Burgenland as a photonics hotspot

Pinkafeld, 13 May 2025: When you hear the technical term photonics, you think of highly complex science that is being researched far away in Silicon Valley. However, Burgenland also has a very high density of companies that utilise photonics - i.e. knowledge about and work with light. Students on the Applied Electronics and Photonics Bachelor's degree programme at Burgenland University of Applied Sciences have visited six Burgenland companies in recent weeks and months to gain an insight into their future careers.

Even more practical experience for the students

BECOM in Hochstraß, LUMITECH in Jennersdorf, Dr Bohrer LASERTEC in Neusiedl am See, MELECS in Siegendorf, Joanneum Research and rmDATA in Pinkafeld. Visits to these renowned regional companies were part of the students' curriculum. The many excursions were made possible through a change in the curriculum.

What is photonics?

While everyone can relate to the term electronics, photonics is a different matter. Even though we all use and utilise it. Photonics deals with the generation, control and utilisation of light. It can be found in lasers, glass fibres, displays and sensors, but also in solar cells, 3D scanners, LED lighting, microscopes, lidar systems and optical chips. Without photonics, there would be no high-speed internet, modern diagnostic technologies or autonomous vehicles. It drives innovation in communication, medicine, energy, mobility and much more. In short: it is the key technology of our time.

Facts about the degree programme

The Bachelor's degree programme lasts six semesters and leads to the academic degree Bachelor of Science in Engineering - BSc. The degree programme can be studied either part-time or extended part-time, with the option to switch flexibly at the end of each semester. Around 30 study places are offered at the Pinkafeld Study Centre. The language of instruction is German. There are no tuition fees. The programme offers an introduction to the latest industrial technologies: LiDAR, additive manufacturing, optoelectronics, laser technology, fibre optics, sensor electronics and microcontrollers.

Information and enrolment at www.hochschule-burgenland.at.

Enquiry notes:
Mag.a Christiane Staab │ Marketing and Communication │ University of Applied Sciences Burgenland GmbH │ Tel: +43 (0)5 7705 3537 │ E-Mail: christiane.staab(at)hochschule-burgenland.at