The University of Bremen and the Technical University at Aachen in Germany and Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, OK USA have started a Transregional Collaborative Research Center „Process Chains for the Replication of Complex Optical Elements“ on July 1st. The objective of the new research center is to lay the scientific foundations for a deterministic and economical mass production of optical elements with complex geometry. Because of their multiplying effect optics are a key technology that will significantly define industrial competitiveness.