Precision Optics / Photonics Technical Working Group
Professional Training Working Group
Promotion and Communication Working Group
Business Intelligence

Precision Optics / Photonics Technical Working Group

This group examines all technical questions concerning the optics industry
in this sector. Specific problems are the subject of joint studies in conjunction
with experts from outside organisations.
Over the last few years, reference documents for the profession have thus
been drawn up, such as :

Means of characterising optical materials,
Catalogue of testing methods,
Catalogue of optical surface coatings,
Study of glass-to-glass and glass-to-metal adhesives

Objective :
To encourage the free flow of technical information between manufacturers
To bring member companies and research laboratories closer together with a view to collaborating on shared issues
To monitor technological trends and innovations
To help with standardisation procedure in conjunction with AFNOR - CEN - ISO agencies

GIFO actively participates in standardisation work both for drawing up specific French norms and in the preparation of international ISO norms.
This work is co-ordinated on the French level by the Commission 26 'Precision Optics' of the U.N.M. (Union de Normalisation de la Mécanique).

Operations
Visits to manufacturers and research labs
Publication of catalogues
Specific research projects : optical cleaning, thin film coatings, etc..

In collaboration with manufacturers, this party is specifically charged with ensuring the development of programme content in educational establishments and engineering schools so that general training is appropriate to companies' specific requirements, and evolves alongside new technology.

Objectives
To serve as an interface between Education and Industry at all training levels

Operations :
Meetings organised between representatives from the worlds of Education and Industry
Involvement meetings on career advice
Updating of syllabies
Regular updating of the directory of Optics training establishments.
Moreover, GIFO gives financial aid directly to professional schools.

Promotion and Communication Working Group

This working group has a dual mission

Objectives :

To promote the members'interests in France and abroad of GIFO through its publications : trade association directory, promotional brochures, publicity in trade magazines, the GIFO news bulletin etc.
to boost exports and activities worldwide
to encourage exchanges between Industry and Research
to run publicity drives for its members.

Operations :
Organisation of joint trade stands/information centres in France and abroad
Promotional support, e.g.
Website for all members : http://www.gifo.org
publicity in optical trade publications
collaboration and exchanges with Optics centres throughout France
organisation of open days featuring optics Research and Industry.
Participate in their export expansion by organising group stands in trade fairs where French companies can take advantage of their excellent reputation in the high tech sector.

Each year GIFO participates in several international trade fairs, both in France and abroad.

In France the group has regularly participated in the OPTO exhibition since 1982.

GIFO sponsors the seminars organised by the Société Française d'Optique.

Abroad, GIFO is regularly present in Germany where it has been participating since their inception in the following events :
OPTATEC in Frankfurt
LASER in Munich.

At the request of its members, A.F.O.P. has set up a special committee to monitor the emergence of new technologies in the optics and photonics industries.

Objectives :
To pinpoint future markets and highlight new technologies
To help manufacturers design and position ther products

Operations :
A general catalogue featuring 235 French optical research laboratories (available on the web) to encourage technology transfer
Help with the fundings available to companies wishing to launch innovative projects
a weekly bulletin featuring the bids for tender published in the B.O.A.M.P. and the J.O.C.E
a monthly bulletin of the new technologies available worldwide
specific research projects instigated by members.