Laboratories on an international scale
More than 300 researchers work directly in the optics, photonics and image processing industry. All 21 publically funded laboratories are internationally renowned. They make technological development a priority.
These laboratories include:
L’Institut Fresnel :
Located in Marseilles, with a staff of 130 people, this lab works in areas of fundamental and applied science. This Joint Research Facility (UMR) is at the forefront of research on phonic crystal fibers and microcavities, laser damage and light diffusion, active and diffused polarimetric imaging, multidimensional analysis of random signals, micro-optics, integrated optics and bio-photonics, the localization of buried objects and electromagnetic survey imaging and optical filtering with multilayer interferential systems.
Le Centre Pluridisciplinaire de Microscopie électronique et de Microanalyse (CP2M) :
A technology platform on the cutting edge of the art of Electronic Microscopy. Its resources enable the identification and removal of a zone and its analysis on different levels (micro, meso and nano) in the field of steel metallurgy, liquid metal embrittlement, microelectronics, optics materials and the environment.
L’Observatoire Astronomique de Marseille-Provence (OAMP):
Brings together three research laboratories, the Laboratoire d'Astrophysique de Marseille (LAM), the Observatoire de Haute Provence (OHP) and the Laboratoire d'Interférométrie Nevus et Exoplanétaire (LISE).
150 researchers and engineers work in this important research center which combines basic research in astronomy and technology research in instrumentation. The lab works on both national and international projects to meet the specifications of space agencies.
Le Laboratoire de Chimie Organique et Matériaux Moléculaires (CNRS/Université de la Méditerranée) :
Located in Luminy, this lab is devoted to the post-silicium era. Starting with a photochrom, they explore new ways of building organic microelectronics.
L’Office National d'Etudes et de Recherches Aérospatiales (Onera) :
Leading French player in aeronautics and space research. Located in Salon-de-Provence, the center carries out in-flight studies and research on the aircraft-pilot environment when confronted with electromagnetic and optical communicating phenomena.
Le Centre Laser Industriel Régional (Claire) :
Received the Regional Technology Center label, and specializes in industrial applications of laser power.
Le Centre Européen de Recherche en Imagerie MEDicale (CERIMED) :
CERIMED is a multidisciplinary center for the development and validation of new medical imaging techniques (optical, ultrasound, X-rays, nuclear medicine) to meet the needs of clinical practices and biomedical research. It is scheduled to open late 2010.
The Center will initially focus on oncology and cardiovascular disease. It will also be responsible for leading and coordinating research on generic technologies in Europe, as well as training in physical science for students of health and biology, and medical sciences for physics students and physicists.
The originality of the project lies in its opening to all laboratories specialized in medical imaging: the MPCC (Centre de Physique des Particules de Marseille) for Particle Physics, the Fresnel Institute for Optics, the LMA (Laboratoire de Mécanique Acoustique), the LP3 (Lasers, Plasmas and Photonic Processes), the clinical services and the imaging center of the university hospital of Marseille and the IPC (Paoli Calmettes Institute) cancer center.
The project will also be unique in that it will encourage interdisciplinary work between physicists, biologists and physicians.
Funding for the CERIMED project is granted under the Contrat de Projet Etat-Région program.
http://cerimed.web.cern.ch
The CIEL ASUR France-Quebec project
The CIEL ASUR (Composants pour l’Institut de l’Extrême Lumière et Applications des Sources Ultra-Rapides) project will work to overcome the technological barriers which limit the development of next generation ultra-short laser sources, and to demonstrate their potential via a high-power average laser platform (ASUR).
ASUR will provide academic, hospital and industrial organizations of the Southeast a multidisciplinary platform based on new avant-guard technology which will generate imagery for the structure and dynamics of complex systems. The proposed infrastructure (100TW peak power and 500W average power in ultra-short pulses) is unique and represents a genuine technological advance towards applications as opposed to systems recently developed worldwide.
ASUR will also allow
- The testing and validation of technologies and components developed by regional industries for:
o New generations of ultra-short lasers (including ELI)
o New generations of X-ray sources (including 4th generation synchrotron)
- The introduction of new techniques in X-ray imaging with very high contrast, very high spatial resolution and with femtosecond time resolution, to complement efforts already underway in the areas of imaging for:
o Health and biology in conjunction with the CERIMED project
o Nanoscience and nanotechnologies in conjunction with the global competitive cluster Solutions Communicantes Sécurisées (SCS)
The project involves 22 partners including 12 industrials and 10 research laboratories. Overall cost is estimated at € 27 million for a period of 3 years.
Expected benefits include:
- For the public health sector (fields of infectious diseases and cancer, molecular pharmacology):
o A better understanding of disease development mechanisms
o The development of strategies for diagnosis, prevention and treatment of specific diseases
- For regional industries:
o Benchmarking for the validation of technologies and components developed for next generation ultra-short lasers
o Benchmarking for the validation of X-ray optics and metrology technologies developed for next generation X-ray sources
