BORDEAUX, France, March 5, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Following a two-month screening and selection process led by an international panel of photonics industry experts and venture capitalists, 12 emerging technology companies from Europe and North America have been chosen to participate in funding opportunities at the Invest in Photonics(R) International Partnering Convention 2010, March 18 - 19.

Invest in Photonics is an investment-networking and market development event that facilitates meetings between entrepreneurs and management of emerging companies in photonics with investors and analysts. This is the second year that a Selection Committee, comprising representatives of the most prominent players in the photonics and investment fields, has selected emerging technology firms offering the most potential for future success.

12 out of 24 applicants from Belgium, Canada, Germany, and the Netherlands, including seven firms from various regions in France, made the final selection to seek funding in the region of EUR 30 million (approximately USD 40.5 million). The median seed capital investment sought is less than EUR 2.5M.

Invest in Photonics is actively working with all the players in key areas of photonics to attract investments and to help in the building of successful companies, says Bernard Couillaud, chairman of the Invest in Photonics organizing committee. As a result of the selection process, the 12 companies will benefit from a unique opportunity to increase their exposure to potential partners and investors, thus increasing their chances of future success.

These seed, expansion and later stage small- and mediums-sized companies (SMEs) are active in addressing applications in optical transport, laser material processing, medical, imaging, metrology and intelligent lighting.

During the 2-day program at Invest in Photonics, there will be other opportunities for attending entrepreneurs or management of photonics companies to network with investors and set-up one-to-one meetings.

About Invest in Photonics(R)

Invest in Photonics(R) 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.

Website: http://www.invest-in-photonics.com/

Press contact: Andrew Lloyd Associates Carol Leslie / Juliette dos Santos Tel: +33-1-56-54-07-00 carol@ala.com / juliette@ala.com

SOURCE: Invest in Photonics

CONTACT: Press contact: Andrew Lloyd Associates, Carol Leslie / Juliettedos Santos, Tel: +33-1-56-54-07-00carol@ala.com / juliette@ala.com