From November 4th to 7th, 2023, the Asia Communications and Photonics Conference (ACP) and the International Photonics and OptoElectronics Meetings (POEM) were successfully held in Wuhan, Hubei. The Conference was organized by Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), in collaboration with the State Key Laboratory of Optical Fiber and Cable Manufacture Technology, Hubei Jiufengshan Laboratory, the National Optoelectronics Innovation Center, Advanced Biomedical Imaging Facility, and Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. It was aimed at providing a platform for universities, research institutions, and optoelectronics-related companies around the world to facilitate academic exchange and in-depth discussion on cutting-edge optical communication and optoelectronics technologies.

The Conference commenced on the morning of November 5th with an opening ceremony and four plenary speeches. Professor Perry Shum, General Co-Chair of ACP/POEM 2023 and Chair of the IEEE Photonics Society, presided over the ceremony. First, General Chair Prof. Zhang Xinliang delivered an opening speech, and TPC Co-Chair Prof. Tang Ming provided an overview of the Conference. Then, Ms. Elizabeth Rogan, the CEO of Optica, delivered a welcome speech, and Prof. Qiu Min, the Vice President of Westlake University, presented certificates to the representatives of this year’s newly elected Optica Fellows.

Prof. Zhang Xinliang gives an opening speech

Prof. Tang Ming introduces general information

Ms. Elizabeth Rogan gives a welcome speech

Following the opening ceremony, the plenary session was skillfully moderated by TPC Co-Chairs Prof. Dong Jianji and Prof. Lena Wosinska. Four distinguished speakers, Prof. Tobias Kippenberg from EPFL, Prof. Mona Jarrahi from the University of California, Los Angeles, Prof. Seb Savory from the University of Cambridge, and Dr. Tang Xiaojun from Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd., delivered four plenary speeches titled Hybrid low loss integrated photonics: From chipscale frequency combs, frequency agile lasers, erbium amplifiers to cryogenic quantum interconnects, Real-time hyperspectral Terahertz imaging, Where next for digital coherent transceivers?, and Optical communication system architecture & technology evolution towards 2030, respectively. These thought-provoking presentations sparked heated discussions among the attendees.

Plenary session by Tobias Kippenberg, Mona Jarrahi, Seb Savory and Tang Xiaojun

The Conference program encompassed eight technical tracks, covering a wide range of topics including Optical Fibers and Fiber-based Devices, Optical Transmission Systems, Subsystems and Technologies, Network Architectures, Management and Applications, Optoelectronic Devices and Integration, Microwave Photonics and Optical Signal Processing, Photonics for Energy, Micro-, Nano-, and Quantum Photonics: Science and Applications, Photonic Sensors & Bio-Photonics. In addition to 10 tutorial/keynote talks and 104 invited talks, the Conference received an impressive total of 835 paper submissions. Through a rigorous review process conducted by the TPC members of each track, 313 orals and 329 posters were accepted and presented during the Conference.

Attendees listening to talks

Poster session

Furthermore, ACP/POEM 2023 featured 10 academic workshops and three industry forums, bringing together experts and scholars from both academia and industry to explore frontier technologies such as optical wireless communications for 6G, advanced algorithms for future optical communication systems, novel applications of structured light, and reconfigurable photonics. These workshops and forums attracted nearly 1,000 participants to actively engage in specialized presentations and roundtable discussions, fostering a dynamic academic atmosphere.

The 10th Sino-French Photonics and Optoelectronics PHOTONET International Research Network Workshop organized by Prof. Gao Dingshan and Prof. Bai Benfeng

Workshop on Will AIGC Require Disruptive Optical Interconnect Technologies organized by Dr. Xie Chongjin, Professor Liu Ning, and Professor Tang Ming

Workshop on Broadband Gain Fibers and Multiband Amplifiers for Optical Communication organized by State Key Laboratory of Optical Fiber and Cable Manufacture Technology

In addition, two special events were held concurrently. Collaborating with Optica, the Conference hosted a special symposium for the winners of this year’s Optica Foundation Challenge for Groundbreaking Innovations. Another seminar was organized for student attendees in which senior editors from Light Publishing Group and the journal Frontiers of Optoelectronics shared their views on manuscript processing and editing procedures.

Professor Liu Ning and Dr. Liu Xiang host the special symposium on Optica Foundation Challenge for Groundbreaking Innovations

Senior editors Yuan Jingze (left) and Hong Wei (right) share insights on academic manuscript processing

Spanning four days, the Conference attracted nearly 1,200 registered participants from 26 countries, with over 2,000 attendees present at the venue. In the meantime, more than 30 companies joined an exhibition showcasing optoelectronic products and achievements to display cutting-edge advancements, promote innovation, and foster collaboration between academia and industry.

Optoelectronic exhibition

To support the cultivation of talents, the Conference established four awards, including Best Paper Award for Industry Innovation, Best Paper Award, Best Student Paper Award, and Best Poster Award. Following a rigorous evaluation, 37 participants were recognized and awarded.

The award ceremony

Last but not least, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to over 60 volunteers from Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics (WNLO) and the School of Optical and Electronic Information of HUST. Their enthusiastic, thoughtful, and meticulous service ensured the smooth execution of this Conference.

Staff and volunteers

The ACP is one of the world’s three largest optical communication conferences. It is also the largest and most influential international conference on optical communication in the Asia-Pacific region. It receives technical support from Optica, SPIE, IEEE Photonics Society, COS, and CIC. The POEM was initiated by WNLO in 2008. A high-end international conference in the field of optics and successfully held 14 times, the POEM has established itself as a high-level international brand. The successful hosting of ACP/POEM 2023 also marked the beginning of a series of celebrations for the 20th anniversary of the establishment of WNLO.

Written by: Gou Bingbing, Tang Ming

Edited by: Chang Wen, Peng Yumeng