Numerous co-operation projects and initiatives in Baden- Württemberg cross company and institution boundaries, generating new market potential and competitive advantage.

• To achieve close co-ordination between research, development and individual application fields, continuous co- ordination and collaboration is important within the inter- disciplinary sector of optical technology.

• Innovation occurs increasingly in networks, particularly in the field of optical technology, as a result of growing complexity and the fact that more and more disciplines are working together. This means that the work of organisations which promote innovation is continually increasing in importance. In Baden-Württemberg nine organisations are working on connecting science to commerce in an optimal way and strengthening the optical technologies in the state.

• The Photonics BW e.V. network sponsored by the German Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) links developers, manufacturers and users along the value-added chain and supports the optical technologies in the areas of research, development and applications, further training and education, marketing and publicity work. The network comprises around 33 businesses, 16 members from science and research and six other institutions. Famous companies such as Carl Zeiss AG, Daimler AG, Karl Storz GmbH & Co. KG, Sick AG and the TRUMPF Group belong to this network.

• The Photonics Valley Ostwürttemberg network has its head- quarters in Schwäbisch Gmünd. In the Ostwürttemberg region over 50 businesses with more than 7,000 employees take part in a Photonics cluster, together with highly rated educational and research establishments. The aims of this network are networking, promotion of know-how transfer and the stimulation of co-operation agreements within the optical technology sector.