New York Photonics Masthead

 

Rochester

Optifab Continues to Gain Traction

May 14-17
Rochester Riverside Convention Center

The only conference/exhibit of its type in the U.S., Optifab is uniquely positioned to attract high-end precision optical manufacturers, their suppliers, and the customer base that stands to benefit from this extraordinary supply chain.

158 exhibitors are now registered, and it appears that Optifab will reach the conference goal of 200 exhibitors if the returning exhibitors and other stakeholders continue to encourage participation among industry colleagues.

The focus of the conference is:

  • Optical fabrication equipment
  • Optical components, materials, and systems
  • Optomechanical components and devices
  • Laser system components
  • Optical thin film coating
  • Optical metrology and testing equipment
  • Clean room equipment
  • Software, adhesives, glass, and consumables

Commercial presentation opportunities are available for covering leading edge manufacturing and testing products with an emphasis on aspheric fabrication and testing. Jay Kumler of Coastal Optics is your contact for the technical conference and for the Commercial Presentation opportunities at (561) 881-7400 ext. 114.

Once again this year APOMA and RRPC will host a Tuesday night reception featuring Rochester's own Nik & the Nice Guys. Please help by sponsoring this event and letting attendees and exhibitors alike know that Rochester is North America's home for Optics, Photonics and Optical Fabrication. Contact Rick Rivers at 585-586-6906.

Become an exhibitor by going here.

 

Call for Entrepreneurs

The 2007 SmartStart & UNYTECH Venture Forum is a combined event of the SmartStart Venture Forum, a forum for venture-ready companies interested in getting their company in front of interested venture funds, and the UNYTECH Forum for university spin-out companies to showcase their technologies and attract investment partners.

This unique event displays the very best early-stage companies from throughout the entire state of New York. Venture capital funds, seed investment funds and angel groups and investors can meet with and learn more about these company's teams, technologies and plans for succeeding in the marketplace. Additionally, experienced entrepreneurs are exposed to upcoming companies for their potential involvement, and many of the venture company service providers will also be on hand at this showcase event.

Forty-four of the 122 companies that have presented have received funding directly attributable to SmartStart, totalling approximately 57 million.

 

Nanocrystal Imaging

Filters Target Dominant Market Player

Semrock, Inc., the leading manufacturer of high-performance optical filters for the Biotech and Analytical Instrumentation markets, announced single-band fluorescence filter sets optimized for the most popular quantum dot nanocrystals. Three of these new filter sets are ideal for brilliant multi-color imaging or quantitation with the most highly utilized Qdot 525, 605, and 655 Nanocrystals by Molecular Probes (Invitrogen Detection Technologies). A fourth filter set utilizes a special long-pass emission filter to allow simultaneous viewing of multi-labeled samples by eye or with a color camera, thus taking advantage of the common blue excitation and narrow, specific visible emission spectral properties of Qdot nanocrystals.

Qdot fluorescence labeling products exhibit revolutionary imaging performance that comes from their robust nanocrystal structure combined with a customizable surface for a wide range of biological applications. These labels are extremely bright and highly photostable, making them ideal for applications that require high sensitivity with minimal label interference and long-term photostability, such as live-cell imaging and dynamic studies. “The pairing of high-performance ‘no burn-out’ BrightLine fluorescence filters with quantum dot nanocrystals—also known for their brightness and longevity—is a natural,” said Semrock’s CTO, Dr. Turan Erdogan.

What are nanocrystals and what are their applications?

 

Date for Benefit Tourney Set

Save the date!!!

Details for the 7th annual WNY Optics Photonics Golf Tournament to benefit The Golisano Children’s Hospital at Strong will be sent out soon. The tourney will be held this year on Thursday, July 19th at Shadow Lake and Shadow Pines golf courses. To date, the tournament has raised $27,000.00 in proceeds for the hospital. This tournament has grown to be the largest optics networking event of the year with an average of 75-80 companies and 300 people participating at various levels. Don’t miss out on the annual fun fest and get together with your friends in the photonics industry. It is not a requirement that you know how to golf: ask Jim Sydor... even the participants who think that they can golf... well we won’t mention any names.

The tournament has grown to attract companies and participants from as far away as Japan! We encourage all of our RRPC and NY Photonics members to spread the word and get your customers and vendors out and participate this year.

To accommodate the growing attendance, we encourage you to get your registrations in as soon as possible. Dinner will be held at Shadow Pines this year. The cost of golf and dinner will be $100.00 per person. Either event is available individually at $70.00 per person.

If you would like to volunteer this year or if your not on the our mailing list, please contact Ron or Diane Schulmerich at wnyoptics[at]rochester.rr.com or at 585-663-7230.

We look forward to seeing you there this year!!

 

Defense & Security Conference, Orlando

RRPC and New York Photonics will have a booth at the D&S Conference in April. We are able to have your literature on display for a $150 fee.

