Federal program seeks to make Rochester and Finger Lakes a national hub for laser innovation

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — A federal program aims to make Rochester and the Finger Lakes region a nationally renowned hub for innovation in laser technology.

The National Science Foundation announced that it will award $15 million over the next two years to launch STELLAR Engine, a program led by the University of Rochester to create the laser technology hub. New York State will also contribute $16 million over the next six years toward the project.

More than 90 organizations will collaborate on STELLAR, including businesses, colleges, startups, state and local governments, venture capital groups, and nonprofits. URochester’s Institute of Optics and its Laboratory for Laser Energetics will be among the partners. So will the Rochester Institute of Technology, Monroe Community College, NextCorps, Greater Rochester Enterprise, and AmeriCOM. You can read more about how each group will become involved here.

The laser industry is estimated to be $16 trillion globally. Increasingly, laser production is happening overseas, and leaders hope the investment in the Rochester region will help make the U.S. globally competitive in laser technology. The region is already home to more than 150 optics, photonics, imaging, and laser supply-chain companies.

The post Federal program seeks to make Rochester and Finger Lakes a national hub for laser innovation appeared first on WHEC.com.