With over 32,000 international researchers and professionals attending this year's LASER World of Photonics, 2017 saw one of the biggest ever crowds gather from the global community of light.
Munich, Germany, 26th - 28th June 2017
The Photonics PPP had a strong hand in this year's laser and photonics industry exhibition and trade fair which drew in over 32,000 trade visitors and 1293 exhibitors from over 90 different countries at the Messe Munich event.
In a four day programme that showcased the latest developments in medical diagnostics, autonomous driving and sensors, Photonics21 was pleased to reveal their new reports on Photonics Market Data giving insights on photonics market data and the European position in the World Market as well as the future challenges.
Photonics Impact
At the opening ceremony, Deputy CEO of Trumpf and spokesman for the BMBF funding program 'Photonik Forschung Deutschland', Dr Peter Leibinger delivered is keynote speech, "Drawing on Photonics strength" about the future of photonics.
Dr Leibinger drew upon two recent studies by Photonics21 in 'Market Research Study Photonics 2017', and VDMA, the Mechanical Engineering Industry Association of Germany, in 'Photonics in Germany', showing that Light technologies provide tremendous potential for growth and innovation.
Dr Leibinger revealed the world market volume of photonics in 2015 amounted to 447 billion Euros, with the exciting prospect of a further growth to 615 billion Euros by 2020. According to the VDMA report, in Germany alone the photonics industry had a domestic production value of €31 billion in 2016, with a projected value of €39 billion by 2020.
The VDMA market studies were also released at both the VDMA Photonics Forum Press Conference and the Optech Consulting '13th International Laser Marketplace',by Optech Consulting President, Dr Arnold Mayer in his The Global Market for Industrial Lasers and Laser Systems - Rapid Change and Continued Growth speech.
Photonics21 also took the opportunity to publish printed copies of the finalized 3 year Impact Report, 'Jobs and Growth in Europe – Realizing the Potential of Photonics' which showed an industry worth €69 Billion per annum, with over 42,000 new jobs created by 2020.
Photonics21 Partners
The three major Photonics Pilot Lines which help SMEs take photonics technologies from lab into market, were in attendance. PIXAPP, MIRPHAB and PIX4life, who have the capacity to help thousands of high tech SMEs in Europe who lack access to the expertise needed to manufacture new and innovative products, taking their ideas, scaling them up and validating them for commercial production, were present in hall A3.
One of the most exciting pan-European photonics collaborations RespiceSME, a project stimulating collaborations in and beyond photonics, ran an innovative workshop at the Photonics21 booth.
The RespiceSME workshop "Aligning Education with Innovation" focused on how to trigger innovation in photonicsthrough improving the curricula of photonics courses in higher education.
RespiceSME also ran matchmaking event for job seekers, an informal get together where SMEs and students met to determine internships and jobs opportunities.