The date is drawing near yet again: from June 15 – 18, 2009 the world's leading trade show for components, systems and applications in optical technologies will open to the public for the 19th time. We asked Klaus Dittrich, Managing Director of Messe München GmbH, to tell us about Laser World of Photonics 2009. 
Mr. Dittrich, what specific aims do you have for LASER World of PHOTONICS 2009?
 
As the world's leading trade show, LASER World of PHOTONICS is very much part of the industry. It takes up the latest trends in the optical technologies and is highly appreciated by exhibitors and visitors alike due to the outstanding quality of the trade show and the fringe program. The trade show's strong profile lies in presenting innovations and applications, building bridges between research and industry and bringing top management in the industry from all over the world together in Munich.
 
 
The last LASER World of PHOTONICS already focused especially on manufacturing. The feedback from visitors surveyed at the show was also very positive for this area. Will there be even more "manufacturing" at LASER 2009?
 
It's certainly true that the exhibitors and visitors rated the application focus very highly and that is something we are also very proud of. We will further develop the "light at work" concept – both in the fringe program and in the exhibition. For instance, in June 2009 exhibitors will be presenting their manufacturing applications in two halls for the first time.
 
 
Apart from manufacturing, what other focuses and highlights can we look forward to in 2009?
 
Biophotonics and life sciences. Under the umbrella of the European Conference on Biomedical Optics (ECBO) the BMBF-funded Biophotonics research priority will be presenting the Biophotonics Conference – Optics in Life Science. The Medical Laser Applications Conference will also be dealing with this subject. Biophotonics will also be a focus at the trade show itself.
 
In collaboration with the Biophotonics research priority workshops will be organized to bring medical specialists together with system integrators and component manufacturers in order to build bridges between research and industry.
 
Other focal topics in 2009 will be lasers used in the production of photovoltaic cells and innovative light sources.
 
 
The parallel World of Photonics Congress is one of the world's leading trade congresses. Which high caliber partners have already signed up for 2009?
 
Once more, in 2009 the World of Photonics Congress will bring together the world's leading organizations: German Society for Laser Medicine (DGLM), European Optical Society (EOS), European Physical Society (EPS), IEEE/LEOS Lasers and Electro-Optics Society, Optical Society of America (OSA), SPIE Europe and German Scientific Laser Society (WLT).
 
New topics include "Energy and environmentally friendly production" within the scope of the SPIE Optical Metrology Conference, the "Manufacturing of optical components" conference and "Displays and Lighting" at EOS and "Veterinary medicine" within the framework of the DGLM "Medical Laser Applications" conference.
 
We will be continuing the industry workshops, which were first introduced in 2007, for instance on the subjects of "solid state lasers" and "solid state lighting" in collaboration with the Fraunhofer-Institute for Applied Optics and Precision Engineering, IOF.
 
Within the framework of the congress opening ceremony Prof. Erich P. Ippen from Research Laboratory of Electronics (RLE) at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) will make a presentation.
 
Thank you for the interview.