Essilor: inauguration of the European Innovation and Technology Center
In Créteil, France, the world's largest private campus dedicated to research and innovation in the ophthalmic optics sector In April Essilor inaugurated the European Innovation and Technology Center (CI&T) in Créteil, France, the world's largest private campus dedicated to research and innovation in the ophthalmic optics sector. As a pioneer of the most significant progress in products that have revolutionized the ophthalmic field - multifocal lenses, organic lenses, antireflection and scratch resistant treatments, and organic photochromic lenses - at the new research center Essilor intends to accelerate innovation and guarantee excellent vision for all wearers of eyeglasses. The aim of CI&T is to overcome the physical limitations of ophthalmic lenses in order to anticipate people's needs and respond to them more effectively. Uniting research and a team of engineers and experts in a single location will foster more fruitful collaboration, accelerate projects and the launch of new products and technologies in support of Essilor's mission: improve life by improving vision. The world's biggest private center dedicated to innovations in ophthalmic optics ?Together with the other two Innovation and Technology Centers - one in the United States (Dallas) and the other in Asia (Singapore), - this new campus, which integrates the group's global research organization, will bring Essilor closer to its goal of making innovation the cornerstone of its development strategy.?The group has united the best of its innovative activities in every region with the aim of creating synergies, stimulating interdisciplinary cooperation and more effectively meeting the expectations of customers and the specific needs of local markets.?At CI&T Europe, about 900 people in the R&D, Worldwide Operations, Global Engineering, Purchasing, Quality and Supply Chain divisions are working together on researching and developing innovative solutions that meet consumers' vision needs. "Eyesight is the most important of our senses and plays a fundamental role in our lives. The newly opened center is an extraordinary platform for developing lenses, materials, and the treatments of tomorrow that will open up new prospects for correcting and protecting vision and for dealing with the challenge of prevention and eye health", stated Essilor Chairman and CEO Hubert Sagnières. Innovation in the ophthalmic optics sector is particularly important today because increased life expectancy has led to an increase in age-related ailments like cataract and age-related macular degeneration (ARMD). In addition to correcting and protecting eyesight (from UV rays and violet-blue light, for example), the real challenge facing the sector is the development of preventive solutions that can contribute to maintaining eye health for as long as possible in the future.