If you plan on attending the conference and want to help staff the booth, call Tom Battley at 585.329.4029.

 

Events

Tuesday, April 24th OSA Annual Dinner
Crescent Beach Hotel, Rochester, NY
Event Flyer

Defense and Security Symposium
9 - 13 April 2007
Orlando, Florida USA
Exhibition

International Resource Group Luncheon
"Doing Business in Peru, Chile and Mexico"
24 April, 2007
Strathallan Hotel
Program

CLEO /QELS & PhAST 07
6 - 11 May 2007
Baltimore, Maryland
Cleo Conference / PhAST Conference

OptiFab
14 - 17 May 2007
Rochester, New York USA
Exhibition

SmartStart Venture Forum
May 22 - 23, 2007
Albany Marriott, Albany, New York

Program

Photonics North (co-located with Education and Training in Optics & Photonics)
3 -7 June 2007
Ottowa, Ontario, Canada
Conference (Photonics North)
Conference (Education & Training)

Ninth Rochester Conference on Coherence and Quantum Optics (CQO-9)
June 10 – 13, 2007
University of Rochester
Rochester, New York
Conference

International Conference on Quantum Information (ICQI)
June 13 -15, 2007
University of Rochester
Rochester, New York
Conference

MD&M East
12 -14 June, 2007
Jacob K. Javitz Convention Center
New York, New York USA
Exhibition

46th Annual Summer Course Series
University of Rochester Institute of Optics
18-29 June 2007
Rochester, New York USA
Program

Frontiers in Optics 2007
16 - 20 September, 2007
San Jose, California
Conference

OFC/NFOEC 2008
February 24-28, 2008
San Diego Convention Center
Conference

 

RRPC Annual Meeting

RRPC First Group Hosted in New Facility

Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks introduced the proceedings at RRPC's Ninth Annual Meeting on March 22nd at the Robert B. Goergen Building for Biomedical Engineering and Optics on the University of Rochester Campus.

 

Brooks highlighted the importance of Optics and Photonics to the region's future and gave numerous examples of how Monroe County's Economic Development Office has assisted Cluster Member-companies as they have grown.

 

Both Brooks and RRPC Executive Director, Tom Battley noted that while front page stories have emphasized dwindling manufacturing job numbers, nearly every firm in the RRPC has added jobs year-over-year during the past several years.

 

Battley's remarks emphasized progress by RRPC in areas such as industry promotion and company collaboration. He also noted the recent survey which suggests that an aging workforce, combined with a shortage of younger workers entering the field represents the greatest threat to the region's optics, photonics and imaging companies.

 

Michael Mandina, President of Optimax, gave a succinct presentation of global, national and regional data that reinforced the workforce message and called for immediate action through a formal RPPC Comittee.

 

Battley also called for collaboration by the region's economic development stakeholders on tactics and funding for RRPC priority efforts.

 

One of those efforts, dubbed "The Optics Express," was the focus of remarks by Institute of Optics Director, Wayne Knox. Knox asserted that a "Bookmobile-style" rolling optics laboratory can play a powerful role in a comprehensive public-relations effort, one that will generate greater interest in optics and optics careers and at the same time highlight the importance of Optics to the region's economy. (See Richard Glaser's essay below.)

 

Concluding the list of speakers was Kevin Parker, Dean of the University's Engineering Department who gave an overview of the University's Optics Department, its history, and the immense market and economic development potential for ideas generated at the new Center for Biomedical Engineering and Optics.

 

If you missed the meeting you can download the presentations by clicking here.

 

VC Corner

The Magic Bus

 

I attended my first RRPC annual meeting recently. Comfortably ensconced in the new Goergen Hall (a.k.a. the Biomedical Engineering & Optics Building), I had the opportunity to admire the joint effort by the university, community and alumni to erect the $37 million facility. Wayne Knox entertained us with a dizzying time-elapse slide presentation documenting the building’s construction. For those who weren’t there, sit on a swivel chair, turn around a couple of dozen times and you will come close to feeling the vertigo we did.

 

It has often struck me how peculiar academics are about real estate, whether it is office location or parking spaces. It seems like every new university dean and president wants to raise money for a new building. My reaction is probably due to the aversion I share with most entrepreneurs towards spending money on real estate (i.e., rent) that can be used for other purposes, like building the business.

 

In this instance, I left the RRPC meeting with a different conclusion. I felt elated and emboldened about Rochester’s future. The new facility is a testament to the vitality and promise of our optics community.

 

The Institute of Optics is a world leader and innovator by leveraging the university’s core competencies in computer science, optics, physics, engineering and medicine. New companies like Virtualscopics and iCardiac, to name a few, are signs of profound change afoot. U of R is getting into the routine of spawning commercially viable businesses. There is nothing like success to breed even more success. An ecosystem that includes researchers, businessmen and venture capitalists, among others, becomes sustainable and can grow into something far more significant.

