Area business and economic development leaders will hear the results of the Greater Rochester Innovation Benchmarking Survey and discuss a plan of action for the region.  The study was jointly sponsored by the Infotonics Technology Center and the Greater Rochester Enterprise, and it was conducted by the Center for Regional Innovation at the US Council on Competitiveness.

Date:  Thursday, September 23, from 12:45 to 3:45 p.m.

Place:  The Little Theatre, 240 East Avenue, Rochester

Agenda:

12:45  -- Welcome, Sandra Parker, President, Rochester Business Alliance

 1:00  -- “Innovation Imperative for Competing Globally,”  Deborah
              Wince-Smith, President, U.S. Council on Competitiveness

 1:15  -- “Why the Innovation Initiative?”  David R. Smith, CEO, Infotonics
              Technology Center

1:45  --  “Findings from the Rochester Innovation Initiative,” Randall T.
             Kempner, VP-Regional Innovation, U.S. Council on Competitiveness

 2:30 --  Regional Success Stories, Panel Discussion, Representatives of
           Thermal Gradient, BinOptics, Impact Technologies, and Optimax

 3:00 --  “Moving Forward: A Regional Action,” Panel Discussion,
   Michael Finney, President and CEO, Greater Rochester Enterprise; Jose Coronas, General Partner, Trillium Group; Duncan Moore, University of Rochester

Media Notes:   Some of the speakers will be available for brief interviews 30 minutes before the start of the program.  Interview opportunities will be available after the scheduled 3:45 p.m. adjournment.

For further information:  Call Ron Roberts or Megan Connor Murphy.  (Contact information above.)