The Cluster “Lasers & Optics” unites research institutes, universities, industrial enterprises and individuals from the region Sofia-Plovdiv who are working in the field of the optical and laser technologies.
Historically, the optical and laser science and technologies have been concentrated in the region Sofia – Plovdiv of Bulgaria – the Institute of Electronics - BAS, the Institute of Solid State Physics – BAS, Sofia University, Plovdiv University, Technical University – Sofia and its branch in Plovdiv, the large enterprises “Opticoelectron” and “Optical Technologies”, as well as many small and medium enterprises working today in Sofia, Plovdiv, and Panagyrishte.

The main purpose of the Cluster is to unite companies and organizations in optics and laser technologies. This will contribute to enlarge their competitive power in Bulgaria and in Europe.

Main functions of the Cluster

- Establishing good relationships with local and central authorities, non-government organizations, representatives of EU, regional programs, etc;
- Assisting the Cluster members in finding technical and scientific information in laser and optic technologies;
- Building of an information infrastructure
- Coordinating the collaboration between the members of the companies and the members of the educational structures of the Cluster during the training process and evaluating high qualified personnel;
- Facilitating access to the internal and external market and gaining foreign partners
- Creating conditions for commercialization of the results from R&D activities
- Assisting Cluster members in finding new ways of financing, including financing from EU programs;
- Advertising new job opportunities
- Building modern laboratories for measurements and laser safety.