BORDEAUX, France--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Invest in Photonics^®, a two-day international partnering convention that brings together the world’s experts in photonics and leading investors from Europe and beyond to meet with emerging photonics companies seeking financial support, announced its line-up of international speakers today. Dr. Thomas Baer, executive director of Stanford Photonics Research Center, will give the keynote address at Invest in Photonics 2010, March 18 – 19.

Invest in Photonics is an investment-networking and market development event that facilitates meetings between entrepreneurs and executives of emerging companies in photonics and investors and analysts.

“We are delighted to have Dr. Thomas Baer as a keynote speaker for Invest in Photonics 2010,” says Bernard Couillaud, chairman of the Invest in Photonics organizing committee. Dr. Baer’s extensive contribution to photonics through his involvement with Stanford University and various industries in Silicon Valley has given him a perspective that few people have: the understanding of every stage in the creation and growth of new photonics technologies”.

Other international speakers at Invest in Photonics 2010 include:

Andrès Pieczanski, Jefferies International (UK)

Michael Lebby, OIDA (US)

Harry Verhaar, Philips Lighting (NL)

Toby Ferenczi, GE Global Research Europe (DE)

Jean-François Coutris, Optronics & Defense Division, Sagem DS (FR)

Steve Anderson, Laser Focus World (US)

Patrick Klein, European Commission (BE)

Gerlas van den Hoven, Genexis (NL)

William Shiner, IPG Photonics (US)

“Invest in Photonics” - Panel Discussion

Moderator: William Magill, managing director, Telesoft Partners (US)

Panelists: AGF Private Equity (FR), Wheb Ventures (DE), Aloe Private Equity (FR), and Adams Capital Management (US)

About Invest in Photonics^®

Invest in Photonics^® was created in 2008 by the ALPhA technology cluster (Aquitaine Laser Photonique et Applications), CEA (French Atomic Energy Commission and the largest government-funded technological research organization in France) and the Bordeaux Chamber of Commerce for the purpose of facilitating meetings between investors and emerging companies in photonics, addressing business issues in photonics, as well as increasing the visibility of the industry.