Take part in the ‘International Year of Light’

There are three key focus areas for the event: lasers and laser systems for production engineering; biophotonics and medical engineering; and imaging. These key focus areas are represented along with the rest of the photonics spectrum within specific areas of the exhibition space, in the three special exhibitions located throughout the show, in the live practical demonstrations at the Application Panels and in the lectures during the World of Photonics Congress.

The Photons in Production, 3D Printing -Additive Manufacturing and Automotive special exhibitions will feature examples and live demos illustrating the importance of photonics in next-gen automotive applications, production techniques and generative laser manufacturing for the design and production of bespoke components. To highlight one of the real-world uses of lasers, a BMW i8 will be on display. The car’s laser headlights are claimed to offer twice the visibility range and five times the brightness of conventional headlights using less energy and from a light emitting surface 100 times smaller.

The four Applications Panels (Biophotonics & Medical Applications, Lasers and Optics, Optical Metrology and Imaging and Industrial Laser Applications) are forums located within the exhibition halls. They will highlight real-world photonics applications with live practical demonstrations.

Starting one day before the exhibition to accommodate all the speakers, the World of Photonics Congress will feature thousands of lectures covering the entire spectrum of photonics applications for fundamental science, applied science and industrial orientations. International scientific societies such as CLEO Europe, ECBO, EOS, LiM and IEEE will ensure the topicality and high scientific quality of the six conferences. Here, the international scientific elite can exchange views on the latest developments in laser and photonics research. The congress is collocated with the LASER World of PHOTONICS to encourage the interaction and sharing of ideas between the scientific and industrial communities.

Notable speakers include Nobel Prize Laureates are expected to speak at the 2015 congress. For example, Prof. Theodor Hänsch, Director at the Max Planck Institute for Quantum Optics (a pioneer in laser spectroscopy who was awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics in 2005) and Prof. Serge Haroche, Professor of Quantum Physics at the Collège de France (awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics in 2012 for research into the interaction between light and material) are among those delivering plenary lectures. Prof. Federico Capasso, Harvard University, known for developing the quantum cascade laser, will open the World of Photonics Congress.

Additional highlights at the 2015 LASER world of PHOTONICS include the Machine Vision Pavilion, Startup World and the Photonics Masters innovation competition for new companies and advice for graduates/job hunters in the Careers Centre. The 12^th International Laser Marketplace will offer visitors and exhibitors a place to discuss the economic and technological development of industrial laser technology.

This year’s LASER world of PHOTONICS is set to be the largest yet with an estimated 1,150 exhibitors, 60% international, and 27,000 visitors, 54% international. Now utilising five halls of the Messe München exhibition centre, the show has grown to 55,000 square metres.