SAN JOSE, Calif., Feb. 6 -- With the final numbers in, the evidence confirms that this year's Photonics West conference and exhibit was a resounding success. According to conference organizer SPIE, final attendance was 15,362 - an increase over last year of 25 percent. The breakdown in attendees was as follows: technical attendees 5991, exhibit participants 9169, exhibit visitors 6208 and exhibit staff 2961. Attendees await the opening of the technical exhibit. SPIE's Director of Corporate and Corporate Services, Scott Walker, told Photonics.com that it was a great week for both SPIE and the industry. " I think it is clear evidence that the photonics industry is well on its way toward commercialization," he noted. Walker added that exhibitors told him that they were amazed by the number of applications that attendees were interested in. "Not just telecom, but across the board." Exhibitors that Photonics.com talked to echoed that sentiment. One maker of test and analysis equipment said that at last year's show they had picked up a total of two hundred leads. When interviewed by Photonics.com on Wednesday, they had already more than three hundred - with another day still to go.Traffic was heavy throughout the exhibit halls from opening to closing. While it's hard to imagine that next year will top this year's show, SPIE is anticipating doing just that and has scheduled the 2002 edition of Photonics West for January 18-25, once more in the heart of Silicon Valley, in San Jose.