Bringing together all sectors of the photonics industry, Laser World of Photonics 2017 highlights research, companies’ new products and expert presentations. It also offers visitors and exhibitors to expand their networks and customer bases. “Laser World of Photonics has an international focus. [It] covers the entire market of optical technologies — from components to systems — and addresses a huge number of industries,” Katja Stolle, executive director of Laser World of Photonics, told Photonics Media. “By attending the show, visitors gain an overview on the developments of the whole industry.” This year, several application panels will focus on current industry trends. Among them is a biophotonics and medical applications group that will be led by Dr. Ronald Sroka of Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Dr. Gerhard Holst of PCO AG, and Dr. Carsten Philipp from the German Society of Laser Medicine. Included in this session will be a discussion and overview of developments in emerging endoscopy and microscopy techniques prompted by laser-based fluorescence measurements in combination with sensitive and low readout noise image sensors. Optical metrology and imaging is another scheduled application panel that will focus on new non-contact metrology techniques that employ high-coherence laser systems to enable the quantum sensor system. Dr. Patrick Leisching from TOPTICA Photonics AG and Dr. Christian Vestergaard Poulsen of NKT Photonics will also discuss the European Quantum Manifesto and German QUTEGA initiative, and the impact for next-generation quantum sensors to enable new optical metrology applications. Within a lasers and optics application panel will be talks on continuous- and long-pulse diode-pumped solid state lasers, as well as fiber lasers and beam delivery. Frank Gäbler of Coherent Inc. will join Hans-Dieter Hoffmann from the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology and Dr. Andreas Tünnermann of the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Optics and Precision Engineering in presenting an overview of novel laser technologies for operation in industrial environments. An industrial lasers applications panel will be led by Dr. Arnold Gillner of the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology and Coherent’s Dr. Dirk Müller. As ultrashort pulsed lasers provide outstanding capabilities with respect to accuracy and material processing quality, this panel will focus on the growing market share of USP lasers, as well as the economics behind such applications. For more information about these and the many other programs at Laser World of Photonics 2017, visit www.world-of-photonics.com.