Annual Conference - COPL - Summer School, 2025

Welcome to the official page of the 36^th COPL annual conference and 2nd edition of the RÉQOP-COPL Summer School, to be held on June 2 and 3, 2025 at the Centre culturel de l'Université de Sherbrooke.

Every year, all cluster members and close partners are invited to this one-day gathering of the photonics research and innovation community. The aim of this event is to provide information on the progress of research and news from the sector, as well as a source of inspiration on current trends and prospects for current or planned collaborations.

This tradition has continued for over three decades, with a clear desire to consolidate a unique provincial ecosystem bringing together leading-edge expertise emblematic of the complex photonics value chain. And rightly so, the annual event is an ideal opportunity to deepen this understanding of the research expertise and cutting-edge infrastructures that characterize the eight member universities. It is also a fruitful day to reflect on opportunities for mutual enrichment of knowledge to generate partnership research with the scope to tackle cross-cutting challenges having the potential for positive and multiple impact for the stakeholder communities.

Now in its 2nd year, the summer school is a natural extension of this vision, and aims more specifically to mentor the next generation in the development of cross-disciplinary skills and knowledge. This formative and networking activity aims to equip student members, as well as technical and research professionals, in their academic and professional careers in this high-tech sector.

COPL Annual Conference - June 2, 2025
The 2025 edition will address the synergy between artificial intelligence and photonics. With AI evolving rapidly in all fields of knowledge, the team has designed a program that will put photonic optics at the heart of the challenges as both promoter and beneficiary of this revolution.

The day's speakers include Jean-François Lalonde, professor in the Department of Computer and Electrical Engineering at Université Laval, who will present the results of his work at the intersection of computer vision, computer graphics and machine learning.

This will be followed by Odile Liboiron-Ladouceur, Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at McGill University, who will share the fruits of her research into photonic integration for data communications and emerging applications such as AI computing.

Simon Thibault, Director of the Department of Physics, Engineering Physics and Optics at Université Laval, will complete the morning session. An NSERC Industrial Research Chair in Optical Design, his work focuses on the development of advanced optical systems and optical design techniques, as well as fabrication and characterization methods.

In the afternoon, Gabriella Tessitore, professor in the Department of Chemistry at Université Laval and a new member of the strategic group, and Ming Li, professor at the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing and recipient of the COPL 2024 Tribute Award, will be speaking, demonstrating the interdisciplinary scope and global reach of research in the field. In addition, as Sherbrooke is an innovation zone for the quantum sector, with its foundations in quantum science and technological applications, the COPL will take advantage of its stay to visit the Institut quantique and the Institut interdisciplinaire d'innovation technologique (3IT).

A student scientific poster session and networking period will round off this day of exchange and recognition of peers' contributions to strengthening the innovative research generated by the photonics optics ecosystem.

Summer School - June 3, 2025
On June 3, the summer school will offer students a wealth of presentations at the crossroads of artificial intelligence and quantum sciences, always with a view to synergy with photonics research.

The opening lecture will be given by Yuri Grinberg, Senior Research Fellow in Data Science for Complex Systems at the National Research Council of Canada (NRC). In the form of a seminar, he will share his expertise in machine learning and artificial intelligence applied to nanophotonics.

Postdoctoral researcher Aashutosh Kumar from École de technologie supérieure à Montréal (ÉTS) will follow with a workshop on exploring the new generation of fiber-optic quantum sensors, exploiting the color centers of nanodiamonds.

The morning session will conclude with a panel discussion to inspire the next generation of graduates about the prospects for the world of work in a sector dominated by disruptive technologies.

In the afternoon, seven promising students will present components of their research projects in photonic optics powered by artificial intelligence.

Transportation - accommodations - partners
To encourage participation, COPL is pleased to announce that it will be offering coach transportation from Montreal and Quebec City to Sherbrooke and back.

Members wishing to take advantage of round-trip charter transportation on June 2 to attend the annual conference can specify this on the registration form.

For student members and other professionals planning to attend the Annual Day Conference and Summer School on June 2 and 3, accommodation in residence will be offered until capacity is reached.

As such, a block of 35 rooms with single beds and 15 rooms with double beds have been reserved for the night of June 2 to 3, 2025.

Members wishing to take advantage of this offer can indicate this on the registration form.

Finally, COPL would like to thank 3IT for its generous contribution to the activities to be held on June 2 and 3, 2025, and INTRIQ for its support in organizing the summer school.

COPL members and close partners, join us today!

We look forward to seeing you on June 2 and 3, 2025,

COPL Team