The 2026 edition of the PLI Conferences will take place on July 1–2, 2026, at the Beaublanc Stadium in Limoges. As every year, the Club Laser et Procédés is partnering with major local stakeholders to contribute to the success of this flagship event dedicated to laser processes and their industrial applications.
On this occasion, we met with Institut Fresnel, a partner of the 2026 PLI Conferences and coordinator of the poster session dedicated to PhD students.
Interview with Laurent Gallais
Professor at École Centrale Méditerranée and Institut Fresnel
Could you introduce Institut Fresnel and its areas of expertise?
Institut Fresnel is a Joint Research Unit of Aix-Marseille University, the CNRS, and École Centrale Méditerranée, located on the Saint-Jérôme campus in Marseille. It brings together more than 200 people, including around sixty PhD students, conducting research activities in optics and photonics. The work covers a broad spectrum ranging from fundamental optics to biomedical applications.
The Laser–Matter Interaction team (around 15 people) conducts research on the physics of laser–matter interactions and their applications, particularly laser-induced damage resistance of optical components and the development of laser-based processes.
Why are you involved in organizing the poster session of the 2026 PLI Conferences?
As a professor in an engineering school and a PhD supervisor, I pay particular attention to supporting young researchers in building their professional paths. Beyond scientific work, it is essential that they develop their network and learn how to promote their skills.
The PLI Conferences community represents an excellent opportunity in this respect: it brings together academic and industrial stakeholders in the field of laser processes. For many PhD students—most of whom will pursue careers in industry—it provides a privileged setting to exchange ideas, raise their profile, and begin envisioning the next stage of their careers.
What role do PhD students and young researchers play in innovation in laser technologies?
PhD students are the driving force of laboratories. They are at the heart of technological developments and innovations. Their ability to explore new directions, deepen the understanding of physical phenomena, and propose original solutions directly contributes to progress in the field.
They also play a key role in transferring knowledge to industry, particularly through collaborations, industrial PhDs (CIFRE programs), and partnership projects.
What does a poster session like the one at the PLI Conferences represent for exchanges between research and industry?
A poster session provides an especially favorable setting for direct and informal exchanges. The atmosphere is generally friendly, which facilitates in-depth discussions around the presented work. It is a format that allows PhD students to present their results in an accessible way, answer technical questions, and confront their approaches with industrial needs.
For companies, it is an opportunity to identify skills, ideas, or potential collaborations.
A message to encourage PhD students to take part in this session?
I would strongly encourage them to seize this opportunity. Presenting a poster at an event like the PLI Conferences is not only about sharing scientific results—it is also about learning to communicate, expanding one’s network, and gaining visibility.
Don’t miss the flagship event of the sector!
>> Register now for the 2026 PLI Conferences
