The International Conference on Thin Films is by far the most complete event for bringing together the scientific and technological community active in the field of coatings and thin films.

It is one of the tri-annual conference series endorsed and co-organised by the Thin Film Division of the International Union for Vacuum Science, Technique and Applications “IUVSTA”. This union represent nearly 15000 physicists, chemists, material scientists, engineers and technologists from all over the world, all linked together through their common use of vacuum. The very origin of the IUVSTA goes back to 1958 in Namur, Belgium, and the 14^th edition of the Thin Film Conference (ICTF14) brings IUVSTA back to Belgium in celebration of its 50^th anniversary.

 

ICTF14 will take place from 17^th to 20^th November 2008, and has its venue in Ghent.

It will be combined with the Reactive Sputter Deposition symposium “RSD 2008”, a steadily growing conference essentially focused on reactive sputtering and its fundamental aspects.

Both conferences are devoted to the production and use of coatings, from basic research to devices and new applications.

 

Newcomers as well as experienced researchers will have the possibility to broaden their scope in the ever growing field of coatings and thin films.

Without loosing the focus on thin films as such, this 14^th edition will also cover new aspects as the interaction biology-coatings and nanoscience-coatings.

A more elaborate list of topics can be found on this conference website, along with information on the conference venue which is located in the historical heart of the medieval city of Ghent.

The social events, organised during the conference, will allow you to appreciate the historical character of Ghent, a remarkable city combining an imposing past with a lively and vibrant present.

 

I will be very pleased to welcome you in Ghent in November 2008!

 

Best regards,

 

Prof. Em. Dr. ir. R. De Gryse