The Société Innovatech Québec et Chaudière-Appalaches in Canada announced a government-sponsored effort to strengthen and expand the optics cluster in Quebec. Under the project, dubbed La Cité de l'optique de Québec, the provincial government will fund a 40 percent increase in salaries. More than $100 million in risk capital has been collected to promote new and existing enterprises.

Denny Faubert, director-general of the Defense Research Establishment Valcartier, a research institute in Quebec City, noted the history of photonics in the area, including the development of CO₂ lasers.