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About Us
Research into optics and optoelectronics and the practical application of its results constitute the main activity of our team. TOPTEC, the Research Centre for Special Optics and Optoelectronic Systems, is a division of the Institute of Plasma Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences and one of its application centres. Our team consists of approximately 50 researchers and technicians. The Centre consists of three departaments: Optical Processes, Optical Systems, Spectroscopy and Metrology.
The TOPTEC Centre was founded under the VaVpl (2010 – 2013) Operational Programme. It has since developed into a state-of-the-art facility for research and development in optical element processing, thin film deposition, and ultra-precise measurement. Our team is engaged in a broad range of scientific activities in the fields of optics and optoelectronics, which allows us to participate in many international projects, e.g. in the fields of metrology and development of optical systems for space exploration (both satellite and ground-based) or for the development of high performance lasers. Thanks to our cooperation with a number of industrial companies in the development of systems and devices for metrology, automation, or production control, we are able to bring together the academic and the industrial spheres.
The Turnov area has been of great importance to the optical industry in the Czech Republic. Here, the time-honoured tradition of finding and mining precious stones gave rise to a special know-how in their processing, thus preparing the ground for the costume jewellery industry, which started in the Turnov and Jablonec nad Nisou regions in the 17th century. Later, the Dioptra company was founded in Turnov and began to specialize in spectacle optics. In the 20th century, there was a boom in industries concerned with costume jewellery, artificial crystal growing, and spectacle optics. A group of scientist and engineers focused on optical research emerged as early as the 1950s and our team proudly continues this tradition. Thanks to extensive know-how, the TOPTEC Centre has been successfully performing research and development of European-level standard. We currently cooperate with many academic and industrial institutions both in the Czech Republic and abroad.
