Photonics and Microwaves Competitiveness Cluster in Nouvelle-Aquitaine
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ALPHA-RLH - A strong background

Two key technologies at the service of economic development

History of the creation of the Route des Lasers and Elopsys competitiveness clusters

Laser Mégajoule’s (LMJ) establishment in ex-Aquitaine

The government’s decision in 1995 to set up Laser Mégajoule (LMJ) in Le Barp, near Bordeaux, brought public authorities to set up a regional development project based on scientific and industrial strengths in photonics in ex-Aquitaine. Following the creation of the competitiveness cluster in 2005, many high-technology companies have set themselves up or have been created at La Route des Lasers®.

A strong scientific and industrial ecosystem in ex-Limousin

Elopsys, a high-technology electronics and photonics competitiveness cluster, began in Limoges in 2005, with the support of the regional ecosystem, industrial actors such as Legrand, Photonis, Anovo and research and training actors such as the University of Limoges, the laboratory XLIM, the CEA Gramat and Cisteme, who became founding members of the cluster.

The creation and certification of the ALPHA - Route des Lasers & des Hyperfréquences (ALPHA-RLH) cluster as a “competitiveness cluster”

Strong complementarity

The Route des Lasers and Elopsys clusters merged on January 1st 2017 to become the ALPHA – Route des Lasers & des Hyperfréquences (ALPHA-RLH) cluster, the reference in competitiveness clusters in France in two key technologies: Photonics-Lasers and Microwaves.

They were looking to combine their technical expertise and skills, as well as those of their members, to confirm their national and international scope. The ALPHA-RLH cluster thus reached critical mass and now supports the entire region of Nouvelle-Aquitaine.

The collaboration of these two clusters is part of a double, national and regional context.

ALPHA-RLH is positioned in strategic strategies which are complementary to national defense, such as simulation, with Laser Mégajoule and Laser PETAL, or communications, detection, navigation and microwave localization.

Among the twelve fields prioritized by the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, one is central to the cluster’s activity: the photonics-lasers field, with four priority applied markets: aeronautics-space-defense, health and wellbeing, ecotechnologies and et silver economy.

A merger supported by the State and the Nouvelle-Aquitaine Region

The merger of the two clusters was officially approved by the State by a letter dated December 15, 2016, validating the certification of the ALPHA – Route des Lasers & des Hyperfréquences cluster as a competitiveness cluster, and by the Nouvelle-Aquitaine Region with a performance contract signed on December 8, 2016.

A cluster dedicated to the growth and economic development of companies through innovation

ALPHA-RHL is a key partner serving innovation, a driver of development, industrialization and commercialization of innovative products and technologies.

It promotes the emergence of new ideas, collaborative innovative projects and the creation of new startups. It works with innovative companies as they grow, with world-renowned, unique technological expertise, and supports its members in export development and access to new markets.

It contributes to raising the profile of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, increasing its attractiveness, and promoting its areas of expertise.