Munich, June 16, 2009. LASER World of PHOTONICS once again brought together decision-makers in the photonics industry this year. During this year’s “CEO Round Table” at the world’s leading trade fair for optical technologies, the CEOs of leading international companies discussed the future potential of the industry which is already today the driving-force behind many economic sectors throughout the world. The possible further development of this potential in future was the topic of the podium discussion, which was attended by over 200 visitors and exhibitors at the trade fair.

The highlights of the LASER World of PHOTONICS trade fair again included the CEO Round Table, which featured a first-class line-up. The highly topical motto of the discussion this year 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 in this respect that optical technologies offer potential solutions for tackling major economic challenges all over the world. These potential solutions not only include highly efficient and reasonably priced methods for analyzing and treating serious illnesses. Already today the industry provides new manufacturing methods for efficient and resource-conserving production chains, as well as power-saving lighting methods and highly efficient solar power modules. According to participants in the CEO Round Table, the industry will therefore become increasingly more important, especially on the still expanding markets for regenerative energy production and medical technology, as well as in safety engineering and automobile construction, and will also become one of the most important driving-forces behind international growth.

International promotion of innovations
The participants on the podium were faced with the question of how this potential can be ideally developed in future: after all, the productivity increases in the industry brought about by optical technologies have by no means been exhausted. In addition to new financing opportunities for international projects, training and advanced training of managers in Europe and the USA are regarded, in particular, as an important success factor. In addition, the initiatives of the American government and the associated promotional funds for research were welcomed by the participants as a step in the right direction towards the development of international markets. 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.

The objective of LASER World of PHOTONICS and the accompanying World of PHOTONICS Congress was to further strengthen the growth and innovation skills of the photonics industry through networking of industry and science, thus helping optical technologies to develop internationally.

2009-06-17