04.02.2025
OptoNet-Meeting at GRINTECH

On Tuesday, February 4, 2025, GRINTECH hosted the OptoNet working group “International Sales and Cooperation”. Around 20 OptoNet members discussed current challenges and opportunities in the export business – particularly in the US market – in an open and trusting atmosphere. At a time when the political and legal situation in the USA hardly allows any clear recommendations for action, the participants were looking for productive input from their own industry.

After a keynote speech by Torsten Fuchs, country expert at Germany Trade and Invest, on the topic of “Trump 2.0 – Economic policy perspectives after the change of government”, the participating companies discussed together how the current political and economic developments are affecting optics and photonics companies in Jena and Thuringia. This dialog helped the members to better prepare for the uncertainties and challenges that export-oriented high-tech companies are currently facing.

The central topic was the potential risk of tariffs for exports to the USA. The export quota of the Thuringian optics industry is over 70 percent. Customs duties would therefore have a significant impact on the export of goods.

According to some participants, a favorable climate for the establishment of branches in the USA – also in connection with some production – could arise. However, pure exports would be considerably burdened by customs duties. We as the GRINTECH team also share these concerns. We – and many other OptoNet members – also see the planned or already implemented cuts in the US research sector as particularly problematic. This sector is an important sales market for GRINTECH. In addition, we have been cooperating closely with important US partners from universities and science for many years.

As always at the OptoNet meetings, the focus was on the valuable exchange between the participants and the open dialog within the industry.

All participants were able to take away important ideas for the current challenges in international sales. For us at GRINTECH, the working group meeting was a valuable opportunity to benefit from the experience of other members and gain new perspectives for international business. The joint exchange not only promoted knowledge growth, but also cooperation within the network.

It also became clear that the markets in which the participating companies operate are very different.General recommendations for action could therefore not be derived “in a hurry” – it depends on the individual situation of each company and the specific framework conditions.

The mood after the meeting was mixed.It was clear that there are no simple solutions and that the members of the working group came away from the exchange with a certain amount of concern and uncertainty.However, there was also an important insight: business relationships are ultimately based on trust and long-term partnerships, and German photonics technologies will continue to be in demand on the international market.

“Did we leave the meeting calm? No. But we also understood that future-oriented technologies and strong networks remain the decisive factors for success,” assessed GRINTECH Managing Director Anke Kräplin after the exchange. Despite the uncertainties, the general tenor was that the innovative strength and high quality of German photonics technologies will remain a competitive advantage in the future.

The global economic situation and the current political situation in the USA remain an issue that is essential for companies in Jena and throughout Germany and Europe. The working group made it clear how important it is to prepare for possible changes at an early stage and to remain flexible. Dialogue within the industry and learning together from the experiences of others will continue to play a decisive role in the coming months and years.And: strong networks, innovative technologies and the willingness to adapt remain the keys to success in the global economy – especially in the export-oriented photonics industry.