Thorlabs

We recently had the honor of hosting Thorlabs, a global leader in photonics and optics, for a two-day visit to Bozeman. As part of the visit, we were thrilled to welcome Mayor Terry Cunningham and other community leaders to a community dinner, where exciting conversations took place around innovation, investment, and Bozeman’s growing leadership in photonics.

A highlight of the visit was Thorlabs President Jenn Cable’s OpTeC Colloquium talk, hosted at Montana State University. Her talk, “A view inside a leading photonics player: Learn how a career in the photonics industry can be fulfilling and fun,” was well received.  The talk offered valuable insight into the company’s evolution and its strategic growth in advanced technology sectors. The presentation engaged students, researchers, and industry professionals alike and helped further solidify ties between Thorlabs and the Bozeman community.

During their time in Bozeman, Thorlabs representatives met with a wide range of partners, including the Montana Photonics & Quantum Alliance (MPQA), Montana State University – including the Optical Technology Center (OpTeC), the Levitated Optomechanics Lab, and the Montana Microfabrication Facility – and local companies including AdvR, Wavelength Electronics, Quantum Composers, PHIX, AED, Lumibird, Quantum Coax, Lattice Materials, and the MSU Innovation Campus.

These meetings highlighted significant opportunities for future investment, workforce development, and collaboration on national innovation initiatives. The visit also showcased Bozeman’s unique capacity to support high-tech manufacturing, R&D, and commercialization in photonics and quantum technologies.

We are grateful for the community’s enthusiasm in welcoming Thorlabs. We look forward to the partnerships and momentum this visit has inspired.