IN CONTROLREVIEW EXHIBITION
Photonics World 2005 & Nanotech World 2005 The biennial exhibitions for photonics and nanotechnology, Photonics World 2005 and Nanotech World 2005 were held on May 4-6 2005 in Hall 402, Suntec Singapore. Goh Tz’en Long was there to bring you this report.
oised as the next growth engine for Singapore’s economy, the photonics industry is ready to emerge from its R&D phase to enter into the next stage of identification of market niche areas and commercialisation. Officially opened by Hawazi Daipi, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Education and Manpower in a joint opening ceremony with SEMICON Singapore 2005, Photonics World 2005 and Nanotech World 2005 played host to 160 participants from over 23 countries/areas. During the exhibition, IAA had the opportunity to interview A B Goh who is the President of the Photonics Association (Singapore) (PAS) as well as MD of Leica Instruments (Singapore) Pte Ltd.
Q. Where do you see the Photonics industry in Singapore heading in five years time? A. I would say that it would move very fast because Photonics technology is one of the most exciting technologies in the world. This technology is inherent in many products such as DVD and CD players, projector screens, printers incorporating laser technology. This area in Singapore is coming up and OEM, ODM manufacturers as well as local start-up companies are entering this arena although it would take time. A few examples are First Engineering, MMI and Dense Light etc. 56
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Q. What kind of growth levels can be realistically expected of the Photonics industry in Singapore? A. If a lot of players go into this field, the growth level is going to be fantastic, definitely in the double digit range. For example in Taiwan, their display devices industry has been growing at a rate of 30 – 40 percent a year. I think Singapore has the potential to grow more than 50 percent if a concerted effort is made to keep on pushing into this field. Photonics technology is definitely the future, and an area where local companies can enter and capitalise on. Q. What are the main objectives of the Photonics Association? A. I was thrust into this position because a group of MNC and local companies got together and said they needed to form a cluster of Photonics companies. I am also the CEO of an MNC company and was approached to be the PAS first president. I decided to accept it and see how we could spread this knowledge and know-how to these local companies. The main areas we focus on are cooperation in business, education, research and in creating synergies. But what is most important is to let the local companies gain access to the next wave of technologies that is coming up. As changes are moving very fast, it is important that they will not be left behind. I think a fundamental quality that is required of local companies is that they should invest and look forward. When I first set up the PAS, it was not my intention to get a few companies together, hold annual dinners and organise some speeches. Our time is precious and it is our intention to spread the know-how and enhance the awareness of photonics technology. I think we are getting there but there is still room to grow. We want more local companies to come out, join and promote this segment of the industry. Together, we can create a big wave and make a difference in our Singapore industry landscape.
Photonics World 2005 & Nanotech World 2005
Q. What application niches in Photonics do you see the greatest potential for Singapore companies? A. I would see that companies in Singapore can enter into a few areas such as solid state lighting and display devices where they do not necessarily have to compete with the big boys. As an example, watches come with a screen which is a display device which can actually be made to glow in the dark, change colours and patterns. So a supplier of display devices for watches can enter into this field and become a world supplier of display devices which can be used for vision, decorative purposes and fashion as well as many other potential applications. These are the ‘simple entrants’ into the field which do not have to compete with the big boys.