New German VDMA Photonics Forum unifies diverse sectors
Frankfurt, Germany--The German VDMA (Engineering Federation) has established the Photonics Forum to unite seven different VDMA professional sectors related to photonics into one platform. These sectors include corporate and research members involved in flat panel displays, machine vision, materials processing, microprocessing, organic electronics, photovoltaics, and electronics.
The goal of the Photonics Forum is to reinforce public awareness of these key technologies since the members believe that photonics still lacks transparency for many decision-makers. In both the political arena and the capital markets, a concerted effort is needed to establish a clear awareness of the tremendous opportunities and future challenges of photonics.
The new network of these VDMA sectors includes more than 500 companies and research institutions. About 400 of these members are generating revenue in a photonics field. The VDMA says the Forum will represent a combined turnover of nearly EUR 14 billion and some 56,000 employees, although it notes that about 25 percent of these numbers relates to sales and personnel outside of photonics technology.
Photonics Forum participants come from the following VDMA groups: the Flat Display Forum, the Industrial Image Processing Sector, the Working Group Laser and Laser Systems for Material Processing, the Micro Technologies and Components Association, the Organic Electronics Association, the Working Group Photovoltaic Equipment, and the Productronics Association.
In addition to creating a roadmap, initial activities of the Photonics Forum include promoting young talent within the framework of “Photonik Campus Deutschland” (Photonics Campus Germany) and collaborating on a new worldwide photonics industry study financed by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research as well as by the related industrial associations. The Forum is also cooperating with the European technology platform Photonics21, and in trade fair activities such as LASYS 2014 in Stuttgart.
For more information, see photonik.vdma.org.
Conard Holton
Conard Holton has 25 years of science and technology editing and writing experience. He was formerly a staff member and consultant for government agencies such as the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority and the International Atomic Energy Agency, and engineering companies such as Bechtel. He joined Laser Focus World in 1997 as senior editor, becoming editor in chief of WDM Solutions, which he founded in 1999. In 2003 he joined Vision Systems Design as editor in chief, while continuing as contributing editor at Laser Focus World. Conard became editor in chief of Laser Focus World in August 2011, a role in which he served through August 2018. He then served as Editor at Large for Laser Focus World and Co-Chair of the Lasers & Photonics Marketplace Seminar from August 2018 through January 2022. He received his B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania, with additional studies at the Colorado School of Mines and Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University.