From The Editor | January 18, 2013

3 Things You Don't Want To Miss At Photonics West 2013

By Ron Grunsby, Editor

Every year, as I’m flying the red eye home and reflecting on SPIE Photonics West, one thought always comes to mind – I wish there had been more time to meet more attendees, talk with more companies, shoot more videos, write more articles, and attend more presentations, sessions, and industry events.

Not to mention all of the great San Francisco restaurants I didn’t get to.

In other words, there are so many worthwhile things to do at Photonics West, time prioritization is a must. (SPIE even offers a “My Schedule” feature on its website to help you plan your time.) So, if you are going to be one of the event’s more than 20,000 attendees this year, here are three things you don’t want to miss:

1. The Exhibitions

There will be more than 220 exhibitors at BiOS on Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 2 and 3, and more than 1,200 at Photonics West from Tuesday through Thursday, Feb. 5 to 7. From laser sources and systems to cameras and sensors to lenses and filters, the exhibitions are where hundreds of new products are unveiled and leaders from top companies convene. The exhibitor list tells you where to find these companies, and our Photonics West Resource Center contains news from the event.

“Anyone who is anyone is at the exhibitions – companies, suppliers, and people who turn products into applications throughout the international community,” Dr. Andrew Brown, senior director of global business development at SPIE, told me. “It’s the biggest exhibition of its kind in North America annually and one of the biggest in the world. With all of the potential customers in the room, a huge amount of business is done on the trade show floor.”

2. Executive Perspectives on the World of Optics and Photonics

Held on Wednesday, Feb. 6, from 2 to 3 p.m. in Room 101 (exhibit level), this panel features high-level executives sharing their insight and the lessons they have learned regarding trends and opportunities in optics and photonics. The panel will be moderated by Stephen G. Anderson, industry and market strategist at SPIE, and includes:

  • Linda Smith, president, Ceres Technology Advisors, Inc.
  • David Marks, CEO, Qioptiq Photonics Ltd.
  • Robert Edmund, CEO and chairman of the board, Edmund Optics Inc.
  • Christof Lehner, general manager, TRUMPF Inc.
  • Dirk Rothweiler, executive VP, JENOPTIK Optical Systems GmbH
  • Turan Erdogan, VP of marketing and business development, IDEX Optics & Photonics
  • Dennis Werth, senior VP, Newport Corporation

Forum participants will talk about steps they have taken to handle the economic climate of the last few years and how they have reset goals and allocated resources. An objective of the forum is to help attendees better understand the current environment and set priorities for their businesses.

3. SPIE Startup Challenge

Listen while 10 new photonics entrepreneurs take three minutes each to pitch their businesses to a team of judges for a share of $17,500 in the SPIE Startup Challenge. The event is held from 3:30 to 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 6, in Room 101. Prizes include:

  • $10,000 for first place
  • $5,000 for second place
  • $2,500 for third place
  • Sponsorship to attend the Entrepreneurship Academy organized by UC Davis for all top 10 finalists

A networking reception will be held from 5 to 6 p.m. where you can meet the presenters and judges. “This is our way of encouraging entrepreneurs in the industry — SPIE along with primary sponsor JENOPTIK helping real companies just getting started,” Brown said.

Photonics Online will be covering Photonics West from multiple angles and producing daily e-newsletters from the show. If you are going to be at Photonics West, visit us at Booth 2404 for a chance to win an iPad 4, to sign up for our newsletter, or to just say hi. We hope to see you there!