Welcome to ICOB2012

Operating in an age of demographic change, the worldwide exchange of goods, and increasing mobility, our society faces many challenges, for example in the health field. A single scientific discipline cannot master these challenges on its own. Networking and scientific and informational exchange on all levels are essential for a successful approach. What does this mean exactly? We not only need to collaborate with colleagues in other disciplines to benefit from their knowledge and ideas, but we also need the political force that creates the framework for our research. We need the industry to develop our research into marketable products and ultimately benefit mankind. And last but not least, we need well-educated young people who adopt this cooperative attitude and grow with it into the scientific world.

Industry, science, and society benefit equally from a sensible interdisciplinary network of research activities. This is especially true of biophotonics. To develop practical optical solutions for the life sciences, the environmental sciences, and medicine, this discipline relies heavily on the international network of specialists in medicine, the natural sciences, and engineering as well as the network of academic research and industry.

For this reason and after the success of the German “Biophotonics Research Focus,” we have created strong international networks with the research focus groups “photonics4life” and “biophotonics4life.” ICOB2012 is an important meeting point for all the partners, among others, of this network. We want to learn from one another and simultaneously inspire each other toward new ideas. Be a part of it all!