Post Show Report Photonics. World of Lasers and Optics 2021

14 / 04 / 2021

15th Anniversary Edition of the International Exhibition
for Laser, Optical and Optoelectronic Technologies

Dates: 30 March – 2 April 2021

Venue: EXPOCENTRE Fairgrounds

Organised by EXPOCENTRE AO, the Laser Association 

Supported by the European Photonics Industry Consortium (EPIC), the State Committee on Science and Technology of the Republic of Belarus

Under auspices of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Exhibitors: 155 companies

Countries: Armenia, Austria, Belarus, China, Finland, Germany, Japan, Lithuania, Russia, the USA (products of foreign companies are demonstrated by their Russian partners)

Participating companies: Laser Center, IRE-Polus (IPG Photonics), OKB Bulat, Lasery i Apparatura (Lasers and Hardware), Lassard, Inject RME, Shvabe Holding, Laser Components, the Russian Research Institute for Optical and Physical Measurements, Luch RPA RDI, the Perm Scientific-Industrial Instrument Making Company, the Bauman Moscow State Technical University, Elektrosteklo, institutes of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the ITMO University, Mitutoyo Rus, Bühler Leybold Optics, Mazak, Rosendahl Nextrom Oy, Trotec Laser GmbH, Oxapa GmbH, VM-TIM GmbH, IZOVAC Technologies, SOLAR LS, EssentOptics, etc.

Newcomers: Conetech Ltd, Micro-Hybrid Electronic GmbH, Aivok, Alexandra-Plus, Biznes-Logistica, Crystal T, Crystal Optics, Crystals of Siberia, LaserBee, LaserLink-S, Megatools, Allready, Technokauf, Juventa, etc.

Attendance: 5,808 visits by professional visitors from 70 Russian regions and 22 countries over 4 days

Types of products on display: laser sources and components, laser emitters, fiber optic equipment, laser equipment, test equipment, optoelectronics, nanophotonics, laser medicine, biophotonics, safety and security systems, etc.

President of the Laser Association Ivan Kovsh

“Today, the world is rapidly exploring photonics, once again modernising its use of technology. Our exhibition presents a rare opportunity to get acquainted with all kinds and types of equipment offered by the laser and optical industry to users in various fields of economy.” 

Deputy General Director of EXPOCENTRE AO Anna Sadovnichaya

“Despite the extremely difficult circumstances of 2020, the show managed to get very close to its pre-pandemic figures both in terms of the floor space and in terms of the number of exhibitors. We would like to thank all our exhibitors for their loyalty to Photonics.”

The opening ceremony was attended by Chair of the Scientific and Technical Council of the Military-Industrial Commission of the Russian Federation – Deputy Chair of the Board of the Military-Industrial Commission of the Russian Federation Yury Mikhailov, member of the Russian State Duma Committee on Economic Policy, Innovative Development and Entrepreneurship Andrey Vetluzhskikh, Deputy General Director of EXPOCENTRE AO Anna Sadovnichaya, President of the Laser Association Ivan Kovsh, Vice President of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Dmitry Kurochkin, First Deputy General Director of Shvabe Holding (R&D and Innovations)  Sergey Popov, and other officials. 

Member of the Russian State Duma Committee on Economic Policy, Innovative Development and Entrepreneurship Andrey Vetluzhskikh

“We are proud of the Russian photonics’ achievements. Today, we are leaders. That is why we cannot stop, we have to work for the benefit of people, for the benefit of the country.”

Chair of the Scientific and Technical Council of the Military-Industrial Commission of the Russian Federation – Deputy Chair of the Board of the Military-Industrial Commission of the Russian Federation Yury Mikhailov

“Today's exhibition takes place in the year declared by the Russian President as the Year of Science and Technology. This 15th anniversary of Photonics certainly shows that the industry is developing at a rapid pace in our country. One of the most important things of the exhibition will be its practical orientation, and not just a demonstration of scientific and technical achievements.”

