On 7th of June, 2013 SECPhO Photonics Marketplace & Annual Assembly event took place at ESADE Creapolis facilities in Sant Cugat, Barcelona. Photos can be accessed here.

The morning session of Photonics Marketplace was split into 3 main parts. First part was related to Networking. Firstly, Mrs. Tacca Ganinna, a networking expert, made a presentation about effective networking and various tactics of achieving ones objectives through people one gets to know. Later, an activity of drawing SECPhO network map was held where every member had to connect and identify their contacts from different sectors, markets, and industries. That way SECPhO will be able to define better the future strategy as well as members could see what organisations they can get in touch through the cluster, member contacts.

Later, an Open Innovation activity took place. Groups of photonics organisations tried to identify solutions to problems that exist in other industrial sectors. The activity was held in cooperation with Enric Molina Pedrós and Elisabeth Molina (FEMAC agricultural machinery cluster), Gemma Batlle (BDigital ICT cluster), Ignasi Gómez-Belinchon (RAILGRUP railway cluster) and Miquel Utset, Marta Usieto and Francisco Vidal from Centre Mèdic Utset. Also, an illustrator Miguel Gallardo visualised the content and conclusions of the activity on a mural.

The final part of the Photonics Marketplace event was European Collaboration. At the beginning, Vaclovas Radvilas, SECPhO project manager, presented SECPhO activities in European projects and benefits to members. Later, an open discussion part took place where event attendees could discuss with three European Photonics cluster managers (Hervé Floch “Route des Lasers”, Roberto Pini“Optoscana” and Gerrit Roessler “TSB Innovationsagentur Berlin GmbH”) about different best practices and good examples of photonics organisations’ international collaboration. Finally, Mrs. Jennifer Ruiz, an R&D service manager at ACC1O, gave a presentation about the coming Horizon2020 program.

SECPhO annual assembly took place after the networking lunch break. Last year’s activities were reviewed, finances accepted and new board of directors presented after the presentation of Joan Martí, director of Cluster support agency ACC1Ó, about clusters governance and the axes of clusters strategy planning. The day passed in a relaxed atmosphere that encouraged networking and good emotions. At the end of the day many members expressed their positive feedback about the event and results of activities. We are already working on new ideas for the next edition!