OptoNet is a Jena-based competence network in which 75 enterprises, educational and research institutions, banks, communities and regional facilities have joined forces to pool their scientific and technical know-how and to develop optical technologies on a national and international scale. The partners’ competencies comprise fundamental research on optical technologies, optical surfaces and coatings, manufacturing and replication techniques, optical information and metrology engineering, optical system design, biophotonics, and training and further education.