Building the Czech Optical Community
We connect the key players in optics in the Czech Republic.
The Czech Optical Cluster offers its members a range of services aimed at supporting cooperation, innovation, and development in the field of optics.
We create an environment where members from science and industry can establish contacts, share experience and knowledge, and thus facilitate the creation of new business and research partnerships. Members can engage in one of the six expert working pillars.
We Organise
We Maintain a Member Database
We Get to Know Each Other
We Secure
We Motivate
We Offer
We Build
We Promote
We Provide
We Connect
We provide members with information services regarding funding opportunities.
We help identify suitable national and European funding programmes and offer consultations when preparing grant applications for research funding.
We coordinate the preparation of large research projects, for example projects under the National Centres of Competence programme, such as:
CAEPO 2 – Centre of Electron and Photonic Optics
We also initiate joint scientific and research collaborations among our members, for example projects focused on:
- Terahertz and Raman spectroscopy with extended application possibilities
- Projects in the field of SPACE technologies
The Czech Optical Cluster acts as a partner in research and innovation projects.
We support education in optics through optical kits and educational initiatives.
We actively promote optics and technical disciplines to future generations.
We organize conferences focused on supporting technical education for students and increasing the attractiveness of optics as a field of study.
We also organize:
- lending of optical kits and microscopes to secondary schools
- support for the Edubox concept
- online educational modules supporting teachers
- roadshows at schools
Through these educational and outreach activities we aim to increase the prestige of optics and attract more students to study optics at both secondary schools and universities.
In the long term, this contributes to improving the availability of qualified human resources for our members.
We encourage our members to offer internships and traineeships for university students and graduates in optics and publish available opportunities.
We help our members establish new business contacts and develop existing partnerships.
We participate in international trade fairs and organize joint cluster presentations.
We also process cooperation requests from Czech and international partners and connect them with relevant cluster members.
We organize joint booths at major international trade fairs, enabling members to present their products and services at reduced costs and reach new business partners.
The cluster regularly participates in events such as:
- Laser World of Photonics (Munich)
- OPIE (Japan)
We also organize international business meetings where our members can connect with foreign partners. Regular activities take place in Poland, Austria, and Germany.
In addition, we establish partnerships with foreign clusters to identify new opportunities for our members.
We actively support the development and reputation of the Czech optical industry.
We contribute to building the Czech optical ecosystem and represent our members when communicating with key partners and institutions.
Our goal is to position the Czech Optical Cluster as a partner of first choice in the Czech Republic for international companies, research institutions, and clusters.
The cluster actively represents its members in discussions with institutions and stakeholders and advocates for improved conditions for the development of the optical industry in both the Czech Republic and the European Union.