Visitor numbers to the second edition of Laser World of Photonics India, which took place from 12-14 November, increased 35 per cent over the previous edition. The trade fair registered 3,644 visitors, with 118 companies from the industry participating. The success cements India's status within the photonics industry, but also highlights the increased need for collaborations between sectors in order to boost the field of photonics.
Arvind Patel, managing director at Laser Science, which exhibited at the event, said: ‘The need to improve the existing process systems and substitute old technology with more relevant ones has been the driving force for lasers. Platforms such as Laser World of Photonics India give us the opportunity to delve into and understand industry needs. The trade fair will help the laser industry to fill a large gap in coming editions.’
The two-day conference programme focused on a range of topics including the symposium on laser material processing by The Optical Society (OSA) with scientists such as Professor Sir David Payne from Southampton University in the UK and Professor Eric Mazur from Harvard University in the USA. The seminar on laser applications highlighted the applications of the laser in the automotive and diamond industry as well as optical communications in biophotonics.
Support was given from industry associations but also from the Government of India. Dr Niloufer Shroff, scientist for the department of electronics and information technology, Government of India, commented: ‘India has researched and developed many components using photonics. While the government actively supports and encourages R&D at institutes, there is still a need for collaborative efforts on part of the industry, government, academia and associations to understand each other and boost the sector.’
