Photonics West Boasts Largest Program Yet

SPIE Photonics West will set records again this year, thanks to its largest-ever biomedical technical program and BiOS Expo, which are driving growth for the 2013 event, SPIE said.

Photonics West 2013, to be held Feb. 2 to 7 at the Moscone Center, will feature more than 4450 technical presentations, 18 plenary talks, 40 technical events and 70 continuing education accreditation short courses. The technical conferences — up about 5 percent over last year — are organized around four symposia: BiOS (Biomedical Optics), LASE (Lasers and Applications in Science and Engineering), OPTO (Integrated Optoelectronic Devices) and MOEMS-MEMS (Micro- and Nanofabrication). A virtual symposium on Green Photonics also will be held.

The BiOS conference program will provide the latest information on biomedical optics, diagnostics and therapeutics, molecular imaging, optogenetics, optical microscopy and biophotonics. Four new conference tracks this year reflect the important advances in personalized medicine: optogenetics and hybrid-optical control of cells; optical methods in developmental biology; terahertz and ultrashort electromagnetic pulses for biomedical applications; and bioinspired, biointegrated, bioengineered photonic devices.

The LASE program includes the following themes: Lasers for manufacturing, high-power lasers for materials processing, laser micro-/nanoengineering and remote laser welding in automotive production. The program for OPTO will highlight quantum optomechanics, optical angular momentum, optoelectronic materials and devices, photonic integration and silicon photonics. The MOEMS-MEMS conference includes medical microsystems, optical MEMS pressure sensors for geothermal well monitoring, superaligned carbon nanotubes and adaptive optics.

A special Green Photonics virtual symposium will highlight the integration of enabling photonics technologies in solutions to the world’s environmental and energy challenges. More than 65 papers from throughout the program are spotlighted in this symposium.

Other industry events will include executive panels on market trends in photonics, sustainable technology, and silicon photonics and photonic integrated circuits. SPIE CEO Eugene Arthurs will lead a talk on government initiatives and opportunities for growth in photonics.

The 2013 Photonics West exhibition will feature nearly 1300 companies and nearly 200 product launches. About 235 exhibiting companies are expected for BiOS Expo.

New this year is an SPIE Startup Challenge, with cash awards sponsored by Jenoptik, to give venture capital exposure and mentoring to aspiring entrepreneurs working to bring new products to market. Ten new entrepreneurs will have only 3 minutes to pitch their ideas to a panel of expert judges.

Another highlight of the event will be the annual Prism Awards for Photonics Innovation, sponsored by SPIE and Photonics Media, which will be presented at a gala ceremony during the trade show.

For more information, visit: http://spie.org/x2584.xml