This paper describes the development of a low-cost technology platform for fluorescence-based optochemical sensors. These sensors were constructed by incorporating fluorescent sensing elements in the core of multimode waveguides or lightguides, and have applications in medical, biochemical and environmental diagnostics. Flexible lightguides were fabricated either with silsesquioxane-based or PDMS-type optical polymers using photolithography or soft-lithography based replication techniques respectively. Spectral transmission characteristics were measured along with loss values obtained by cut-back measurements for several wavelengths from visible to mid-IR. Propagation losses as low as 0.14dB/cm were measured for 50 x 50 mu m(2) waveguides. For coupling light in and out of the waveguides, different types of coupling structures, e. g. 45 degrees micromirror plugs were investigated.