As optical systems evolve toward ever lighter, thinner, and more intelligent form factors, traditional optical design can no longer satisfy the extreme performance and integration demands of cutting‑edge applications. New‑generation optical elements—exemplified by freeform surfaces and metasurfaces—are emerging as the key to breaking through bottlenecks in imaging, sensing, and display systems. Their realization hinges on the co‑evolution of two foundational technologies: micro/nano fabrication and ultra‑precision machining.

The Meta-optics & Nano-optics Session will spotlight the disruptive domain of meta‑optics. By precisely arranging nanostructures at the design wavelength or sub‑wavelength scale, metalenses and metasurfaces can manipulate the phase, amplitude, and polarization of light in unprecedented ways, holding the promise of replacing complex conventional lens assemblies with a single planar element and enabling a revolutionary leap in the size, weight, and functionality of optical systems. The current frontier is advancing rapidly toward large‑aperture imaging, dynamic tunability, multifunctional integration, and scalable manufacturing—driven primarily by continuously advancing micro/nano fabrication technologies.

The Ultra-Precision Processing Session confronts the ultimate manufacturing challenge of turning advanced designs into high‑performance physical components. Focused on equipment, design‑to‑manufacturing workflows, and metrology for optical freeform surfaces, state‑of‑the‑art machines now deliver nanometer‑level shape accuracy (e.g., <15 nm) and 0.1 µm positioning precision, enabling direct diamond turning of complex freeform geometries when paired with ultra‑high‑speed spindles. Freeform design and fabrication break free from rotational symmetry, using advanced servo turning and intelligent compensation algorithms to produce optimal surface profiles on diverse materials that simultaneously boost system performance and reduce volume. To safeguard this extreme precision, an integrated metrology ecosystem combines high‑accuracy profile scanning, nanometer‑scale optical interferometry, and cross‑scale data fusion, forming a comprehensive quality‑assurance closed loop that spans from local to global and from contact to non‑contact measurement.

Exploring the path forward, on September 10, 2026, the “Ultra-Precision Micro/Nano Optical Manufacturing Technology Forum” will convene distinguished industry representatives, experts, and scholars from across the value chain—spanning meta/nanotechnology and ultra‑precision machining—to share the latest research findings and frontier advances in materials, design, and fabrication. They will delve deeply into the challenges and solutions emerging in various application domains, jointly charting the future blueprint of micro‑ and nano‑optical manufacturing technology.