Photonics21 Annual Meeting to emphasize growth and public-private partnership

Feb. 3, 2012

Brussels, Belgium--The annual meeting of Photonics21, scheduled for March 27-28 at the Hotel Husa President Park in Brussels, will focus on the way forward toward the EU Framework Programme Horizon 2020 and the founding of a Photonics Public Private Partnership (PPP).

European Commission Vice President Neelie Kroes says the meeting will be a “milestone event” with regard to the role photonics will play in Horizon 2020. She will provide the keynote speech at the General Assembly. A panel discussion will look at how to speed up the innovation process in Europe and how to better pool resources.

Seven Photonics21 work group sessions will concentrate on roadmapping for photonics research and innovation. During the meeting, young and innovative researchers will be receive the Photonics21 Student Innovation Award.

Founded in 2005, Photonics21 is an association of more than 1700 industrial enterprises and other stakeholders in the field of photonics in Europe. It is intended to establish Europe as a leader in the development and deployment of Photonics in five industrial areas (Information and Communication, Lighting and Displays, Manufacturing, Life Science and Security), as well as in Education and Training.

Registration is 180 Euro; you can learn more and register at http://photonics21.org/registration_annual_meeting.php.

About the Author

Conard Holton | Editor at Large

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.