Greater Rochester Enterprise (GRE), an economic development organization dedicated to job creation in the Rochester region, this week joins a contingent of regional optics companies and research institutions at the Frontiers in Optics 2004 conference and exhibit, the premiere event for the 14,000-member Optical Society of America. The event takes place at the Rochester Riverside Convention Center through Thursday, Oct. 14.
The Greater Rochester Enterprise Booth 203 is part of the 25-booth Rochester Cluster Pavilion at Frontiers in Optics, or FiO. Local optics, imaging and photonics companies — including Corning Tropel, JML Optical Industries, Lumetrics, Melles Griot, Optimax Systems and QED Technologies, among others — will join representatives from the University of Rochester and GRE. This will be a unique opportunity for Rochester region universities, economic developers, and the private sector to participate jointly in this show, which is expected to attract more than 1,500 attendees and 90 exhibitors.
"GRE is proud to participate in Frontiers in Optics 2004, the major event for the Optical Society of America," said Michael Finney, President and CEO of Greater Rochester Enterprise. "This event attracts top decision-makers from leading optics, imaging and photonics companies, and our participation is important in reasserting and reconfirming what they already know — that Greater Rochester is a worldwide leader in optics."
GRE will debut its new 20-page brochure highlighting the Greater Rochester New York Region as a leader in optics, imaging and photonics technologies and research. The brochure highlights major discoveries and innovations made by companies and researchers in the Rochester area and provides extensive information on the region's university research efforts.
The Rochester Region is home to more than 55 leading optics, imaging and photonics companies, ranging from the very small to the very large. The sector includes major manufacturers, cutting-edge research firms and emerging start-ups. The region is also home to the Infotonics Technology Center, a world-class photonics and microsystems Center of Excellence, and to top research institutions in the field — Rochester Institute of Technology and the University of Rochester. RIT founded and offers the only Imaging Science Ph.D. and Microsystems Engineering Ph.D. programs in the country. UR has granted more than 55 percent of all optics degrees in the United States.
"Optics is vital to the Rochester regional economy, and has been for more than a century," Finney said. "From the "Big Four" of Eastman Kodak Co., Bausch & Lomb, Corning and Xerox Corp., to growing optics shops such as JML Optical, QED Technologies and Optimax Systems, Rochester remains in the vanguard of the optics, imaging and photonics industry."
About GRE:
Greater Rochester Enterprise (GRE) is a public-private partnership established to professionally market the Rochester metropolitan region as a competitive, high-profile place for business location and growth. GRE will collaborate with business, academia, not-for-profit organizations and government to ensure a unified approach to regional economic development efforts.