SPIE Photonics Europe 2014 features expanded industry programme

Networking in the exhibition at Photonics Europe 2012

CARDIFF, UK -- Sessions of special interest to industry and R&D leaders featuring experts from throughout the global community have been expanded to meet the technology-transfer needs for participants at SPIE Photonics Europe. The event will run 14-17 April at the Square Brussels Meeting Centre, and is sponsored by SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics.

"Because of the tremendous importance of the Key Enabling Technology of photonics in driving economic vitality, SPIE continually works to provide opportunities that connect researchers with industry partners and help further the translation of technology into applications," said SPIE Industry and Market Strategist Steve Anderson. "Topics in the varied industry programme at SPIE Photonics Europe range from working with existing and changing regulations, to updates on the latest trends in quickly advancing fields. Sessions, workshops, and other events have been developed with photonics technology and industry leaders, expressly to meet their needs."

A full-day Industry Perspectives Programme on Wednesday 16 April will provide executive briefings on growing photonics markets and related business opportunities. Facilitated by Anderson, the programme will include talks by:

• Peter Hartmann, SCHOTT, on how EU regulations RoHS and REACH threaten the use of key enabling optical materials
• Wenko Süptitz, SPECTARIS, on measures against damages for the optical industry caused by RoHS and REACH
• Elisabeth Leitner, Deutsches Institut für Normung, on the ISO's international standardisation of optics and photonics
• Detlev Ristau, Laserzentrum Hannover, on how standards are made and how to get involved in order to gain a competitive lead through timely access to relevant information
• Augustin Grillet, Barco, on the Photonics21 Public Private Partnership's structure, tasks, and role under Horizon 2020
• Anthony Hillion, Aquiti Gestion, on recent trends in the European venture capital industry
• Els Van de Velde, IDEA Consult, on tracking the implementation of the KETs Observatory Project
• Peter Peumans, IMEC, on market potential for integrated photonics in the life sciences
• Reinhard Poprawe, Fraunhofer ILT, on laser additive manufacturing and the vision of 3D printing.

Anderson will present the latest findings from SPIE analysis of the global marketplace for core photonics components, based on in-depth evaluation of more than 1,800 companies that are active in optics and photonics.

Workshops ranging from part- to full-day are offered. Pre-registration is required, and is free to technical conference attendees. Topics are:

• Finding Partners for Horizon 2020, chaired by Anke Lohmann of ESPKTN
• FP7-STREP-Smartfiber Workshop, chaired by Dries van Thourhout of Ghent University and IMEC and Eli Voet of Com&sens
• SCHOTT Workshop on the Properties of Optical Glass and Special Optical Materials, with lecturers Peter Hartmann and Steffen Reichel
• Interdisciplinary Workshop of Biophotonics 2014, organised by Photonics4Life (P4L), the European Network of Excellence for Biophotonics.

Peter Hartmann, at left, evaluates an entry in the 2012 Photonics Innovation Village

Leading photonics suppliers will show their latest devices and systems in a two-day exhibition (15 and 16 April ) featuring optical components, lasers, fibre optics, detectors, sensors, and cameras.

The Photonics Innovation Village including 13 optics and photonics projects from universities, not-for-profits, and research centres will showcase research programmes aiming to commercialise new technology into new and useful products.

Organised by B-PHOT, the Brussels Photonics Team at Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), the Photonics Innovation Village is supported by SPIE with cash awards sponsored by the Brussels Capital Region Government awarded to the top projects. Winners in two categories will be announced on Wednesday 16 April.

Multilateral projects:

• High-power adaptable laser beams for materials processing, HALO (Vivid Components)
• Integrated disruptive components for 2 μm fibre lasers, ISLA (Vivid Components)
• Mid- to near-infrared spectroscopy for improved medical diagnostics, MINERVA (Vivid Components)
• SPADnet: a fully digital, scalable and networked photonic component for time‐of‐flight PET applications (SPADnet)
• Detecting bacteria quickly: the Bioparticle Explorer, Detecting bacteria quickly (P4L)
• A portable diffuse optical Neuro-Monitor, ICFO (P4L)
• Phase-resolved and time-resolved single photon avalanche diode (SPAD) cameras, MiSPIA project (Politecnico di Milano)

Individual projects:

• Infrared radiation sensor based on the fibre Bragg grating technology for early fire detection (UMons)
• LEDMOTIVE, light never seen (IREC)
• Portable mid-infrared trace gas sensor for mobile applications (Empa)
• LED matrix light engine (CMST)
• Novel devices for nano- and biophotonics (NB-Photonics)
• Solar radiation sensor prototype (Tufts University).

SPIE Photonics Europe features more than 1,200 presentations in 18 technical conferences, poster sessions, daily "Hot Topics" sessions, and numerous networking and social events.

SPIE Photonics Europe General Chairs are Francis Berghmans, Vrije Universiteit Brussel; Ronan Burgess, European Commission Joint Research Centre; Jürgen Popp, Institute of Photonic Technology Jena; and Peter Hartmann, SCHOTT. Hugo Thienpoint, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, is Honorary Chair.

SPIE is the international society for optics and photonics, a not-for-profit organization founded in 1955 to advance light-based technologies. The Society serves more than 256,000 constituents from approximately 155 countries, offering conferences, continuing education, books, journals, and a digital library in support of interdisciplinary information exchange, professional networking, and patent precedent. SPIE provided $3.2 million in support of education and outreach programs in 2013.

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