Last Sunday the International Nano-Optoelectronics Workshop (iNOW-2014), founded in 2006 by the University of Berkeley, was opened in Luga. The event is a logical continuation of a series of summer schools, workshops, held annually in the largest university centers of the world. The organizers of the event from the northern capital are the St. Petersburg Academic University and the ITMO University.

In a picturesque place near Luga about a hundred experts in nano-optoelectronics from around the world have gathered. The main purpose of the event is to encourage cooperation in the field of science between scientists, representatives of various schools, as well as to create a platform for joint research activities. It should be noted that the format of the iNOW this summer is similar to last year, only items were changed.

The subject of scientific debate in the summer school in 2014 became nanolasers, solar cells, photonic crystals, the growth of nanostructures, spintronics, and other. "This is a truly international conference, because here are mostly foreign participants. In general, the number of speakers is limited: no more than 100 people, approximately 40-50 professors and 50-60 students. It’s been always like this, and we do not want to expand. This year we have guests from the USA, Germany, Sweden, Italy, England, China, Korea and Thailand", Vladimir Dubrovsky, the chief organizer of the iNOW-2014, the professor at St. Petersburg Academic University, said. The scientist also noted that the Academic University and the Ioffe Physical Technical Institute are establishing active cooperation with the ITMO University in the field of nano-optoelectronics. In 2015, the opening of a joint laboratory, dedicated to the study of semiconductor nanostructures, is planned.

On the first day of the workshop the report of the dynamic properties of quantum dot laser, made by Evgeny Victorov, the head of the International Laboratory "Laser systems", was of great interest to the audience. In an interview the scientist noted that holding such events contributes to the perception of St. Petersburg as one of the world centers of advanced scientific thought, and participation in their organization is the evidence of the high level of international activities of the university. "These scientific seminars contribute to the competitiveness of the ITMO University. After all, the only thing that really affects the reputation of the university is the level of research and development. However, the high technology market depends not only on the scientific achievements, but also on many other factors. The "5 in 100" program is extremely useful, because it is directly focused on the development of international cooperation. After all, whatever the great Russian scientific school are, in the absence of international relations, they will grow much more slowly. We need to use the experience of foreign colleagues and go forward together".

The work of the iNOW-2014 has just begun and it will last until August 22. Since August 17 the meetings of the school-workshop will take place at the Academic University, where student poster session also will be held.