics — a Vilnius-based leader in ultra‑compact laser solutions for spectroscopy, quantum technologies, LIDAR, and more With an academic background in modern technology management and laser technologies, he has guided the company since its founding in 2012
Karolis Žvaigždinas
Startup from Scratch: Turning 'Impossible' into Innovation — UAV-Based Underground Detection
Experienced technology leader with a strong track record across hardware, software, networking, and IT infrastructure. As CTO and co founder of BROSWARM—a Vilnius based defense tech startup—Karolis helps drive the development of advanced landmine detection system using multi sensor fusion, machine learning, and drone-based platforms. He has been instrumental in scaling BROSWARM since its inception in late 2023 alongside co founders Ernestas Žvaigždinas and Mindaugas Talaikis
Laurence Cooper
Overcoming the challenges of using optical fiber in space communications
He studied at the Optoelectronics Research Center and received his PhD in the Fabrication of novel geometry fiber lasers for high power applications in 2005. After graduation, he worked at SPI lasers as an engineer for 6 years, involved with the fabrication of new laser fibers and improvement of production processes. In 2012 he joined Fibercore as a senior engineer responsible for new fiber development, and now heads a team developing new fibers and providing engineering support for production
Tomas Malinauskas
Lithuania’s Role in the New Space Economy: From Photonics to Autonomous Satellites
Tomas Malinauskas, a Chief Commercial Officer at Lithuanian space startup Blackswan Space. Responsible for shaping the company’s commercial strategy and global partnerships. As a CCO, he ensures the alignment of business development, customer engagement, and market expansion with the company’s mission to revolutionize in-orbit servicing
Edvinas Kerza
Building Defense Innovation: The ScaleWolf Journey and Lithuania's Transformation
ScaleWolf Managing Partner. Former Republic of Lithuania Vice-Minister of National Defense. Established R&D department under National Cyber Security Center funded by Lithuanian MoD. Helped create the European Union Cyber Rapid Response Teams (CRRT)
Kristina AnaniÄŤienÄ—
Exploring Lithuania’s Laser Industry
Executive Director of the Lithuanian Laser Association and Manager of the Laser & Engineering Technologies Cluster (LITEK™), with over a decade of experience driving the growth of Lithuania’s laser sector and building international partnerships. Focused on fostering collaboration, promoting innovation, and connecting research with industry
Julien Zichi
Hamamatsu’s participation to Space exploration : from tiny chips to neutrino observatories
Julien is leading the Components Sales team of Hamamatsu Photonics’ Nordics office. Julien graduated in 2019 with a PhD from at KTH, Stockholm in Quantum Nano Photonics for his work on superconducting nanowire single photon detectors, after which he worked on optical fiber processing tools, and finally joined Hamamatsu Photonics in 2022
Lina Grinevičiūtė
FTMC technologies supporting space and defence applications
Dr. Lina Grinevičiūtė is a senior researcher and the head of the Optical coatings laboratory at FTMC. She has over 10 years of experience in photonics research and collaborative projects with academic and industrial partners. In 2021, her PhD thesis was awarded by the President of Lithuania for outstanding achievements in applied science
Simona PĹ«kienÄ—
Technological Innovation and National Security
Dr. Simona Pūkienė Senior Advisor at the Science and Innovation Division at Defence Materiel Agency under Ministry of National Defence of Lithuanian. She has a PhD in Materials Engineering and nearly a decade of research experience in advanced materials and optoelectronics. Her work focuses on connecting research and industry to foster the development of cutting edge defence innovations.
Dalius Petrulionis
Astrolight - Capabilities and Deliveries in Space and Defence
Dalius Petrulionis is the CTO and co-founder of Astrolight, a startup aiming to use free-space laser links to connect Earth and space. Dalius has worked on the electrooptic subsystems of high-powered femtosecond lasers at Light Conversion for more than a decade and is currently applying that experience to spaceborne laser communication terminals. In 2023 Dalius was recognised by The #Photonics100: The industry’s most innovative people.
Viktorija SidarienÄ—
A Step Towards Lithuania As a Regional Defence Tech Hub
Leads Miltech Lab at Innovation Agency Lithuania, a unit focused on uniting national and international stakeholders to co-create future defense solutions. Since 2018, she has worked at the intersection of defense innovation, academia, industry, and public institutions. Her work bridges strategic ecosystem development and the implementation of key initiatives that contribute to Lithuania’s technological resilience
Laurynas Ĺ atas
If Not Now, When? Deploying Photonics for National Security
Laurynas Šatas is the CEO of Aktyvus Photonics, one of Lithuania’s most rapidly growing defence startups, where he oversees both technical and business strategy. He leads an ambitious, highly motivated team pushing the boundaries of innovation with robust, ultra-compact laser target designators that unlock disruptive capabilities for size‑constrained platforms. Working in Lithuania’s strong laser ecosystem, he views collaboration as key for rapid innovation that contributes to the defence sector of Lithuania and our allies
Why To Attend?
- High-level keynotes and expert presentations
- Networking with industry leaders, startups, and researchers
- Exclusive visit to selected Toolas cluster companies
- Discussions on dual-use innovation and future trends
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