Complex event becomes permanent fixture

28 May 2008

The next optical complex systems conference organized by the French POPsud cluster will be held in 2011.

POPsud, the photonics cluster covering the Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur region of southern France, is turning its optical complex systems (OCS) meeting into a regular event. This decision comes on the back of the success of the second OSC event, which was held between 17 and 19 March in Cannes. The next OCS conference will be in 2011.

OCS delegates

Organized by the cluster with the support of the city of Cannes, the European Optical Society and Thales Alenia Space, the second edition of the conference brought together more than 100 participants. Approximately 40% of these participants came from industry, with the rest from research and academia.

The OCS plenary lectures provided a broad overview of several major European and international projects. Firstly, Guy Monnet of the ESO presented the major optical issues being faced by the European Extremely Large Telescope project. Next, Jean Jacquinot of the CEA discussed ITER and the challenges in terms of optical diagnostics and the development of complex systems in hostile environments. Finally, Jacques Berthon of the CNES talked about the development of new concepts and technologies for optics in space programmes.

Overall, the various conference sessions provided an overview of the progress being made in the fields of adaptive optical systems, high-resolution laser processes, LEDs, new generation optical systems at the micro- and nanometric scale, colour photometry, spectroscopy and space applications. The field of optical instrumentation for medical applications also appeared to be rich in potential. The event also gave representatives of companies such as Leica, Jobin Yvon, Optoprim, Light Tec, Plasma Quest Limited and SVM Optique the opportunity to present their activities and products.

The 2011 OCS conference will be open to the international community within industry and research. The conference will be primarily focussed on optical systems, photonics and imaging, and on the numerous applications of these systems in high potential markets. There will be an emphasis on the fields related to the region's OPTITEC competitivity cluster.

For more information please contact Katia Mirochnitchenko, e-mail katia.mirochni@popsud.org