 

Entrepreneurs like Mike Mandina (Optimax) and Jim Sydor (Sydor Optics) are engaged with RRPC, the university and other community organizations to address the needs for skilled workers. Their personal experience has led them to conclude workforce development must be a priority. There isn’t any blame leveled nor requests for government hand outs. There are no veiled threats about relocating. These guys are proactive, soliciting the support of the community, generating ideas to solve their problem, and contributing their time and money.

 

For the encore, while conscious of being surrounded by some of the best trained engineers and PhDs in the world, Wayne Knox introduced his proposal to create the optics community’s version of a “bookmobile” or, as I prefer to call it, the “Magic Bus.” Wayne wants to launch a traveling display that will visit schools to educate and excite kids about the wonders of optics. He envisions multiple displays housed in a mobile unit supported by graduate students, regional companies and government agencies. Given Wayne’s success as the driving force behind Goergen Hall, I will bet on Wayne.

 

In the spirit of inspiring our future entrepreneurs, I am willing to suggest another innovative idea: the “Magic Bus” should have an exhibit about the convergence of optics and entrepreneurship in Rochester. I am willing to make a financial contribution as a “lead investor,” subject to sufficient support by others. Let’s recognize our accomplishments and help inspire the new generation of entrepreneurs to lead our community forward.

Richard A. Glaser is a financial advisor at a major securities firm. You can send him email here.

 

NASA Glenn Solicitation

NASA: Glenn Research Center, Office of Procurement - Research Contract Synopsis Solicitation 01 includes the following:

 

Optical Instrumentation and Non-Destructive Evaluation (NDE):

 

The objective is to conduct research to develop novel measurement capabilities and advanced data processing for aerospace flight and ground testing and to design advanced photonic systems for space exploration. Emphasis is on developing diagnostic methods and other flow imaging techniques; NDE technologies; rotor dynamic systems for structural health monitoring; and optics and electronics hardware for space applications.

 

Specific areas of interest include:

  1. Planar optical diagnostics for flow field measurements and optical systems build up
  2. Integration of NDE and Finite element modeling and image visualization
  3. Development of acoustics, tomography and radiography sciences and facilities operations
  4. Propulsion health monitoring system development and instrumentation
  5. Firmware and software for electronic platforms in harsh environments
  6. Structural health monitoring theory and physics based modeling

Proposals due by April 30, 2007. Go here to learn more.

 

OSA Annual Dinner

The Annual Dinner for the Rochester Section of the Optical Society of America is scheduled for April 24th.

 

Beginning with cocktails, networking and dinner, the 8:00 p.m. presentation will be "Mars Rover: the Latest from Spirit and Opportunity" by Kjartan Kinch of Cornell University. Kinch works as Panoramic Camera Payload Downlink Lead on the Rover Program.

 

SBIR National Conference

SBIR/STTR Event To Be Held in Research Triangle Park

 

The Hotel block for the SBIR National Conference expires THIS Friday, April 6th. Take advantage of the conference facility's hotel at the conference rate of $110. After Friday, this rate is no longer available.

 

This year conference attendees will be offered flexible multi-track sessions in order to select topics of highest relevance to the current state of their business. For newcomers to the SBIR/STTR programs, attendees will learn how to apply and win some of the $2.2 billion in Federal grants and contracts. For those who have reached the Phase 1 funding milestone, learning will focus on how to stay on track for success and achieve next level funding. For the multiple award winner, details on moving to full commercial operation will cover procurement, business development, technology and financing.

 

New Director at CUNY CAT

Dr. Harry Gafney has been appointed Director of the Center for Advanced Technology in Photonics Applications at the City University of New York (CUNY CAT). Dr. Gafney is Professor of Chemistry at Queens College, and has been a senior faculty member in the CUNY CAT since its inception in 1993. He was appointed to replace Dr. Robert R. Alfano, who stepped down as CUNY CAT Director effective December 1, 2006.

 

The CUNY CAT develops and disseminates knowledge in photonics technology to promote New York State economic development for the medical, biological, industrial, homeland defense and military sectors. The CUNY CAT is supported by the New York State Office of Science, Technology and Academic Research (NYSTAR).

 

Contact RRPC

New York Photonics and the Rochester Regional Photonics Cluster are active and growing collaborative organizations. Efforts are under way on joint training events, workforce development, collaborative advertising opportunities, promoting the commercialization of I.P., and the development of our website to further facillitate business development.

Join us! There are advantages to working together, and we are interested in working with you. Send an email to us at membership@rrpc-ny.org.

To subscribe, to unsubscribe, to submit a news item or upcoming event, to suggest a feature or column, or to offer feedback, contact Tom Battley, at 585-329-4029.

 

 

Copyright 2007, Rochester Regional Photonics Cluster, Inc.

New York Photonics and The Rochester Regional Photonics Cluster (RRPC) are not-for-profit organizations founded to promote and enhance the New York State photonics, optics and imaging industry by fostering the cooperation of business, academia and government.