PISCATAWAY, N.J., 9 July 2026 — The IEEE Photonics Society (IPS) is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Vladimir Kozlov, CEO and founder of LightCounting, as Chair of the Society’s Industry Engagement Committee. The Society also welcomes three new committee members: Fotini Karinou (Microsoft), Ted Letavic (GlobalFoundries), and Vijay Vusirikala (Arista Networks).
The Industry Engagement Committee plays a vital role in strengthening connections between academia, industry, and government to accelerate innovation across the photonics community. Under Dr. Kozlov’s leadership, the committee will facilitate discussions between industry experts and leading academic and government researchers to identify emerging opportunities, address technical challenges, and help shape the future of photonics technologies. The committee also plans to expand its engagement with startups, building on the successful workshops established by former committee chair Daniel Renner.
“Since starting LightCounting in 2004, I have had the privilege to study the adoption of new optical technologies. It is truly fascinating,” said Dr. Vladimir Kozlov. “It is also important to set realistic expectations and identify barriers for adoption. ‘Speak honestly and many people will listen’ has been the strategy for success at LightCounting. I hope to bring this style of conversation to the IEEE Photonics Society.”
“I am delighted to welcome Vladimir Kozlov as Chair of the Industry Engagement Committee,” said Aref Chowdhury, Vice President of Professional & Technical Development at the IEEE Photonics Society. “Vladimir brings an unparalleled perspective on the optical communications landscape, and his wealth of industry knowledge will be invaluable in strengthening engagement between the Society and the global photonics industry.”
Additional industry-focused programming will be announced in the coming months for the IEEE Photonics Conference (IPC 2026), taking place 8–12 November 2026 in Denver, Colorado. The conference program already features a special symposium, Fiber Connectivity and Optical Interconnect Technologies for Scalable AI Factories, highlighting one of the most rapidly evolving areas in photonics. IPC brings together researchers, industry leaders, and innovators from across the global photonics community, creating unique opportunities to exchange ideas, build collaborations, and inspire the next generation of technological breakthroughs. Innovation often happens at the intersections of different disciplines—join the conversation and be among the first to discover what’s next.
Learn more about the Fiber Connectivity and Optical Interconnect Technologies for Scalable AI Factories symposium on the IEEE Photonics Conference website.
Those interested in learning more about LightCounting are invited to attend its upcoming virtual conference on Co-Packaged Optics (CPO) and Near-Packaged Optics (NPO) on 15 July 2026, from 5:00–8:00 p.m. PT. Registration is available on the LightCounting event page.
Learn more about Vladimir Kozlov’s perspective on the future of the photonics industry in this recent interview:
About the IEEE Photonics Society
The IEEE Photonics Society is the professional home for a global community of engineers, scientists, and industry professionals dedicated to advancing photonics technology. Through world-class conferences, publications, education, standards, and professional development opportunities, the Society fosters innovation and collaboration to advance light-based technologies that benefit humanity.
Press Release Source: IEEE Photonics Society
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Kristen Amoroso
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Email: k.amoroso@ieee.org
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State of Origin: New Jersey, United States
