APEX-technologies is a SME specialized in instrumentation for tests and characterisation of devices and high bit-rate/high frequency optical systems. Measurement equipments proposed concern the spectral and time analysis of Optical signal such as those appearing in Optical communication systems and sensors. On the other side, Télécom ParisTech’s Optical communication research group is well recognized for his theoretical and experimental activities in the field and, being permanently confronted to state-of-the-art realisation is led to develop its own characterisation concepts and tools and experimental platforms. Several original measurement techniques have been proposed in order to assess the functional performances of devices and systems when no commercial equipment existed. Exhibiting complementary objectives, APEX and Télécom ParisTEch participated in an ANR project OCELOT started in 2011. Convergence between both entities research and innovation strategies was confirmed when APEX employed recently two former PhD and postdoc engineer from Télécom ParisTech. A large number of common technical interests have been indentified through the interaction for which the expertise and knowledge of the academic partner complements the industrial know-how and problematic for the SME. In addition, APEX can propose some new scientific challenges for Télécom ParisTech to meet. The Common Laboratory programme is structured around Research and Innovation Actions (ARI), whose duration will be defined by the Steering Committee. These actions are quite different from a well-defined project in the sense that several of them run in parallel, they are self-consistent, they can be reoriented any time when required. The can range from initial literature studies to the experimental tests of a new ideas. The are not aiming at immediate success but always towards innovations, either for improving existing commercial equipments form APEX or proposing a new range of equipments. Presently three ARI have been identified and can start immediately. ARI are evaluated on a regular basis every 6 months. Then they can be extended or stopped and/or replaced by a new one referring of not to the result obtained. The three initial year of the Common Laboratory within the scope of ANR are seen as a starting activity that would continue in a longer interaction following existing example previously experimented in Télécom ParisTech.