Welcome from the General Chair

The Optics and Photonics Society of Singapore (OPSS) has been promoting Optics and Photonics in Singapore since 2008 when it evolved from the then SPIE Singapore Chapter. Besides conferences, OPSS has actively participated in regional exhibitions and provided industrial short courses while engaging interaction between academia and industry. A few years ago, OPSS floated the idea of an ASEAN Commission on Optics and Photonics to enable regional interaction within this growing community. Since then, societies have been created in Malaysia, Thailand, Myanmar and Vietnam along with the long standing one in Indonesia. In the past year, we have also established links with the Optical Societies of Japan and Korea as well as the Photonics Society of Taiwan and the Chinese Society of Optical Engineers. Along with the strategic location at the very heart of Asia, Singapore now provides wonderful opportunity for interaction between East and West in Optics and Photonics.

The International Conference on Optical and Photonic Engineering (icOPEN) is the flagship event of the Optics and Photonics Society of Singapore. Since its inception in 2011, the conference has grown by leaps and bounds, so much so that the conference is now an annual fixture in the Optical and Photonic Engineering calendar. Traditionally the event alternates between Singapore and China but with the emergence of our ASEAN neighbours, the icOPEN2019 was held for the first time in Thailand. Indeed, the icOPEN bodes well for the newly minted ASEAN Commission on Optics and Photonics (ACOP) to become a strong regional player in this community. The latest edition of the icOPEN was to be held in Zhenjiang, China in October 2020. Unfortunately, COVID-19 put paid to these dreams but we are hopeful for a face to face meeting at our next event.

I am thus delighted to invite both our ardent supporters and new colleagues to the 9th edition of icOPEN which will be held in Singapore in late 2021. This will be a good opportunity for our colleagues from around the world to showcase their research, exchange ideas, explore collaboration and, more importantly, re-engage old friends and make new ones in a conducive environment.

Welcome to Singapore – the global gateway to emerging markets.

Conference General Chair
Anand Asundi