Bordeaux, France – Invest in Photonics, a two-day international business partnering convention focused exclusively on photonics VC investment, places photonics investors in a position for new business opportunities and promotes Europe’s mandate to stimulate development and competitiveness in photonics markets. Photonics is one of five key enabling technologies the European Commission has designated for Europe's future prosperity.
The third biennial event will be held in Bordeaux, an area of France that has become a hotbed of laser technology, on December 12-13, 2012, and offers an enriched program with emphasis on the three important fast-growth markets for the photonics industry: cleantech, health and consumer products, as well as trends in Asia. By enlarging its scope, the event will also broaden the type and number of companies potentially selected to receive funding. Organizers expect 300 in attendance, more than double the number of delegates present in 2010.
"More than ever, Invest in Photonics is the right event at the right time and is still the only such investment program focused exclusively on photonics," said Giorgio Anania, chairman of Invest in Photonics 2012. "The third edition is a result of the high level of demand we have received and will be larger than previous events with significantly more participating companies, world-class speakers from end-user industries and a special new focus on particular markets. Its a unique occasion in Europe to spot new opportunities and to network with the key players in this market."
Photonics represents at least 10% of the European economy worth EUR 58.5 billion in 2008 (21% of the world market) and employs 290,000 in Europe, a number which is set to increase as technologies in these areas continue to develop, according to Photonics21's 2011 report on “The leverage effect of photonics technologies: the European perspective.”
The 2012 event will, for the first time, focus on the Asian market for photonics. In Asia, photonics-based technologies have multiplied in a number of areas, such as information and communication, where an increasing proportion of optical fibre cables are made overseas with China and India becoming major suppliers; and in screen and display, where the production of components has shifted towards Asia. Other developments in photonics energy systems, including the relocation of advanced lighting and laser diode manufacturing to Asia, have been progressing.