LASER 2023 announces support program and slogan ‘Breadth that goes deep’

25 May 2023

Variety of market views in forums; networking events; and Innovation Awards at rebooted Munich expo.

In just one month’s time, the international photonics industry will gather in Munich, where LASER World of Photonics takes place from June 27th to 30th. Organizer Messe Munich has announced that the comprehensive supporting program will “inform about the latest trends in the industry, provides application-oriented knowledge, offers young talent a stage, and leaves plenty of room for personal exchange with experts”.

Among the focus topics are integrated photonics and sustainability. Visitors to the trade fair can get even more know-how from related topics in the supporting program for World of Quantum and Automatica, being held at the same time.

Exhibition Director Anke Odouli commented, “The range of applications for photonics is now immense, with barely an industry that can do without it when it comes to innovations. We reflect this variety in the LASER World of Photonics supporting program: With top-class presentations, panel discussions and special activities, we want to provide visitors with practical knowledge to give them an edge.”

Expert knowledge

At this year’s photonics forums, key players in the industry will share information about the latest fields of application for lasers and photonics. The Lasers & Optics forum (Hall A2) will cover topics such as integrated photonics and long pulse lasers, while the Laser Materials Processing forum (Hall B3) will be about electric mobility or additive manufacturing, for example. The Biophotonics & Medical Applications forum (Hall B2) will, among other things, address AI and VR applications in medicine or the use of photonics in pathology and laboratory medicine.

At World of Quantum (Hall A1), scientists and exhibitors will share their expert knowledge of quantum technology in a comprehensive forum program. LASER visitors can also use their trade fair ticket to visit the automatica lecture program to learn more about the latest trends in the automation industry.

On two guided tours with keynote speech and subsequent Q&A session, experts from the ultrashort pulse laser network will provide a compact overview of their field of work. One tour covers laser sources, optics and beam guidance and shaping (June 28, 10:00 a.m.), the other covers machines and processes (June 29, 10:00 a.m.). The guided tours in English are free of charge but advance reservation is required.

Materials processing

Distributed over 400 square meters, the special exhibition “Photons in Production” in Hall B3 will present the latest from the field of laser material processing. Experts will give live demonstrations of process monitoring in beam shaping using ring mode lasers and a networked laser material processing system that uses artificial intelligence to provide quality assurance.

The special exhibition will be held together with the Institute for Machine Tools and Industrial Management at the Technical University of Munich, the Bavarian Laser Center Erlangen and the Chair of Photonic Technologies at Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg. As in the previous year, scientists will also offer advice on the use of lasers in production in the Solution Center.

The Solution Pitches are a new offering, resulting from the close link between laser material processing and automation – the topic of automatica being held at the same time. Two exhibitors from each of the trade fairs will have 30 minutes to present a successful, industry-ready showcase that solves a production-related challenge.

Innovation Award

The Innovation Awards are presented in eight categories for the best future-proof solutions and products in the industry. This year’s awards mark three years of presentations at LASER (in cooperation with Europa Science).

The Career Center in Hall B3 and Career Now, being held alongside automatica in Hall B4, will address individual future prospects, including: free coaching sessions, tips on applying and job hunting, as well as plenty of job and internship offers to support professional newcomers.

Future greats of quantum technology can prove themselves in the Qiskit hackathon at World of Quantumwhich starts on June 27 and invites the quantum community to a 24-hour competition in Hall A1. Qiskit researchers and developers will act as mentors for the participants during the competition, and an expert jury will select the winners at the end. A separate career day at World of Quantum on June 30 in Hall A1 will show the career opportunities that quantum technology has to offer.