Oral title: The VVV & VVVx survey- Status Report

Oral abstract: Since October 2009 the VISTA Variables in the Via Lactea Survey (VVV) and its 
extension (VVVx) have been collecting near-infrared imaging data of the inner galactic bulge and its 
adjacent disk area. VVVx will continue for approximatelly 2 more years, extending its predecessor 
VVV not only in area, but also in time-baseline. This meeting is the perfect occation to give an 
overview of the two surveys, their science goals, observing strategy, progress of the observations, 
data access and some of the results. The latter are manyfold, but here I will focus for one on the 
photometric completeness and its effect on the stellar density distribution across the survey area. 
Second I will include our study og the integrated near-infrared luminosities of selected galactic 
Globular Clusters. They are excellent probes of major star formation events  and studying them 
within the Milky Way is essential for extragalactic studies, where resolved photometry or 
spectroscopy is not feasible.