CVOPTICON is an Integrated Infrastructure Initiative of the 6th EU I+D+i framework programme for improving the coordination of the European astronomical community in the fields of infrared, optics and solar physics. The OPTICON project which is coordinated by the University of Cambridge and financed by the European Commission, has the objective of identifying opportunities for collaboration that have the potential to deliver significant progress and bring them to fruition through a variety of joint activities in order to strengthen European astronomy through cooperation and rationalisation.