The organisers of the Laser World of Photonics trade fair and the World of Photonics Congress have announced the focus topics for this year's event. Alongside the regular discussion of lasers and laser systems for manufacturing and industrial applications, Laser 2011 will for the first time include a discussion of applications in the area of security and defence, to include exhibitors working on aerospace, civil aviation, and defence systems.
The topic of green photonics will once again return to the conference, and will include energy and the environment, photovoltaics, lighting, energy efficiency and climate protection. Exhibitors will show how optical technologies substantially contribute to efficient production and energy conservation, where they are used for renewable energies and how they can optimise measuring and test technology.
Biophotonics and life sciences represent another revisited subject, with research institutes and companies presenting new applications, methods and processes while The Biophotonics Forum hosts the 'European Conferences on Biomedical Optics' (ECBO).
The organisers hope that the World of Photonics Congress in particular will serve as a 'bridge between research and industry,' and are billing the congress as a networking and knowledge forum for the transfer of know-how between science and industry. The Congress programme will include a new event called Optofluidics, organised by the European Optical Society (EOS). The Optical Metrology Conference includes a new subconference on Videometrics in addition to its regular programme contents.
