Optical technologies: key to economic growth
 
Leading CEOs discussed current challenges facing the industry during the CEO Round Table on 16 June 2009 at LASER World of PHOTONICS. Over 200 visitors and exhibitors at the trade fair attended the discussion with the topical motto was ”Optical Technologies – Bright Hopes in Times of Crisis“.
 
The international  participants in this podium discussion were Dr. John R. Ambroseo, President and CEO of Coherent, Benoit Bazire, CEO of Qioptiq SAS, Günther Braun, President and CEO of Rofin-Sinar Laser, Yunfeng Gao, President of Han's Laser Technology Co., Stuart Schoenmann, CEO of CVI Melles Griot and Dr. Ulrich Simon, President and CEO of Carl Zeiss MicroImaging. The discussion was chaired by Prof. Dr. Gerd Litfin, President of the German Physical Society.
 
Optical technologies as a future opportunity
The participants unanimously agreed that optical technologies offer potential solutions for tackling major economic challenges all over the world. These potential solutions include highly efficient and reasonably priced methods for analyzing and treating serious illnesses as well as new manufacturing methods for efficient and resource-conserving production chains. Especially on the still expanding markets for regenerative energy production and medical technology, and in safety engineering and automobile construction the industry will become increasingly important.

International promotion of innovations
The participants on the podium were faced with the question of how this potential can be ideally developed in future. Here, training and advanced training of managers in Europe and the USA are regarded, in particular, as an important success factor. The participants also said, however, that the industry was ultimately required to boost its growth and increase its international perception through its own networks and initiatives.




Participants:

	Dr. John R. Ambroseo President and CEO Coherent, USA	Curriculum Vitae (PDF 12 KB)
	Benoit Bazire CEO Qioptiq SAS. France	Curriculum Vitae (PDF 24 KB)
	Günther Braun President and CEO Rofin-Sinar Laser GmbH	Curriculum Vitae (PDF 20 KB)
	Stuart Schoenmann CEO CVI Melles Griot	Curriculum Vitae (PDF 22 KB)
	Dr. Ulrich Simon President and CEO Carl Zeiss MicroImaging GmbH	Curriculum Vitae (PDF 11 KB)

Moderation:

Prof. Dr. Gerd Litfin, President Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft

Curriculum Vitae (PDF 36 KB)