News & Events

The Rochester Regional Optics, Photonics and Imaging Accelerator The Rochester Regional Photonics Cluster is one of the awardees in The Rochester Regional Optics, Photonics and Imaging Accelerator consortium. The three-year $1.7M grant from a group of five federal agencies will be used to accelerate the growth of small and medium-sized optics, photonics, and imaging companies in the Finger Lakes region. The funded program is known as the Rochester Regional Photonics...Continue Reading

On October 16th Semrock held a ribbon cutting ceremony to reveal the expansion of their high volume factory. The morning began with Denis Lee, IDEX Optics & Photonics (IOP) Director of Global Supply Chain and Logistics, who was the event’s MC. Lee thanked those who were greatly involved in the process. The morning’s presenters began with Dr. Michael J. Cumbo, President of IOP, who discussed how the expansion creates growth...Continue Reading

Meetings are held at the Lennox Tech Center 3:30PM – 5:30 PM Refreshments are served Planning your Company Sales Strategy for 2013. October 4:  Assessing your sales team for 2013 goals – How to assess your sales team to make sure that you have the right people in the right roles as needed to achieve 2013 objectives November 8: Hiring Top Sales Talent – The correct steps for locating and...Continue Reading

Highlights $14.6 million grant awarded to SUNY community colleges Rochester – U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today visited Monroe Community College’s Applied Technologies Center to celebrate and highlight a $14.6 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor to a consortium of State University of New York community colleges. Secretary Solis was hosted by SUNY Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher and MCC President Anne M. Kress. Community leaders in business...Continue Reading

Expert Panel Discusses What Will Drive Optics and Photonics Growth The RRPC brought together over 200 industry leaders to hear the findings from the recently released report, Optics and Photonics: Essential Technologies for our Nation. (Read more from the Innovation Trail). Get more about the report from SPIE here. While optics-related technologies make up 25% of the GDP, OPI is not recognized as an industry. Without specific recognition, it is...Continue Reading

115 scientists and researchers gathered at the Hyatt Regency in Rochester, New York for 3 days, July 31 – August 2 to share the latest research in optical components for government-funded applications. Each year Tech Days summarizes the USA Government’s investment strategies and activities in developing technology for any application (such as telescopes, imaging systems, seeker/trackers, high-energy laser systems, solar energy, etc.) that requires optical components. The conference covered technology...Continue Reading

While Kathy Hochul (D) Amherst, was in Rochester yesterday at HTR listening to some entrepreneurs talk about how hard it is to get SBIR money, she heard from RRPC member OptiPro how successful they have been with SBIR’s (article here). Meanwhile, RRPC was hosting Mirror Tech Days, a three day conference with 110 scientists and entrepreneurs presenting the latest SBIR-funded innovations in optics and mirror technology.  Lots of entrepreneurs that...Continue Reading

James Sydor, President & CEO of Stefan Sydor Optics has made personal donation of $250,000 to Monroe Community College’s Optical Systems Technology program, the only program of its kind in the U.S.  Jim’s contribution is a 50%  match to the Corning Incorporated Foundation  grant of $500,000. Jim  has been involved with the program going back to the early 1970’s when he graduated with an Associate Degree. Today he is a...Continue Reading

In an effort initiated by the RRPC, Corning Incorporated Foundation is collaborating with MCC to help build educational opportunities in optics technologies for area students – and, at the same time, provide a pipeline of skilled workers for optics companies. Over the next five years, Corning Incorporated Foundation will provide a $500,000 grant to MCC as it builds and serves more students in its optical systems technology degree and certificate...Continue Reading

OptiPro’s SBIR Review Meeting was a success once again as nearly 60 people attended the biannual event. The meeting, which took place on June 28th, brought representatives from government agencies, prime contractors, and companies from all across the nation to see the most recent advancements being made in the precision optics industry due to the funding provided by SBIR contracts. 13 individuals, including 7 OptiPro employees, updated the group on recent developments regarding a wide range of topics – from...Continue Reading