Lasers/Photonics

The Bordeaux region is a centre of excellence and skills in lasers and photonics.

The presence of the “Route des Lasers ® - Lasers, Photonics and Applications” competitiveness cluster , the scale of investments in the Megajoule Laser and in the PETAL (Petawatt Aquitaine) scientific facility placed at the disposal of the international community, and the creation of dedicated industrial parks are all factors making the Bordeaux region a highly attractive one.

The cluster includes two types of companies:

• pivotal optics: companies producing intermediate optical goods (light sources and components), representing 1/3 of the companies in the cluster.
• applied optics: consumers of intermediate optical products (equipment and systems manufacturers who incorporate optical sources and/or components into their products), making up the other 2/3 of the companies.

The cluster is structured around:

• Fast-growing companies (Amplitude Systèmes, i2S, Eolite Systems…) and major groups (Sagem / Safran, Thales…), powerhouses of industrial activity in the region,
• One of the highest concentrations in Europe of optics and lasers specialists with 600 researchers – CEA CESTA, LOMA, LP2N, CELIA,…
• The Megajoule Laser (LMJ) one of the two largest laser instruments in the world,
• Attractive real estate: the Laseris and Cité de la Photonique technology parks
• The ALPhANOV Technology Centre for optics and lasers is the only one of its kind nationally for technology transfers between research laboratories, academics and businesses,
• The PYLA platform, a vocational training facility in lasers,
• The project to create an Aquitaine Optical Institute, linked to Palaiseau Optical Graduate School de Palaiseau, a flagship initial training project extending the already-impressive range of training in lasers,
• The Institute for Lasers and Plasma (ILP), national federation of large power laser instruments.