Bordeaux Light S&A Campus is an integrated Research/Education program of the university of Bordeaux on Light sciences and applications.
Bordeaux Light S&A Campus is an integrated Research/Education program of the university of Bordeaux on Light sciences and applications.
Research
After the creation of its eleven research departments in 2019, the University of Bordeaux has launched seven Grand Research Programs (GPR) to renew and develop its research policy for the next ten years.
The GPR LIGHT is one of them and aims to promote the development of high-impact research in science and applications of light and to place the Bordeaux campus at the forefront of international excellence. The program is built with an interdisciplinary consortium gathering more than 200 professors and researchers from laboratories and research institutes in a partnership between academic institutions and industry.
Education
Photonics, or sciences of Light, is recognized as one of the six Key Enabling Technologies (KETs) by the European Commission, providing the basis for innovation and enabling the increase of productivity and technology deployments. This calls for highly-trained future researchers and engineers in order to meet the increasing needs of the R&D sector.
The Light S&T Graduate Program of the University of Bordeaux EUR LIGHT provides an interdisciplinary, innovative and international training program from Master to Doctorate to meet this requirement.
Key dates for lasers & Photonics in Bordeaux
Bordeaux was known in the 80’s of a rich and strong research activities in laser physics, laser spectroscopy and material sciences.
This constituted the breeding ground for the important developments which started in the mid-nineties.
1995 • Mega Joule Laser
The key event that has definitely shaped the laser and of photonics research in Bordeaux was the decision by the french government to install the Megajoule Laser infrastructure in Bordeaux Area in 1995.
Mega Joule Laser (LMJ)
› French Nuclear program deterrence
› Inertial fusion simulation
This is a 7B€ program for the realization of a Unique large Laser system aimed for the French Nuclear deterrence and for the inertial nuclear fusion demonstration for energy applications.
2000 • Creation of CELIA Lab.
University of Bordeaux, CNRS and CEA
It has created a major attraction effect, which led to the creation of the CELIA, a common research laboratory with the CEA (centre des energies atomique), to conduct academic research on this infrastracture and on high energy and high intensity laser and their applications.
2011 • Installation of a branch of the IOGS
The attractivity of Bordeaux campus was further strengthened in 2011 by the installation of a branch of the Institute of Optics Graduate School (IOGS), one of the major research and training school “grande Ecole” for Optics in Europe. A new building hosts now the engineers school, with a new research Laboratory for Photonics and Nanosciences (LP2N), and an incubator for Start-up projects.
Building hosting :
› Engineers School (Grande Ecole)
› Research Lab / LP2N
› Start-up projects incubator
Industrial Developments
The MegaJoule laser program was also the driving force for the development of a rich industrial network at region Nouvelle Aquitaine.
We can now count more than two hundred laser and photonics companies, organised around a Competitiveness cluster ALPHA-RLH.
To attract and host new companies, Industrial parks have been built near the LMJ infrastructure the LASERIS Parks and close to the campus at the “Cité de la Photonique”.
A technological center & business incubator (with 90 engineers) was created in the campus (this is the french equivalent to the German Fran Hauffer institute).
› More than 200 laser and photonics companies
› ~ 10 000 employees
› Competitiveness cluster ALPHA-RLH
› Industrial Parks
2004 & 2014 › LASERIS
2005 › ALPHA RLH
2007 › Technological center & business incubator
2010 › Cité de la photonique
Laser and Photonics in the "Investment for the Future" Programs (PIA)
All these developments made Bordeaux a leading site in photonics in France and increased its visibility and attractiveness. The site has benefited from “investment for the future” programs launched by the French government.
2011 • EquipEx program, 3 onsite projects selected
- Petal+ : PETAL laser diagnostics on the LMJ Interaction Chamber
- MIGA : Matter wave Interferometer Gravitation Antenna
- ELORPrintTec : Facility for printed organic electronics
The community has also benefited from a National Infrastructure in Biology and Health : the France-Bio-Imaging.
2012 • IdEX Bordeaux, “Campus of Excellence” program
- Lasers and Photonics put forward among the 8 domains of excellence. LAPHIA Cluster created
2020 • EquipEx+ program, 2 onsite projects selected
- ADD4P: Additive Manufacturing of glasses & components for Photonics
- NanoCryoCLEM: Correlative NanoImaging in cryogenic conditions