Photonics applications will be the headliners when Laser World of Photonics 2009 convenes next month.The show, to be held at the New Munich Trade Fair Centre from June 15 to 18, will give investors, companies and researchers an opportunity to share their achievements and forge collaborations that will help to shape the industry. This year’s Laser World of Photonics Munich trade show will be held at the New Munich Trade Fair Centre from June 15 to 18. Bio, PV, lightingOne scene-stealer will be biophotonics and the life sciences. Laser Munich organizers have devoted an entire exhibition sector to medicine, biotech and environmental technology – disciplines that are expected to create major economic opportunities in the future. On display will be applications, techniques and procedures related to biophotonics, featuring system solutions as well as individual components. In addition to events geared toward grown-ups, the show will feature a series designed to encourage children’s interest in optical technologies. Photos courtesy of Laser World of Photonics. The use of lasers in photovoltaics (PV) manufacturing also will be in the spotlight. As PV energy is increasingly adopted around the world, cheaper and more efficient methods of production will take center stage, and lasers are likely to share the limelight. PV developers and laser suppliers will find creative and commercial partners at the show. Another star on the bill is lighting. Today the world is focusing increasingly on more efficient and economical light sources, and the fair will feature applications including measuring and medical technology, packaging, printing, the consumer goods industry, production engineering and more.A variety of forums, special shows, workshops and discussion sessions offer support for knowledge transfer between researchers and industry leaders. In addition to the trade show exhibition, events include the “Light Insights” series, designed to encourage children’s interest in optical technologies and to present the technology from the aspect of financing.Discussions among industry representatives and politicians will focus on the European technology platform Photonics21 in different committees each day of the trade fair. CEOs of leading international tech companies will participate in a panel discussion. This year’s “Photons in Production” will highlight materials processing and innovative production technologies with examples of applications, live demonstrations and technical talks, primarily aimed at small and medium-size companies. A career center will feature job offers available from exhibiting companies. The trade show gives industry leaders and researchers a chance to come together every two years to share their most recent developments. The World of Photonics Congress, bringing together science and industry, will be held June 14 to 19 in conjunction with Laser World of Photonics. Topics covered at the conference range from research and development findings to optics, from biophotonics and medical applications to measuring technology, and from industrial image processing to lasers in manufacturing. Planned special events include a symposium on biophotonics research and a lecture series titled “Application Panels” to feature applications-oriented talks and workshops.The trade fair has been important to the international photonics community – from small businesses to international market leaders – since 1973. The trade show floor will expand this year, thanks to the addition of a fourth exhibition hall. The exhibition floor this year will be bigger, thanks to the addition of a fourth hall. The following companies are members of the Laser World of Photonics technical advisory panel: Coherent, Newport Spectra-Physics, Trumpf, Rofin-Sinar, Linos Photonics, Osram, Polytec, Toptica Photonics, Jenoptik, Laser 2000, Berliner Glas, Kuka Systems, Lasos, Laser Components and Limo, as well as the VDI Technology Center and SPECTARIS (German Industry Association for Optical, Medical and Mechatronical Technologies). The show also works closely with national and international research institutes, trade associations and media partners from every relevant market.