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SPIE Photonics West 2019: 23,000 Researchers, Engineers, Buyers, and Suppliers Attend 

Date Announced: 14 Feb 2019

Quantum technology, AR/VR/MR, and the latest in biomedical imaging and laser technology were presented by leaders from industry and academia.

Pictured right, Nobel Laureate Donna Strickland's BiOS plenary was an SPIE Photonics West highlight.

SAN FRANCISCO, California, and BELLINGHAM, Washington, USA - From Saturday, 2 February, through Thursday, 7 February, San Francisco's Moscone Center showcased the latest in light-based science and technologies from across the globe. More than 23,000 registered attendees explored the world's largest technical and industry program at the 2019 SPIE Photonics West symposium, while more than 1,350 exhibitors packed the sold-out exhibition floor, making this the biggest Photonics West to date.

From the glamor and glitz of the Prism Awards and the fast-paced thrill of the SPIE pitch competition, the Startup Challenge, to the two-day AR/VR/MR conference, the best and brightest of industry technology and entrepreneurship was on display throughout the week. At the ever-popular BiOS Hot Topics session, eight high-level researchers shared their latest breakthroughs in biomedical technology, and Nobel Laureate Donna Strickland delivered a lively keynote on her pioneering work in pulsed lasers in a special event on Sunday evening.

Conference program

More than 5,200 presentations by leading scientists and engineers from across the globe covered topics such as "smart dust" biosensors which detect environmental pathogens, deep-learning methods in the field of optics, the latest developments across laser technologies, and current and potential applications of quantum technologies.

In addition, multiple social events facilitated networking and collaborative opportunities, while SPIE courses included hands-on and immersive continuing education and professional development sessions, ranging from fundamental optics, deep learning in image processing, and augmented-reality technologies, to salary negotiation tactics.

Exhibitions

With hundreds of product launches and live demonstrations, as well as the staggering number of technologies on display, the exhibition floor was a continuous hive of activity. "In addition to robust lead generation and branding, exhibiting at Photonics West is an opportunity to learn from and inspire greatness in our industry for years to come," said Edmund Optics Marketing and Events Manager Natalie Lyons Garvey.

"Where else can you gather all of the extraordinary minds in our industry in one place to network, do business and socialize? We depend on exhibiting at Photonics West each year to highlight the latest trends and our offerings, while invigorating the team through numerous interactions with customers and suppliers."

"As exhibitors, Photonics West is our must-attend annual show in optics for meeting prospects, customers and vendors," noted Nanometrics Marketing Manager Edgar Schrock. "2019 set another record for us in contacts received. Of course, winning the Prism Award in Test and Measurement came as a fine compliment from our peers in the industry. The show's growth affirms its premise of bringing together top technologies, scientists, engineers and products."

'Best ever'

"This year's Photonics West was arguably one of the best ever," stated Matthew Randall, Vice President, Sales and Marketing for nLIGHT. "nLIGHT experienced a tremendous amount of activity and interest in our products and technologies. We are also honored to have won the SPIE Prism Award in the category of Industrial Lasers for our Corona fiber lasers. It is exciting to see so much activity and innovation throughout the laser and photonics industry." 

"What an incredible week!" said SPIE President Jim Oschmann. "The sheer range of topics and technologies is wonderful. It's exciting to see the groundbreaking work that's being done by both established and emerging companies, and inspiring to see so many young people and students in attendance. From the engaged discussions at our Women in Optics and Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion event, to all of our social and networking opportunities, this week was the perfect blend of tracking new business and reuniting with old friends and colleagues. Photonics West gives a terrific, future-focused big picture of the state of photonics today, while showcasing the many ways in which light-based science is impacting our lives on a daily basis."

Exhibitor satisfaction

"Our company has been attending Photonics West for at least the past 15 years," said Electro Optical Industries Sales Director Brent A. Lindstrom. "We have seen its significant continued growth over the years, which has translated directly to increased product interest and increased quality sales leads for our products. In addition to being an exhibitor, we participate in the poster sessions, the product demonstrations, and attend some of the presentations. Photonics West is an especially convenient arena for these activities as our marketplace is worldwide and the attendees at the Exhibition visitors come in from all parts of the globe. We are already looking forward to participating in 2020."

SPIE Photonics West 2020 will run 1-6 February at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, California.

About SPIE

SPIE is the international society for optics and photonics, an educational not-for-profit organization founded in 1955 to advance light-based science, engineering, and technology. The Society serves 257,000 constituents from 173 countries, offering conferences and their published proceedings, continuing education, books, journals, and the SPIE Digital Library. In 2018, SPIE provided more than $4 million in community support including scholarships and awards, outreach and advocacy programs, travel grants, public policy, and educational resources. www.spie.org.

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