Leading the way in the photonics industry: Peter Seitz named in the prestigious Photonics100
Leading the way in the photonics industry: Peter Seitz named in the prestigious Photonics100
Spotlight interview | January 2025
Spotlight interview | December 2025
Peter Seitz, our Senior Technologist, has recently been named one of the Photonics100 for 2025 by Electro Optics. This prestigious list recognizes 100 leading individuals who are transforming the photonics and optical technology landscape worldwide.
With a PhD in biomedical engineering from ETH Zurich and a wealth of experience, Peter has made significant contributions to semiconductor image sensors and optical measurement systems. He has authored over 200 publications and holds more than 75 patents, firmly establishing himself as a pioneer in high-precision imaging methods like LiDAR and Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT). A co-founder of six high-tech startups, his work has earned him and his teams 24 international awards and honors.
In light of this recognition, Peter has responded to some of our questions where he explores some of his career achievements and provides his insights in the photonics industry.
Peter Seitz, our Senior Technologist, has recently been named one of the Photonics100 for 2025 by Electro Optics. This prestigious list recognizes 100 leading individuals who are transforming the photonics and optical technology landscape worldwide.
With a PhD in biomedical engineering from ETH Zurich and a wealth of experience, Peter has made significant contributions to semiconductor image sensors and optical measurement systems. He has authored over 200 publications and holds more than 75 patents, firmly establishing himself as a pioneer in high-precision imaging methods like LiDAR and Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT). A co-founder of six high-tech startups, his work has earned him and his teams 24 international awards and honors.
In light of this recognition, Peter has responded to some of our questions where he explores some of his career achievements and provides his insights in the photonics industry.
Q1: Congratulations on being shortlisted for the Photonics 100 list! This is a major recognition. Could you tell us how this acknowledgment feels and what it means for your work and goals?
Q1: Congratulations on being shortlisted for the Photonics 100 list! This is a major recognition. Could you tell us how this acknowledgment feels and what it means for your work and goals?
My first reaction was, of course, delight and gratification that towards the end of my career I am recognized for my various contributions to photonics. On second thought, however, I felt ill at ease because I took the place of a bright young talent whose career could have profited much more from this recognition.
So, this acknowledgment is an excellent reminder for me that my task now is to support younger talents and to help shape the political landscape by informing the public that photonics is recognized and appreciated for what it really is: A base technology that is of huge importance to a large number of applications and a European capability providing jobs and entrepreneurial opportunities for many people.
My first reaction was, of course, delight and gratification that towards the end of my career I am recognized for my various contributions to photonics. On second thought, however, I felt ill at ease because I took the place of a bright young talent whose career could have profited much more from this recognition.
So, this acknowledgment is an excellent reminder for me that my task now is to support younger talents and to help shape the political landscape by informing the public that photonics is recognized and appreciated for what it really is: A base technology that is of huge importance to a large number of applications and a European capability providing jobs and entrepreneurial opportunities for many people.
Q2: We know you’ve been working on precision 3D imaging methods like LiDAR and OCT. Could you briefly describe how these technologies have impacted industries or advanced scientific research?
Q2: We know you’ve been working on precision 3D imaging methods like LiDAR and OCT. Could you briefly describe how these technologies have impacted industries or advanced scientific research?
Knowing the precise three-dimensional shape of our environment is a key capability for the development of humanity. In the short range, OCT allows to determine the three-dimensional shape of centimeter-sized objects with nanometer precision, and in the long range, LIDAR enables us to perceive our environment at hundreds of meters with millimeter precision.
So, these two technologies are key for all aspects of our lives, where we need precise knowledge about the 3D shape of things, be it in production, quality inspection, guidance and collision avoidance of robots or autonomous cars, recognition of humans or objects, microscopy for biology and medicine, construction, tunnel boring, and many other fields.
Knowing the precise three-dimensional shape of our environment is a key capability for the development of humanity. In the short range, OCT allows to determine the three-dimensional shape of centimeter-sized objects with nanometer precision, and in the long range, LIDAR enables us to perceive our environment at hundreds of meters with millimeter precision.
So, these two technologies are key for all aspects of our lives, where we need precise knowledge about the 3D shape of things, be it in production, quality inspection, guidance and collision avoidance of robots or autonomous cars, recognition of humans or objects, microscopy for biology and medicine, construction, tunnel boring, and many other fields.
