In the life sciences, many important applications have emerged from technologies first developed during the 1990s telecom bubble, or more recently from technologies as diverse as nanophotonics and smartphones. This dynamic mix of technology and opportunity is generating paradigm-shifting products that enable better standards of care, spare patients' misery, or provide greater functionality and lower cost.
Strategies in Biophotonics is a new event launched by Laser Focus World and our sister publication BioOptics World to foster the development of such innovations and help them navigate the tricky waters of commercialization. We are doing this because we noticed that existing conferences focus on various areas in biophotonics—including photonics technology, life science advances enabled by photonics, or general biomedical device design and manufacturing—but none was dedicated to the significant issues of both development and commercialization of biophotonics-based systems.
Our goal for the conference is to help optics- and photonics-based device and system developers cover all the important bases to succeed. The program will highlight key examples of clinical and scientific needs, demonstrate the critical role of biomedical optics and photonics, and discuss needs for the devices and systems to fulfill their potential. Networking will be a critical component of the event. The expo will give exhibitors a chance to meet with researchers and engineers from key organizations wanting to develop devices and systems that incorporate photonics and/or optics.
The two-day Strategies in Biophotonics conference and exhibition, along with its pre-conference workshop, will be held September 9-11, 2014, at the Boston Park Plaza Hotel. I will write more about it in the coming year. Even if your field is not bio, I'm confident that the discussions will give you some ideas for your own area of interest and spark a bit of strategic thinking. Intrigued? Check out the website for the conference and expo, www.strategiesinbiophotonics.com, and follow along as we update it.
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.