Over 1,000 participants from 15 countries attended the first Micro Photonics conference and congress in Berlin, showcasing their products and attending lectures on the development and manufacture of miniature optical components and their applications. The event was organized by Messe Berlin in association with Berlin Partner für Wirtschaft und Technologie GmbH, the K.I.T. Group and other partners. “The concept of this new trade fair and congress was well received by exhibitors and congress delegates alike,” said Gérald Lamusse, director of products and new business at Messe Berlin GmbH. “The focus of the first edition was on biophotonics, microphotonics and nanophotonics. We are now in talks with the relative industry representatives about which areas offer the best medium-term prospects. The results of these talks will be taken into account to develop the concept of the event.” Exhibitors included manufacturers of special materials, laser technology and system providers. There was also a wide-ranging program of events that included an executive breakfast, joint venture exchanges, conferences and excursions to Potsdam and Berlin-Adlershof. The Tech Watch lecture program, organized by the European Photonics Industry Consortium (EPIC), featured about 50 lectures. “Micro Photonics is a great platform to meet with the industry in one of the cities in the world that is most committed to photonics,” said Carlos Lee, director general of EPIC. “Berlin is very rich with young and innovative photonics companies, which attracts stakeholders along the entire value chain, from component manufacturers to application developers and integrators. The technology presentations from key integrators such as Airbus, Thales, Diehl Defence, [and] Philips Innovation Services were clearly very attractive." The second Micro Photonics conference is planned for Autumn 2017.