Q3: Your work has inspired several LiDAR and OCT startups, which speaks to your research. What would you say is the “core novelty” of your work in these areas, and how does it set your contributions apart from existing technologies?
Q3: Your work has inspired several LiDAR and OCT startups, which speaks to your research. What would you say is the “core novelty” of your work in these areas, and how does it set your contributions apart from existing technologies?
Most of my contributions have not been in inventing completely new photonic methods. Often, the innovation aspect of my contributions was the re-assignment of tasks in known photonic methods – involving mechanics, optics, light sources, detectors and signal-processing electronics – so that the overall solution became smaller, faster, simpler and more affordable.
I was able to make such improvements because of my broad background, enabling me to see opportunities – for example, in smart pixels, optoelectronic systems-on-a-chip, or PICs – where others were more restricted in their tools. As the old saying goes: To a man with a hammer, everything looks like a nail.
Most of my contributions have not been in inventing completely new photonic methods. Often, the innovation aspect of my contributions was the re-assignment of tasks in known photonic methods – involving mechanics, optics, light sources, detectors and signal-processing electronics – so that the overall solution became smaller, faster, simpler and more affordable.
I was able to make such improvements because of my broad background, enabling me to see opportunities – for example, in smart pixels, optoelectronic systems-on-a-chip, or PICs – where others were more restricted in their tools. As the old saying goes: To a man with a hammer, everything looks like a nail.
Q4: One of the most remarkable aspects of your work is how you’ve addressed the influence of photon noise on measurement accuracy. Could you elaborate on this challenge and how your approach improves optical distance measurement accuracy?
Q4: One of the most remarkable aspects of your work is how you’ve addressed the influence of photon noise on measurement accuracy. Could you elaborate on this challenge and how your approach improves optical distance measurement accuracy?
To quote Albert Einstein: “There is nothing more practical than a good theory”. Thus, it is of utmost importance to understand the profound influence of photon and photoelectron noise on the ultimate limits of optical measurement techniques. Once you really understand how the unavoidable quantum noise influences the properties of a measurement technique, you are also capable of inventing solutions that come closer to the ultimate physical measurement limit – possibly even reaching it.
To quote Albert Einstein: “There is nothing more practical than a good theory”. Thus, it is of utmost importance to understand the profound influence of photon and photoelectron noise on the ultimate limits of optical measurement techniques. Once you really understand how the unavoidable quantum noise influences the properties of a measurement technique, you are also capable of inventing solutions that come closer to the ultimate physical measurement limit – possibly even reaching it.
Q5: Looking forward, what potential do you see for LiDAR and OCT technologies? How do you envision them shaping future applications, from autonomous vehicles to medical diagnostics?
Q5: Looking forward, what potential do you see for LiDAR and OCT technologies? How do you envision them shaping future applications, from autonomous vehicles to medical diagnostics?
There is no doubt that the supreme and highly versatile 3D measurement techniques of LIDAR and OCT are indispensable tools for the micro and macro world. What prevents us from employing them much more widely and in many more applications is the price. We have to work hard to make products based on these technologies even smaller, less expensive, and thus ubiquitous. The goal is not thousands of Euros for a system but tens of Euros. This is only possible by exploiting the amazing capabilities of semiconductor, PIC, and microfabrication technologies.
There is no doubt that the supreme and highly versatile 3D measurement techniques of LIDAR and OCT are indispensable tools for the micro and macro world. What prevents us from employing them much more widely and in many more applications is the price. We have to work hard to make products based on these technologies even smaller, less expensive, and thus ubiquitous. The goal is not thousands of Euros for a system but tens of Euros. This is only possible by exploiting the amazing capabilities of semiconductor, PIC, and microfabrication technologies.
Q6: We are very proud to have had you working with us at Hamamamatsu for the last 13 years. What would you say has been your greatest contribution?
Q6: We are very proud to have had you working with us at Hamamamatsu for the last 13 years. What would you say has been your greatest contribution?
