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The mission of the association POPsud, founded in 2000, is to organise and promote the optics-photonics sector in the south-east of France and to enhance the synergy and partnerships between Research, Industry and Higher Education.
The OPTITEC Competitivity Cluster, led by POPsud, is focused on optics-photonics, which ranges from optical components to image and signal processing.
Resulting from a bottom-up initiative, POPsud reflected a desire to develop an optics-photonics community in the south-east of France and to develop the sector through innovation and R&D.
In the initial phase (2000-2004), POPsud concentrated on developing a network of members, processes for organising technology-focused events and awarding labels to and supporting pooled facilities. As of 2003, POPsud was involved in the project to develop a Competency Cluster, given the name OPTITEC, which was awarded the CIACT label in December 2003.
In 2005, POPsud submitted its candidacy as a competitivity cluster and was awarded the Competitivity Cluster label.
From 2006 to 2008, the OPTITEC Cluster developed on the basis of a dynamic of projects and the growth of the sector (10 % per year on average). Following the positive assessment of the Cluster in June 2008, the OPTITEC Competitivity CLuster was confirmed for the following three years (2009-2011), notably on the basis of a Performance Contract with the French government and the local authorities. |
