POPsud is an organisation founded in 2000 to coordinate and promote the optics and photonics sector in south-eastern France and to strengthen synergies and partnerships between research, industry and higher education. The OPTITEC competitiveness cluster, run by POPsud, focuses on optics and photonics, from optical components through to image and signal processing. POPsud was formed from a grassroots initiative to create an optics and photonics community in south-eastern France and to spur growth of the sector through innovation and R&D. In the first phase (2000-2004), POPsud sought to build a network of members, offer technology coordination tools, and accredit and support pooled equipment. In 2003, POPsud initiated plans to develop a skills cluster, known as Optitec. The cluster was officially accredited by an inter-ministerial committee for regional development (CIACT) in December 2003. In 2005, POPsud submitted a winning bid for Optitec to become a competitiveness cluster. Between 2006 and 2008, the Optitec cluster continued to grow by launching new projects and driving growth in the sector (an average of 10% per year). The competitiveness cluster received a positive assessment in June 2008 and the accreditation was renewed for a further three years (2009-2011), under a performance contract with the government and local authorities.
