“This is a huge win that will shape our region’s economy for decades to come”, Rep. Louise Slaughter said. “Establishing an IP-IMI in New York is a step in the right direction for our industry and will strengthen our country’s position as the world leader in transitioning photonics research to commercial markets”. The Department of Defense (DOD) has committed to investing $110 million in the IP-IMI.
Advertisement
The National Photonics Initiative (NPI) congratulates SUNY Polytechnic Institute and other members of the New York consortium on their selection as the country’s first Integrated Photonics Institute for Manufacturing Innovation (IP-IMI). New York State is chipping in, $250 million, along with $250 million more from private funding sources.
“Just about every payload that goes into space or any kind of imaging, optical, or photonic science in the world Rochester has had a hand in it”, said Battley. “The estimate for jobs is about 6,000, I think there may even be more, there will be companies moving in here”. “The community has been concerned about the brain drain”.
“We train scientists and then they look for places to work outside Rochester. If this is a national center for photonics manufacturing, we will be attracting talent instead of shipping it away”.
For the military, photonics could improve battlefield imaging equipment and radar technology. The hub’s academic partners will include the University of Rochester and the Rochester Institute of Technology, along with the SUNY Polytechnic Institute in Albany and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, among others.
Advertisement
Vice President Joe Biden will make the official announcement at 11:00 a.m. that Canal Ponds Park in Greece will house a new multi-million dollar Photonics Institute.