During my career I have invented or co-invented novel solutions that led to almost 80 patent families. Looking back, the surprising thing is that I was completely unable to predict which of these patents generated unusually high value and which had to be abandoned soon because the “better” solution was just not advantageous enough. It may be that I do not have a keen enough entrepreneurial sense of when a new invention takes off in the market, or perhaps it often takes an unexpected occurrence to reveal the true value of an invention. So, given the 20 patents that I invented or co-invented for Hamamatsu during the past 12 years, it may be premature to talk about my “greatest contributions to Hamamatsu Photonics Europe” yet – Obviously I cannot tell, and I believe only time will tell…
During my career I have invented or co-invented novel solutions that led to almost 80 patent families. Looking back, the surprising thing is that I was completely unable to predict which of these patents generated unusually high value and which had to be abandoned soon because the “better” solution was just not advantageous enough. It may be that I do not have a keen enough entrepreneurial sense of when a new invention takes off in the market, or perhaps it often takes an unexpected occurrence to reveal the true value of an invention. So, given the 20 patents that I invented or co-invented for Hamamatsu during the past 12 years, it may be premature to talk about my “greatest contributions to Hamamatsu Photonics Europe” yet – Obviously I cannot tell, and I believe only time will tell…
Q7. We all know you as your unique alter ego, Professor Photon! Could you tell us how this character came to life and what role he plays in your life and career?
As a university professor and a regular keynote speaker, I have always loved to speak to people and to improve my pedagogical skills, with the aim of letting my audience profit the most from my presentations. In my experience, the easiest access to an audience and the most impactful presentation happen when the speaker is capable of also addressing the audience’s emotions: Surprise, amazement, curiosity, delight, amusement, unexpectedness, humor, etc., all make people more attentive and let the key messages sink in more deeply.
So, when I was asked how to make our Hamamatsu event, Technology Days, more effective, I suggested having a speaker who surprises and amuses our audience with a particularly memorable presentation. What I imagined was an “old-fashioned, slightly odd and unworldly professor who is completely unimpressed with status or titles, but who is fascinated and delighted by the wonders of nature and science, making him an enthusiastic, uncompromising storyteller of scientific tales.” Since I did not know such a person, I had to become one… The rest is history.
Q8. In your opinion, what photonics-related technology do you see as a game changer in the coming year?
As Yogi Berra (or Niels Bohr) famously said: “It is difficult to make predictions, especially about the future”. Nevertheless, I dare to make a few predictions based on the need to make photonic products smaller, cheaper, and ubiquitous:
Q7. We all know you as your unique alter ego, Professor Photon! Could you tell us how this character came to life and what role he plays in your life and career?
As a university professor and a regular keynote speaker, I have always loved to speak to people and to improve my pedagogical skills, with the aim of letting my audience profit the most from my presentations. In my experience, the easiest access to an audience and the most impactful presentation happen when the speaker is capable of also addressing the audience’s emotions: Surprise, amazement, curiosity, delight, amusement, unexpectedness, humor, etc., all make people more attentive and let the key messages sink in more deeply.
So, when I was asked how to make our Hamamatsu event, Technology Days, more effective, I suggested having a speaker who surprises and amuses our audience with a particularly memorable presentation. What I imagined was an “old-fashioned, slightly odd and unworldly professor who is completely unimpressed with status or titles, but who is fascinated and delighted by the wonders of nature and science, making him an enthusiastic, uncompromising storyteller of scientific tales.” Since I did not know such a person, I had to become one… The rest is history.
Q8. In your opinion, what photonics-related technology do you see as a game changer in the coming year?
As Yogi Berra (or Niels Bohr) famously said: “It is difficult to make predictions, especially about the future”. Nevertheless, I dare to make a few predictions based on the need to make photonic products smaller, cheaper, and ubiquitous:
PIC (Photonic Integrated Circuits) may be a key technology for the miniaturization of complex but highly functional photonic systems, rendering them very low-cost in the same way as CMOS technology made computation indispensable and ubiquitous in our modern lives.
Affordable electronic beam-steering, for example, through phased-array VCSELs or LCOS-like technologies, would make the optomechanical construction of photonic systems much smaller, more versatile, and cheaper, in particular for low-cost LIDAR solutions.
High-sensitivity, distance-resolved micro-Raman sub-systems would allow us to unlock the unique capabilities of Raman spectroscopy for many applications. In particular, life sciences, medicine, material processing, quality inspection, food processing, toxicity analysis, etc., could profit substantially since the Raman effect has unequally low cross-sensitivity, temperature sensitivity, and high specificity.
Quantum effects of the Quantum 2.0 revolution (i.e. entanglement, superposition and interference) are not yet widely employed. I am sure Quantum 2.0 technologies will play a major role in the development of Quantum Computing, Quantum Sensing and Quantum Communication, bringing major performance leaps to many application domains.
Thank you for your insights and congratulations again for the nomination!
Thank you for your insights and congratulations again for the nomination!