Third Edition of the European Photonics Innovation Village

Rhenaphotonics Alsace puts innovations at the heart of the exchanges between researchers and companies with this third edition of the “European Photonics Innovation Village” during Photonics Europe (an international event organized by SPIE Europe) which will take place in Strasbourg (7 - 11 April 2008).
The Photonic Innovation Village is a privileged place where the optics-photonics researchers of universities, research centers and start-up can exhibit their innovating products for free, compete for 5 awards in 5 categories and have a broad exposure and publicity.

Photonics Europe : a major congress
Photonics Europe is one of the largest European event in Photonics, organized by SPIE Europe. It allows the actors of photonics (research laboratories and companies) to meet in a single place and exchange.

The former editions of Photonics Europe took place in April 2004 and April 2006.
For the 2008 edition of Photonics Europe, 200 exhibiting companies, European and international
leaders in their field, and 2000 attendees are expected, from the 7 to 11 April 2008, at the Palais
de la Musique et des Congrès of Strasbourg.

The European Photonics Innovation Village : a showcase for the best prototypes
The European Photonics Innovation Village is an event organized by Rhenaphotonics Alsace, the Alsace Optics – Photonics Cluster.

The aim of the European Photonics Innovation Village is to promote the development of new applications and new innovating products, by facilitating the transfer of optics/photonics technologies between researchers and industrialists.

The research teams of universities, research centers and start-ups of the whole world can apply. The Scientific Committee of the European Photonics Innovation Village will select the best projects and will make it possible for these teams to present, free of charge, their prototypes during 3 days, with a broad visibility since more than 2000 specialists are awaited. SPIE Europe and Rhenaphotonics Alsace will also include the Innovation Village participants in their communication documents before, during and after the event.

European Photonics Innovation Village Awards
The European Photonics Innovation Village Committee will also grant 5 awards in 5 specific categories :

1. Best overall product
2. Best design (based on the design of the technology into the product)
3. Best technology (based on the best new use of technology)
4. Best marketability (based on the product most likely to sell in the marketplace)
5. Best application (based on the proposed solution to a critical problem)

The names of the Award winners will be announced Wednesday April 9th 2008. SPIE Europe
and Rhenaphotonics will communicate broadly to highlight the prototypes showed in the
European Photonics Innovation Village and the Winners.

Applications
The teams of research wishing to be present on the European Photonics Innovation Village can contact Rhenaphotonics Alsace to receive the application methods and send their application by November 15th, 2007: village2008@rhenaphotonics.fr

The teams invited to present their prototype in the European Photonics Innovation Village will be announced by the Selection Committee February 10th 2008.

All the teams with validated applications will be included in documents diffused by SPIE Europe and Rhenaphotonics Alsace.