MINAP 2012 "Micro- and nano-photonic materials and devices "

COST Action MP0702 - Towards Functional Sub-Wavelength Photonic Structures 2008-2012 The main objective of the Action is to establish active links between European laboratories working in the field of artificial materials for photonics applications, where the structural dimensions are at or below the wavelength of light. This Final Conference of the Action reports on the main results as well as on the problems opened to future study, and it is an important milestone in the four-year activities of the Action. I appreciate all Colleagues who have agreed to contribute to this event and to report their latest COST-related results, and I wish all of you fruitful interactions with other Members, as well as an enjoyable stay in this charming part of North Italy. Let me recall a number of precedent important Action open events organised so far: Kick-off Workshop in Warsaw (2008), workshops in Bratislava (2008), in Angers (2009&2011), and Annual Conferences in Azores (2009), in Munich (2010), and in Stockholm (2011). Those have been completed with a series of Training Schools in Metz (2009), in Porquerolles (2009), in Erice (2010), in Naples (2010), and recently in Tampere (August 2011). This is the right time to express my thanks for excellent coordination of Working Group and Project activities by WG Leaders and Project Coordinators. Especially active Short-Term Scientific Mission, STSM exchange has to be emphasized. An excellent coordination of STSM exchange by Trevor merits to be specially applauded. The Management Committee of the Action has decisively contributed to Action's progress with wise and timely decisions. I am thanking all MC Members for their valuable support. Needless to say the continuing support I have been receiving from Concita - both as from the Vice-Chair, and as from the Chair of the precedent Action P11, has to be specially acknowledged. The involvement of non-COST laboratories provides us with a valuable insight to the frontier research in sub-wavelength photonics carried out there. This assures to the Action a truly global dimension. I warmly invite the non-COST Colleagues to maintain the professional and personal links established within this Action in the coming years. I appreciate the valuable synergy with sister COST Actions: MP0803 Plasmonic components and devices, and MP0805 Novel Gain Materials and Devices Based on III-V-N Compounds. I wish those Colleagues a smooth progress towards their ambitious goals. After serving the Action as the chair for past four years I am pleased to state with have formed an efficient and friendly community, and we have combined frontier research, exciting results, and durable scientific interactions with friendly social contacts as proclaimed in the Memorandum of Understanding, 'The Main Objective' section. I am thanking for COST Office staff support: Science Officers Piotr and Caroline, and Administrative Officers Stéphanie, Marie-Eve, and Milena. I thank my young colleague Olga for her priceless services as of the Voluntary Secretary for the Action. I am pleased to emphasize the presence and contributions of External Experts including the two eminent scientists who act as the Evaluators,and the Rapporteur for this Final Conference. I appreciate the kind hospitality of the hosting institutions, in particular of FBK, and local authorities. I am pleased to acknowledge the devotion and organisational efforts of all the members of the Local Organising Committee, and of the co-chairs Giancarlo and Maurizio. I wish all of you to continue fruitful and friendly interactions in this Final Conference, and beyond. Marian