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In this special episode recorded at Optics and Photonics Days 2026 in Jyväskylä, Finland, we speak with:

• Tomi Salo — Kvanttinova

• Sesha Manuguri — Dispelix

• Byron Seabolt — Optikos

• Mikko Närhi — Coherent

• Sampo Härkönen — Business Tampere

• Julian Gallego Urrea — Horiba

Together, we explore the technologies quietly powering the future of optics, photonics, quantum systems, AR, and advanced manufacturing.

Our guests explain how Finland built one of the planet's most concentrated photonics ecosystems through patience and infrastructure, how quantum research connects to real market partners, and what it takes to solve the complex waveguide challenges for next-generation AR glasses.

We also discuss automated optical metrology for volume production, high-power industrial fiber lasers, regional talent engines for advanced chip design, and the precision measurement instruments like spectroscopy that underpin both academic research and quality control.

Whether you’re interested in optics, lasers, quantum technology, AR hardware, or Nordic deep tech innovation, this episode offers a practical look at the people and companies building the foundations of tomorrow’s technology.

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In this special episode recorded at Optics and Photonics Days 2026 in Jyväskylä, Finland, we speak with:

• Juha Purmonen — Photonics Finland
• Matti Pesonen — Noptel
• Julia Mattia — Laser 2000
• Derrick Defever — TactoTek
• Pierre Brochard — Silentsys
• Oliver Grass — Assemblify

Together, we explore the technologies quietly powering the future of AI, quantum systems, lidar, sensing, and advanced manufacturing.

Our guests explain how Finland built one of Europe's strongest photonics ecosystems, how laser-based measurement systems perform in challenging environments, what it takes to commercialize photonics technologies, and why ultra-low-noise lasers are becoming essential for next-generation quantum applications.

We also discuss smart surfaces with embedded electronics, supply chains for deep-tech hardware, manufacturing at scale, certification challenges, and the realities of turning cutting-edge research into successful products.

Whether you're interested in photonics, optics, lasers, quantum technology, AI infrastructure, or hardware innovation, this episode offers a practical look at the people and companies building the foundations of tomorrow's technology.

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Quantum computing is moving from lab experiments to scalable machines. This episode explores the "unglamorous" ingredients of this transition: infrastructure, specialized engineering, and the national strategies turning breakthroughs into products.

Guests in this episode:

• Mikko Möttönen (QMill)
• George Schwartz (Global Quantum Intelligence)
• Katri Raevuori (Business Finland)
• Sirpa Salmi (Kvanttinova)
• Santeri Ojala (Business Finland)

Key topics:

• The Technical Stack: From superconducting qubits to autonomous processing units—mapping the direction of hardware in plain language.
• Manufacturing Capacity: How pilot lines and shared clean rooms allow startups to prototype faster without massive capital investment.
• Ecosystem Density: Why collaboration across semiconductors and quantum technologies is creating a unique national advantage.
• The Talent Pipeline: Addressing the workforce shortage and how to build pathways for the next generation of engineers.
• Cybersecurity: A sober look at "harvest now, decrypt later" risks and the urgent need for post-quantum cryptography.

Whether you're building in the space or curious about the future of deep tech, this is your guide to the quantum ecosystem.

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Tariffs do not feel abstract when you are the one trying to get a container released from the port. We sit down with Liz Picarazzi, founder and CEO of Citibin, to trace the full arc from a Brooklyn streetscape problem to a real manufacturing company selling rat-proof, weather-resistant trash and parcel enclosures across the US. What starts as an “eyesore” story quickly becomes a practical lesson in product-market fit, modular design, and how customer demand can drive new lines, including a steel, bear-resistant version built for regions far beyond New York City.

From there, we get into the supply chain decisions most people only debate in headlines. Liz explains why she moved production to Asia after struggling to consistently hit price, quality, and lead time in early US manufacturing attempts, and why the goal was never “cheapest” but “most reliable partner.” We also unpack the chaos of changing tariff rates, Section 232 aluminum and steel tariffs, what happens when the rate shifts with little notice, and why a transparent tariff surcharge can be simpler than constantly rewriting your pricing.

Finally, we talk about reshoring without slogans. Liz shares why she is building a US manufacturing base in Indiana, what makes domestic production expensive, and how trade education and workforce skills shape what is even possible. If you run a small business in manufacturing, importing, e-commerce, or product design, this conversation offers a clear-eyed playbook for diversification and risk management. Subscribe, share this with a builder in your life, and leave a review with your take: should the consumer be the one paying for tariff uncertainty?

