Invest in Photonics 2012 set for December

29 Mar 2012

The event that aims to connect start-ups with suitable investors will return to Bordeaux at the end of the year.

Invest in Photonics 2012 will be held in Bordeaux on the 12th and 13th December 2012, the third staging of the event that brings venture capital and start-up companies into the same room.

The two-day conference, previously held in March 2010 and December 2008, aims to create strategic investment opportunities by bringing together investors, venture capitalists, experts on photonics, industry leaders, analysts and entrepreneurs in a single venue. Also present will be a selection of early-stage companies seeking seed funding, development money and later stage financing, giving these companies the chance to present themselves and network directly with potential sources of funds.

Alongside these presentation sessions, Invest in Photonics will stage a program of discussions about the global photonics industry, prevailing market trends and emerging technologies.

This year that program has been expanded, with an emphasis on three important fast-growth markets for the photonics industry: cleantech, health and consumer products.

The conference will also pay particular attention to the Asian photonics market, discussing how sectors such as information and communication technology, displays, and photonics energy systems have developed in the region.

Attendees at Invest in Photonics will debate the potential of this fast-growing area and discuss Asian trends and business practices. Talks will outline the reality of the Asian market, the threats and opportunities available, and offer the data necessary to build a sustainable growth strategy.

The right event at the right time
"In the last two years, interest in photonics has grown significantly, particularly the explosion of photonics in communications applications and in data centers, which is at the heart of the information technology revolution in which we are living," commented Giorgio Anania, chairman of Invest in Photonics 2012 after serving as a member of the program committee in previous years, and also vice president of Photonics21. "Big advances in the market for photonics applications have occurred in lighting, biophotonics, smartphones and in consumer electronics, of which the cleantech, health and consumer product markets have seen double-digit growth. All of these areas will be the focus of our conference."

The conference organizers expect 300 people to attend, which would be more than double the number of delegates present in 2010, and the event will also broaden the type and number of companies potentially selected to receive funding. To accommodate the expansion, the conference venue has moved to Bordeaux's Place de la Bourse, adjacent to the Garonne river.

The inaugural Invest in Photonics event attracted over 100 attendees and presented 16 early-stage projects to potential investors, while the second conference saw 125 participants present to hear from 12 start-up companies. According to the organizers, Invest in Photonics has helped selected companies raise €37 million in funding to date.

"More than ever, Invest in Photonics is the right event at the right time and is still the only such investment program focused exclusively on photonics," said Anania. "The third edition is a result of the high level of demand we have received and will be larger than previous events, with significantly more participating companies, world-class speakers from end-user industries and a special new focus on particular markets. It’s an unique occasion in Europe to spot new opportunities and to network with the key players in this market."