The German Engineering Association (VDMA) Photonics Forum has appointed high-ranking representatives from various sectors to a new, industry-led steering committee, the association announced this week. The committee, which will lead the VDMA Photonics Forum, includes representatives from the laser, machine vision, flat panel display, photovoltaics, electronics production and microtechnology industries. Its members are: Stephan Geiger (Rofin-Baasel Lasertech GmbH & Co. KG), Dr. Rüdiger Hack (Laser 2000 GmbH), Dr. Susanne Heun (Merck), Dr. Michael Vergöhl (Fraunhofer IST), Dr. Thomas Rettich (Trumpf GmbH & Co. KG) and Jürgen Valentin (NanoFocus AG). To promote the approximately 400 VDMA member companies and institutions active in photonics, the steering committee will help “enhance intra-association awareness and promote the key technology's strong position in business and scientific policy,” with a particular focus on raising the general public’s awareness of the field. "We want to integrate the perspective of the industry even more directly into our activities and into the process of establishing the future fields of action of the forum," said Gerhard Hein, head of the VDMA Photonics Forum. "We look forward to new ideas and projects which will emerge." For more information, visit: http://photonik.vdma.org