Panel:
From Light to Insight: Photonics in Digital Border Security

From the front lines of Finland’s most advanced deep‑tech ecosystems, Juha Purmonen brings a rare blend of scientific insight, strategic vision and industry‑level experience to the SOHJO 2026 stage. As Executive Director of Photonics Finland, Juha has spent his career turning complex technologies into national strengths championing photonics as one of Europe’s most critical enablers of competitiveness, security and resilience.

With roots also in entrepreneurship as co‑founder of the imaging software start‑up SoftColor Juha understands innovation not only from the ecosystem perspective but from the founder’s side as well. This experience shapes his ability to connect research, industry and early‑stage companies into coherent, high‑impact value chains.

Working at the intersection of research, business and European policy, Juha has helped build Finland’s reputation as a global photonics powerhouse. His work connects cutting‑edge sensing, imaging, laser and optical technologies with real‑world applications: from manufacturing and healthcare to defence and digital border security. He understands not only how light behaves, but how innovation ecosystems behave, scale and thrive.

At SOHJO 2026, Juha takes the stage in the panel From Light to Insight: Photonics in Digital Border Security, exploring how modern photonics turns invisible signals into actionable intelligence. In an era where borders are both physical and digital, photonics technologies are reshaping situational awareness, anomaly detection and strategic autonomy across Europe. Juha brings clarity to a domain often hidden in complexity showing how light becomes security, insight and preparedness.

Deeply rooted in Eastern Finland’s innovation landscape yet globally connected, Juha is known for his ability to unite companies, researchers and public authorities around shared missions. His work accelerates not just technologies, but entire ecosystems strengthening Finland’s role in Europe’s emerging deep‑tech future.

At SOHJO, Juha doesn’t just explain photonics. He illuminates what’s next.

We’re thrilled to get Juha to SOHJO Business Event 2026 as part of Photonics Finland x SOHJO Partnerhip.