Optence e. V.

© Optence e. V.

As a forum for cooperation and knowledge transfer in the photonics industry, Optence e. V. has been establishing contacts between photonics companies and academia for over 20 years and, as an innovation network for optical technologies, contributes to generating and accelerating innovations through numerous activities. Our more than 100 members benefit from personal contacts, information, training and consulting. The members of Optence cover the entire value chain of optical technologies.

From resource suppliers over manufactures of optical components to producers of optical/fine mechanical systems, designers and product-users, the Optence network features parts of the entire optics supply chain. Its major focal points lie on optical engineering, laser technology, and metrology.

Optence initiates study groups and sector-specific events on contemporary and state-of-the-art issues in the field of optics. It also invites its members to recurring meetings, industry days, and company tours and provides an online capacity-trading platform on its website. Offering extensive training programs furthermore supports professional qualification and expertise of employees working in the cooperating companies.

Optence is exhibiting with joint stands at trade fairs in Germany and abroad. Delegation trips and further training are also carried out abroad. A planned internationalization project within the framework of funding by the BMBF will be implemented from 2018 onwards. Optence is also partner in the European cluster cooperation Laser-Go and coordinates the cross-cluster project “Industrie 4.0” offering on-site counseling for SMEs.

Optence is a member in the transregional umbrella organization OptecNet Deutschland e.V., the largest photonics association in Germany, and the “go-cluster” initiative funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy.

The network meets the criteria of excellence as proposed by the European Cluster Excellence Initiative (ECEI) and has been awarded with the Silver Label Certificate.