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ALPHA-RLH Route des Lasers et des Hyperfréquences

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General Information
The date when the cluster organisation was established: 
Thursday, 8 December, 2016
Number of staff in the management team of the cluster organisation : 
21-30
Legal form of the cluster organisation: 
Registered Association
Regions: 
Aquitaine
Cluster Excellence Label: 
Bronze Label
Other Label: 
Pôle de Compétitivité
Membership to European Strategic Cluster Partnerships (ESCP-4i, ESCP-S3 or ESCP-4x): 
PIMAP Partnership
Membership to other networks/partnerships: 
NameWebsite
French Competitiveness and Business Clusters Association (AFPC)
www.afpc.eu
Photonics France
http://www.photonics-france.org/index.php
Photonics21
https://www.photonics21.org/
EuMA
https://www.eumwa.org/
Cluster Management Team: 
NameSurnamePositionTelephoneEmailGender
Tovena Pecault
Isabelle
Internationalisation Responsible
+33686429587
I.tovena@alpha-rlh.com
Female
Colombeau
Thomas
Cluster Manager
t.colombeau@alpha-rlh.com
Male
Floch
Hervé
Cluster Manager
h.floch@alpha-rlh.com
Male
Herault
Romain
Project Manager
r.herault@alpha-rlh.com
Male
Link to team description on the cluster's website: 
http://www.alpha-rlh.com
Languages spoken: 
English
French
Sectoral and Industrial Focus
Sectoral Industries: 
Aerospace Vehicles and Defence
Information Technology and Analytical Instruments
Technology fields: 
Network Technology, Network Security
Aeronautical technology / Avionics
S3 EU priority areas: 
Aeronautics
Power generation / renewable sources
Emerging industries: 
Digital Industries
Experience Industries
Areas of specialisation of the cluster not covered above: 
Healthcare and Medical Devices
Composition of the cluster
Total number of members: 
270
Number of SME members: 
197
Number of start-ups among SME members: 
100
Number of larger company members: 
32
Number of research organisations/universities/technology centres: 
23
Number of other ecosystem actors : 
30
Link to the cluster members’ list: 
http://www.alpha-rlh.com
Entrepreneurship and scale-up support facilities in the cluster's ecosystem (see "Organisation type"): 
Organisation/Facility NameOrganisation/Facility TypeWebsite
ALPHANOV
Technology center
http://www.alphanov.com/
CISTEME
Technology center
http://www.alpha-rlh.com/fre/adherent/cisteme-1796
Name and link of major players: 
NameWebsiteType
CEA-CESTA
http://english.cea.fr/english-portal
Larger Company
SAFRAN Safran Electronics & Defense
https://www.safran-group.com/fr/societe/safran-electronics-defense
Larger Company
arianeGROUP
https://www.ariane.group/fr/
Larger Company
DASSAULT AVIATION
https://www.dassault-aviation.com/fr/
Larger Company
INSTITUT D OPTIQUE GRADUATE SCHOOL
https://www.institutoptique.fr/
University
LEGRAND
http://www.legrand.com/EN/eliot-program_13238.html
Larger Company
NEHS
https://nehs.com/
Larger Company
HENSOLDT
https://www.hensoldt.net/
Larger Company
Cluster Strategy
Mission/Objectives: 

ALPHA - Route des Lasers & des Hyperfréquences (ALPHA-RLH) is a fairly recent formed technology cluster specializing in photonics, laser and microwave technologies. It is the result of a merger officialized on December 8th, 2016 between two ex-French competitiveness clusters, Alpha-Route des Lasers and Elopsys.

Based in Bordeaux and Limoges, the cluster is focused on 2 technological fields: Photonics-Laser (laser sources and processes, optical components, instrumentation) and Microwave (integrated electronics, radiocommunication systems, radar systems) and 4 strategic applications:

-      Health (medical devices and autonomy): imaging, diagnosis and therapy techniques, technological solutions for people who have lost their independence,

-    Communication and security: components or systems for data transmission, data and network security,

-    Aerospace and defence: embedded optical/optoelectronic systems, innovative solutions for shaping materials, communication, navigation, and lighting,

-     Energy and smart building: solar technology, lighting solutions, energy efficiency, energy storage, connecting or connected devices for buildings.

Digital technology represents a cross-disciplinary activity. It covers digital interfaces, image processing and synthesis, data security and sharing, along with intelligent connecting objects.

Through aggregate skills and expertise, ALPHA-RLH aims to become the French reference cluster in photonics, lasers and microwave technologies. It will enable the cluster to bring out innovation collaborative projects and enrich the support provided to SME members exporting to global markets.

