The versatile link, a common project for super-LHC

A common project to develop a bi-directional, radiation tolerant, high speed (4.8 Gb/s) optical link for future high energy physics experiments is described. Due to be completed in 2012, it targets the upgrade programs of detectors installed at CERN's Large Hadron Collider (LHC). The development of radiation and magnetic field tolerant opto-electronic devices, fibre and connectors is described. Both Single-Mode and Multi-Mode versions of the system operating respectively at 850 nm and 1310 nm wavelength are proposed. First results at component and system level are presented, based mostly on commercially available devices.