25 January 2011

OIDA announces strategic partnership with OSA

The Optoelectronics Industry Development Association (OIDA) in Washington DC has established permanent organizational ties with The Optical Society of America (OSA).

Leaders of both the OSA and OIDA have approved the action, and the transition phase is underway. OIDA says that its activities, services and member benefits will continue without interruption while it prepares for a busy year of programming activities and the celebration of its 20th anniversary.

OIDA’s members include providers of components and systems enabled by optoelectronics, as well as universities and research institutions. As a non-profit association, it serves as the voice of the optoelectronics industry to government and academia, acts as liaison with other industry associations worldwide, and provides a network for the exchange of ideas and information within the optoelectronics community.

Uniting more than 106,000 professionals from 134 countries, the OSA aims to bring together the global optics community through its programs and initiatives. Since 1916 OSA has worked to advance the common interests of the field, providing educational resources to scientists, engineers and business leaders by promoting the technologies made possible by optics and photonics.

“This strategic partnership allows both OSA and OIDA to enhance their business and industrial programming to thousands of professionals in the optics community,” says OSA’s CEO Elizabeth Rogan. “The two organizations have successfully collaborated in the past and will continue to be a voice for their members and respective industries,” she add. “We value the content and member services OIDA provides and we look forward to the important contributions they will make in the years ahead.”

OIDA will remain a separate entity under the OSA umbrella. OIDA will deliver programming and member services under the guidance of its voting members and board. This year’s first OIDA Forum will take place on 7 March in tandem with the Optical Fiber Communication Conference & Exposition and the National Fiber Optic Engineers Conference (OFC/NFOEC 2011), 6–10 March. The workshop will conclude with a reception celebrating OIDA’s 20th anniversary.

“OIDA will be in a stronger position to serve the optoelectronics industry through its advocacy efforts, technical meetings, publications and member services,” says OIDA board chair Richard R. Grzybowski. “Now more than ever, associations such as OIDA are aligning with peer societies that share values and priorities,” he adds. “This alliance with OSA will enable OIDA to securely build upon its past accomplishments as it works to develop valuable new services and products.”

Tags: OIDA OSA

Visit: www.osa.org

Visit: www.oida.org