The seventh annual international conference and exhibition Light Emitting Diodes 2006 will feature more than 25 expert speakers, 10 presentations on end-use applications and a panel discussion as part of its assessment of recent market developments and technology advancements critical for the adoption of LEDs in solid-state lighting, displays, illumination, health and automotive applications. The three-day event, organized by Portland, Maine-based Intertech-Pira Corp., features an open-forum format and takes place Oct. 16-18 at the Hilton San Diego Resort.Blue, green and red LEDs. The event brings together executives, sales and marketing directors, product development managers, engineers, manufacturers, component and equipment suppliers and designers from the lighting, automotive, display, and high-brightness LED (HB LED) communities. Participants will receive a thorough assessment of LED markets, while having the opportunity to discuss industry issues and network with experts, key LED executives and end users. The HB LED market grew to $4 billion in 2005 and is anticipated to double to $8 billion in next five years, including a projected 10 percent growth to $4.4 billion for 2006. Presentations on Tuesday, Oct. 17, include: "LED Performance Enhancements Enable New Illumination Applications", given by Jagdish Rebello, director and principal analyst for wireless communications and consumer electronics at iSuppli Corp.; "HB-LEDs for Projection and LCD Display Illumination Systems" by Insight Media Senior Analyst Matthew Brennesholtz; "LEDs for New MOEMS (micro-optoelectromechanical systems) -based Systems" by Yole Developpemente Project Manager Eric Mounier; "Photonic Crystal LEDs: Potential and Limitations" by Norbert Linder, device modeling research and development manager at Osram Opto Semiconductors; and "Novel GaN LED Device Structures for Efficient Light Extraction" by Jeon Heonsu, Seoul National University associate professor. Other topics on Tuesday include an "OLEDs (organic LEDs) Market Update", "Adoption of LEDs in General Lighting", "Hurdles and Highlights in Solid State Lighting", "Nano Imprint Lithography for Mass Production of LEDs", "How New LED Technologies and Spectator Expectations Drive Each Other" and "LEDs in High-end Monitors for High-range Backlights". On Wednesday, Oct. 18, presentation topics will include LED die and packaging advancements, LED phosphor technology, creative thermal design for solid-state lighting, designing LEDs for practical illumination and the future of LEDs in aircraft applications. In his paper, "Recent Developments in Silicones for LED Packaging", Dow Corning Corp. Senior Development Specialist Maneesh Bahadur will discuss his company's latest technological achievements in silicone resins for LED packaging applications, including moldable, transparent materials with excellent optical properties. Two pre-conference seminars, which require an additional fee, will be held on Monday, Oct. 16: "LEDS for Off-Grid Lighting in Developing Countries" and "Measuring LEDs with Confidence". During "LEDs for Off-Grid Lighting", The International Finance Corp. (IFC) will present and discuss a new $7 million, multiyear project to support LED companies in successfully entering the off-grid lighting markets in developing countries, which is estimated at $40 billion per year. LEDs offer an opportunity to provide affordable and modern off-grid lighting for the estimated 1.6 billion people who currently rely on expensive, low-quality, and hazardous fuel-based lighting systems globally. With this program, which will be piloted in selected countries in Africa, IFC, the private sector investment arm of the World Bank Group, seeks to support the LED industry in stepping into this market and quickly ramping up to a substantial business. Participants will learn the details of IFC's initiative, gain an understanding of the market opportunity and learn about immediate procurement opportunities associated with the early stage program field tests to be undertaken in selected African countries. IFC will bring a team of international experts on lighting, and emerging markets to lead and facilitate the seminar. The other Monday seminar, "Measuring LEDs with Confidence", will touch upon a variety of topics in photometry, colorimetry and spectroradiometery. The emphasis will be on understanding the fundamentals of measurement geometries (flux, intensity, illuminance) and technologies (imaging, scanning, array, filters), as well as source of error. The instructor is Ken Richardson, a senior technical sales representative with Instrument Systems. For more information on the conference, visit: www.intertechusa.com