A visitor tries out a VR racing game at the exhibition area. [Photo/WeChat account of Optics Valley of China]

The 17th Optics Valley of China International Optoelectronic Exposition and Forum (OVC Expo), excited many enthusiasts when it kicked off on Nov 11 in the East Lake High-tech Development Zone (Optics Valley of China) in Wuhan, capital city of Central China's Hubei province.

As one of the most influential optoelectronic events with the highest specs in China and the preeminent sci-tech exhibition in Hubei province, the three-day expo and forum has attracted the participation of three top academicians, over 20 renowned academics, 200 scientists, leading entrepreneurs, as well as over 300 domestic and international companies.

After the opening ceremony, 10 key projects signed up on-site to relocate in Optics Valley, with a total contract value topping 10 billion yuan ($1.51 billion).

With an exhibition area of 20,000 square meters, the expo has four themed exhibition areas for laser and intelligent manufacturing, optical communications and 5G communications, chip and terminal applications, as well as optics and precision optics.

Companies at home and abroad have shown up with their new products and new technologies. On the first day, nearly 20,000 people visited the exhibition, double the previous year.

A futuristic exhibition stand set up by Huawei attracts the keen interest of viewers at the expo. [Photo/WeChat account of Optics Valley of China]

During the expo period, one summit forum, 15 special forums and nearly 200 special reports will be held.

This year's expo covers the entire industry chain of lasers, optics, optical communications, chips, photoelectric sensors, and photoelectric innovations.

It is bringing together upstream materials, as well as upstream manufacturing and downstream applications, in order to boost business and development in these fields.

Since its launch in 2002, the expo has been held 16 times and attracted the participation of more than 5,400 leading companies from over 30 countries and regions around the world, hosting the signing of contracts worth more than 100 billion yuan.