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This episode, recorded in collaboration with Katri Raevuori (Business Finland), at the APS March Meeting, explores why Finland is a global hub for quantum and deep tech.

Guests in this episode:

• Sirpa Salmi (Kvanttinova)
• Harry Smith (SemiQon)
• David Gunnarsson (Bluefors)
• Galina Leväsluoto (IQM)
• Dominic Lennon (QuantrolOx)
• Bilge Can Yildiz (Arctic Instruments)
• Tommi Hakulinen (Vexlum)

We discuss:

• Ecosystem: Why collaboration between research and industry is the key to faster prototyping.
• Scaling Hardware: Overcoming the challenges of cryogenics and instrumentation.
• Talent & Culture: What it’s like for international experts to build a career in Finland.
• Future Tech: The role of automation and lasers in stabilizing quantum systems.

Whether you're an engineer, a researcher, or just curious about deep tech, this is your grounded guide to the market.

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A landmark Supreme Court decision on IEEPA has redefined the tariff landscape, ending broad emergency powers and forcing a shift to Section 122. For importers and manufacturers, this means a renewed focus on managing landed costs and navigating the legal scramble for tariff refunds.

In this episode, we break down:

• Tariff Refunds & Compliance: The complexity of passing savings to end-users and the critical need for a "paper trail" in trade finance.
• The End of De Minimis: How the removal of duty-free exemptions is reshaping e-commerce and small-parcel logistics.
• AI in Customs Enforcement: Using automation for supply chain mapping, valuation detection, and building an audit-ready "golden folder."
• Practical Defense: Why pairing AI with expert oversight is now essential for legal tariff engineering and HTS classification.

Stay ahead of 2026 trade turbulence. Subscribe for expert insights on scaling global operations and mastering customs compliance.

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Joensuu is a small city in eastern Finland, close to the Russian border, and it keeps producing founders who think and build globally. Kasey Snyder steps in as guest host, bringing you conversations recorded at SOHJO with entrepreneurs proving that distance is not a disadvantage when the work is real. Across transit, manufacturing, robotics, retail, and climate tech, the common thread is practical innovation that can travel from the Nordics to North America.

This episode features conversations with:

• Juho Häme, Co-Founder, Einbus
• Jani Akkila, CEO, Process Genius, and Jani Toropainen, CEO, Mecmetal
• George-Cosmin Porusniuc, Co-Founder, Henki Robotics
• Joona Kotilainen, Co-Founder, Hiil Oy
• Leo Fadi, Founder & CEO, Vesko Oy
• Tomi Haring, CEO, Business Joensuu
• Miska Ruotsalainen, CEO, Fiidback
• Sami Koskela, CEO, Filtson

If you care about Nordic startups, applied AI, climate tech, industrial IoT, and the realities of scaling into the US and Canada, press play, subscribe, and share this with a founder or operator who needs fresh ideas.

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Big enterprise customers can feel like the finish line: massive budgets, brand-name logos, and the kind of “we made it” credibility that looks great on a homepage. But we’ve seen the other side too, where the same deal becomes a slow grind of checkpoints, approvals, internal politics, and change resistance that can drain a young company’s time and cash.

Alex Romanovich sits down with Stephanie Anderson to separate enterprise romance from enterprise reality. We talk through what it actually takes to sell into large organizations, why enterprise sales cycles stretch into months, and how the real risk is often the cost of change, not the product itself. From CRM-style rollouts to training and adoption, we get specific about why behavior change is hard and how to plan for it so your enterprise's go-to-market strategy doesn’t collapse after the contract is signed.

We also dig into market entry strategy for companies expanding into the United States: how to build business development structure, run smarter discovery, and use partnerships to move faster than hiring a giant sales team. Then we shift to AI in the enterprise, including Stephanie’s recent AI certification and the ROAD methodology (requirements, operationalizing data, analytics, deployment). Finally, we face the uncomfortable question: is AI a threat to jobs and institutional knowledge, or a chance to build better systems without breaking what already works?

If you’re targeting enterprise customers, building a B2B sales motion, or planning responsible AI implementation, this conversation will help you stress-test your readiness. Subscribe for more Global Edge Talk, share this with a founder or sales leader, and leave a review with your biggest enterprise challenge.

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