subscribe to news Photonics 2023: a meeting of business and science

The 17^th edition of the International Exhibition for Laser, Optical and Optoelectronic Technologies, Photonics 2023, has opened at EXPOCENTRE Fairgrounds today. It is one of the most significant high-tech exhibitions in this country, held since 2006 by EXPOCENTRE and the Laser Association under the auspices of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The official opening ceremony was moderated by First Deputy Director General of EXPOCENTRE Sergey Selivanov, who said that over the years Photonics had become the main platform in Russia and Eastern Europe for demonstrating the achievements and capabilities of modern laser, optical and optoelectronic technologies.

It is Photonics that brings together science and business. Here innovative ideas are discussed, and solutions for complex technological problems are found. Representatives of various industries, medicine, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, IT and telecommunications, metrology and instrumentation, security and information protection come to Photonics every year. The exhibition's audience is constantly growing, as is the number of exhibitors, said Sergey Selivanov.

This year the show welcomes innovative developments and products of more than 160 companies from Armenia, Belarus, China, and Russia. The moderator paid special attention to the fact that the number of the Photonics participants from China this year exceeded the pre-pandemic level. As many as 25 companies from China are presenting their products. He also mentioned that the Zelenograd Development Corporation, the Skolkovo Foundation and the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences organised their group stands. It is also noteworthy that more than 20 companies are participating in Photonics for the first time.

Maksim Fateev, Vice-President of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry also spoke at the opening ceremony and stressed that the development of laser-optical technologies was very characteristic of today's innovative Russia. On behalf of the Chamber he wished all the participants great success and fruitful work.

According to Ivan Kovsh, President of the Laser Association, there are over 800 companies and organisations working in the field of photonics in Russia today. Of these, around 200 manufacture specific products which can be shown at trade shows. The industry employs about 60 thousand people. Due to the difficulties of recent years, related both to COVID-19 and sanctions, the industry had to restructure production, look for new partners and new supply chains, but it overcame all these difficulties with success. The current edition of Photonics, which has again grown in both the number of exhibitors and floor space, is evidence that the industry is developing very strongly.

Sergey Popov, Shvabe Deputy CEO for R&D, and Zhou Duyen, President of the Hubei Provincial Science and Technology Association, also welcomed the exhibitors and organisers.

It was also noted that an important component of Photonics 2023 is its conference programme. More than 150 reports will be delivered at 30 events. The key event will be the 11^th Congress of the Photonics Technological Platform, bringing together 17 conferences on industry-specific topics. The Panel on the Russian-Chinese Cooperation in Photonics will be devoted to the development of international cooperation.

Press Service, EXPOCENTRE AO