Do you have a formalised strategy?: 
Yes
Do you have a specific strategy focus that addresses internationalisation ?: 
Yes
Link: 
http://www.alpha-rlh.com
Services
Support services provided: 
Internationalisation support (= Access to third countries markets)
Access to private funding (connecting to investors, seed-capital, venture-capital, crowd-funding, etc.)
Facilitation of collaboration between members
Facilitation of cross-sectorial cooperation
Details of support services: 

 

  • INNOVATION PASS

Identification and emergence of innovative projects, assistance in creating collaborative projects, project approval and follow-up, Project approval and follow-up

  • INTERNATIONAL PASS

Information and support in international strategy for companies, presence at international trade fairs, direct access to Chinese and US markets through the cluster’s sales representative

  • BUSINESS PASS

Personalized support for company development, organization of B2B meet-ups between clients and SMEs, easy access to technology transfer centers and platforms

  • FUNDING PASS

Information on access to funding and preparation for fundraising, meetings with investors organized through “InPho Venture Summit, photonics and beyond”

  • SKILLS PASS

Employment platform, PYLA (the continuing education center)

Cooperation Activities
International Cooperation
The main countries targeted by the cluster organisation: 
China
India
Israel
Japan
United States
Our cluster organisation undertook the following international activities to support our members: 
Participation at missions/events/study visits/fairs
Trans-national Cooperation
The main countries targeted by the cluster organisation: 
Finland
Germany
Lithuania
Portugal
Sweden
Our cluster organisation undertook the following trans-national activities to support our members: 
Support to collaborative activities/etc.
Which clusters do you collaborate with?: 
Nano Micro Materials Photonics Cluster NW
Lithuanian Laser Association
Joensuu Science Park Ltd./ Photonics Finland Cluster
Belgium Photonics Cluster
Centro Servizi Industrie Srl
Southern European Cluster in Photonics and Optics
Triple Steelix
PRODUTECH
MESAP Innovation Cluster
Support Programmes
Participation in Funded Support Programmes: 
European ProgrammesProject NameName & Description (Regional/National)
CIP/COSME

PIMAP partnership

Nouvelle-Aquitaine (Aquitaine Limousin Poitou-Charentes) Smart Specialization programme (RIS3)
Promotion
Success Story / Achievements: 

The start-ups First Light Imaging and Lytid, both members of the Route des Lasers® competitiveness cluster, scored wins at the Prism Awards for Photonics Innovation at the Photonics West trade show held from 13 to 18 February in San Francisco.

In the framework of the “China Mission”, the Route des Lasers cluster has recently set up an exhibition showroom in it premises in Suzhou, 100 kilometres west of Shanghai. The showroom will allow enterprises taking part in the mission to present their products and literature.

Further to the merger within a single region of Limousin, home to the Elopsys competitiveness cluster, and Aquitaine, home to the Route des Lasers, the two clusters have planned to merge with each other as of 1st January 2017.

On 17 December 2015, the Institut d’Optique d’Aquitaine in Talence hosted the launch of the Lasers and Health Technology Alliance established within the framework of the 2015-2020 State-Region Projects Contract. The Alliance brings together stakeholders in academic research, technology transfer and the industrial sector to work on projects in the areas of lasers and health.

Why should partners choose you for cooperation?: 

The ALPHA-Route de Lasers & des Hyperfréquences® is a growing competitiveness cluster for innovative technologies in cross sectoral activities in particular in the fields of optics, photonics and microwave, one of the six Key enabling technologies (KET) identified by the EC since 2009.

It received the French Government label in 2005 and was classified in 2012 and recently reconducted among the most efficient competitive clusters. The ALPHA-Route des Lasers® cluster is dedicated to supporting the development of laser, optics and photonics and micro-wave technologies aiding the application of these technologies across large industrial sectors, such as aeronautics and embedded systems, healthcare and medical devices, new/green energy and lighting, vision and metrology..

The ALPHA-Route des Lasers & des Hyperfréquences cluster® has provided to its 250 members from the photonics industry, research institutions and academia an array of strategic tools for addressing tomorrow’s markets, among which are:

  • The technology resources center ALPhANOV, to boost and mature innovation through collaborative innovative projects
  • The Institut d’Optique Graduate School and PYLA training center, for initial and in-service education / training
  • International references in laser science and technology research, such as LOMA, LP2N, CELIA, CEA/Cesta and the world class center of excellence LAPHIA
  • Business parks dedicated to photonics, Laseris 1 & 2, Cité de la Photonique
  • State-of-the-art research instruments, Laser Mégajoule and Petawatt high-power lasers, two scientific flagships for global visibility, widely available to the scientific community
  • An application cluster for industrial solar systems SYSOLIA™
  • An application cluster for bio-photonic imaging solutions BIPSA™
  • Collective export actions (support on major international trade shows abroad, taking part in European programs, etc…)
  • An international business partnering convention Inpho Venture Summit® (Photonics and beyond)
  • Two full-time international representative (China and USA)
  • The Institut d’Optique d’Aquitaine (IOA), a brand new building of about 19,000 m2 located on the Bordeaux university campus, bringing together the active forces of the Aquitaine Limousin Poitou-Charentes photonics sector.

List of publications:

  •  Recent publication in Electro-Optics journal
  •  Attending BIOS and Photonics West exhibition (with booths) in February 2015
  •  Installing a permanent cluster representation through the French Tech Hub (San Francisco and Boston)

List of relevant projects and activities:

  • Participation to Photonics21 BoS, annual meetings and working groups to built-up the multiyear (2015-2017)european roadmap for photonics and taking advantage of that events to meet with all members of the consortium
  • Invited lecture at the Open Days (Bruxelles, October 2014) to present the EPCNet concept (European interclustering for SME business development and growth)
  • Co organizing the 4th edition of the international business convention Invest in Photonics® (Bordeaux, October 2014) and taking advantage of that events to meet with all members of the consortium
  • Invited to a round-table at the European Cluster Days (Strasbourg, Mars 2015) to present the EPCNet concept (European interclustering for SME business development and growth)