Two different-yet-related problems. First, America needs to become more productive to grow the American economy faster. Second, some regions seem to benefit from growth a lot more than others. Indeed, the reality of the latter problem risks undercutting political support for policies to fix the former. Why should politicians and voters in the Rust Belt...Continue Reading

Additional Backing Will Support Three More Rounds of Optics, Photonics and Imaging Competition Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced $15 million in additional funding is being made available to support three more rounds of the Luminate NY business accelerator competition in Rochester. The Luminate competition focuses exclusively on the optics, photonics and imaging industry. The program...Continue Reading

People who want to seem smarter than the average researcher or business leader pretend that they can cultivate radical innovation.  Is there evidence that they can?  “Innovation,” “Scaling,” “Disruption” are all terms that are easy to apply in hindsight and toss around at cocktail parties but not so easy to engender. Some people think that “breaking...Continue Reading

Advancements in aspheric lens design and manufacturing, high quality sensors, imaging software, fiber-optic data transmission, and display technology have made citizen jounalism possible. #IYOL15Continue Reading

The Finger Lakes Regional Center for Advanced Optics Manufacturing was awarded $675,000 today in the New York State Regional Economic Development Competition. Kudos to the FLREDC Optics & Photonics Committee and its chairmen, Jim Sydor of Sydor Optics and Jay Eastman of Optel for their leadership. The money will be used to purchase two pieces...Continue Reading

Funding Opportunity Announced Through a Funding Opportunity Announcement  (FOA) made on Nov. 6, the U.S. Department of Defense is calling for concept papers for the establishment of an Integrated Photonics Institute for Manufacturing Innovation (IP-IMI). The IP-IMI will be the largest federal investment to date under the Obama administration’s National Network for Manufacturing Innovation (NNMI)...Continue Reading

Yesterday, September 30, 2014, Congresswoman Louise Slaughter wrote a letter to André Gudger, Acting Deputy Assistance Secretary of Defense in the DoD Office of Manufacturing & Industrial Base Policy (MIBP). MIBP’s Manufacturing Technology (ManTech) program will stand up two manufacturing innovation institutes that play a critical role in the Obama Administration’s national manufacturing agenda.  (NNMI) Slaughter’s letter supports the...Continue Reading

Thursday, September 4, 2014 3:30PM – 6:30PM Rochester Museum & Science Center Registration begins at 3:00PM The registration landing page is here   Opening remarks by Congresswoman Louise Slaughter Representative New York’s 25th District  Speakers and Panelists Kevin Füchsel, Head of Department Strategy – Marketing – Coordination, Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Optics and Precision Engineering Steve Anderson,...Continue Reading

Rochester, New York is bursting with energy, photonic energy! The New York (NYSTAR) MEP Center, aka High Tech Rochester, is a key player in the revitalizing this industry, along with various economic and business development entities in the Rochester region. To strengthen and grow this industry the Rochester region has received three grants; the Advanced...Continue Reading

“If China shuts off the flow of glass, the United States will be out of drones in six months.” – CEO of a critical components contractor to the DoD It was anticipated and heavily lobbied for.  Does it look like anyone expected? On Monday, June 2nd, the Department of the Air Force, through Air Force...Continue Reading