Show highlights

SCANLAB (Germany) successfully participated in the exhibition in a hybrid format via videoconferencing. It enabled visitors to talk directly online with SCANLAB's European office. The hybrid participation format met the exhibitor's expectations, allowing them to take full advantage of the exhibition despite international travel restrictions. SCANLAB expressed its gratitude for the opportunity not to miss an important exhibition for their business in Russia.

Event programme

Photonics has always offered a very rich and interesting event programme. This year was not an exception. The programme’s organiser and coorganiser of the exhibition, the Laser Association, held 26 conferences, meetings, presentations and workshops presenting over 100 reports. The most interesting events were broadcasted online.    

Traditionally, the event programme was opened with the Meeting of the Expert Council on Photonics at the State Duma Commission on Legal Support for Development of the Defense Industrial Sector of Russia. Its participants included Member of the Russian State Duma Committee on Economic Policy, Innovative Development and Entrepreneurship Andrey Vetluzhskikh, Deputy Chair of the Expert Council, President of the Laser Association Ivan Kovsh, representatives of Roscosmos, the Russian Ministry of Education and Science, and major research and production enterprises. They discussed the elaboration of a state strategic document for the development of photonics in Russia for three, five, and ten years, and called for the government's attention to the necessity of introducing this document. They also spoke about the developments in the application of photonic technologies and their further development in various fields.
Watch the video broadcast>>

At the open joint meeting of the Council of the Laser Association, the Secretariat of the Russian Technology Platform on Innovative Laser, Optical and Optoelectronic Technologies – Photonics, and the Board of Founders of the Eurasian Photonics Technology Platform, President of the Laser Association Ivan Kovsh proposed changes to the association's statutes and voiced various proposals and suggestions for the next two years.

One of the central events was the 9th Congress of the Photonics Russian Technology Platform. The plenary session began with an award ceremony held by the Laser Association for the winners of a competition for the best developments that have been brought to market over the past two years. The awards were handed out President of the Laser Association Ivan Kovsh.
Watch the video broadcast>>

The conferences at the 9th Congress of the Photonics Russian Technology Platform covered laser production technologies, semiconductor photonics and nanophotonics, optical materials and components, photonics in agriculture and environmental management, radiophotonics, fibre optic cables and fibre optic components, optical sensorics, quantum technologies, metrology support for photonics, laser information systems, modern optoelectronic systems, fibre optic communication lines and their components, holographic technologies, and photonics assemblies and devices for research and analysis.   

The participants in the Panel on Personnel Training for Work with Photonics and its Applications discussed the current issues of photonics and allied fields. President of the Laser Association Ivan Kovsh presented awards to the winners of a competition of qualification theses.   

The Panel on Entrepreneurship Strategy in Photonics. Cooperation with Development Funds and Institutions was organised by Rastr-Technology and the Science and Technology Council of the Laser Association. Reports were made by CEO of Rastr-Technology and member of the Laser Association Council Evgeny Kulbatsky and Director of the Business and Project Support Department at AIRKO Alina Tsepenko.  According to the experts, photonics is one of the most successful entrepreneurial projects in Russia.
Watch the video broadcast>> 

One more important event that took place at Photonics 2021 was the signing of a cooperation agreement between the Agency for Vocational Skills Development (WorldSkills Russia) and EXPOCENTRE AO. Deputy Director General of EXPOCENTRE AO Anna Sadovnichaya and Deputy CEO – Technical Director of the Agency for Vocational Skills Development (WorldSkills Russia) Aleksey Tymchikov took part in the signing ceremony. The parties agreed to join forces in organising competitions and trainings of WorldSkills Russia at exhibitions held by EXPOCENTRE AO.

In addition to the agreement signing, a public training of WorldSkills Russia participants in the Laser Technologies competence of the Future Skills bloc took place at Photonics 2021.   

Another significant event was the 30th anniversary of the Laser Association. On this occasion, the EXPOCENTRE team was awarded a certificate of honour for many years of active assistance to the Laser Association in its work to develop the Russian laser and optical industry.

We are looking forward to seeing you at Photonics 2022 at EXPOCENTRE Fairgrounds on 29 March – 1 April 2022.

Join us in social media:

    

Press Service, EXPOCENTRE AO