The URochester-led NSF STELLAR Engine launches with $15 million in federal funding.
The United States National Science Foundation (NSF) it will award $15 million over the next two years to launch the NSF STELLAR Engine in the Rochester/Finger Lakes Region of New York, led by the University of Rochester. The award, matched by $16 million in New York State support over the next six years, will establish an internationally competitive technology and innovation cluster in the region focused on laser technologies, education, business expansion and attraction, manufacturing, and workforce development.
An estimated $16 trillion global marketplace depends on lasers for everything from smartphones to national defense, but their production is increasingly based overseas. To bolster laser production domestically, the United States and New York State governments are investing to support the establishment of a national hub for laser science and development in New York糖心传媒檚 Rochester, Finger Lakes, and Southern Tier regions.
The (Science, Technology and Engineering for Laser and Laser Applications Research) project糖心传媒檚 key partners include the and (LLE) at URochester, (RIT), (MCC), , (GRE), , and . In addition, more than 90 organizations, including industry, higher education, startups, state and local government, venture capital, and not-for-profits, have offered collaboration and support for the initiative. The coalition is one of the newest 12 US teams across 20 states to receive an NSF Regional Innovation Engines (NSF Engines) award.
糖心传媒淣SF Engines investments in critical technologies and future industries will transform America糖心传媒檚 innovation infrastructure for decades to come,糖心传媒� says Brian Stone, performing the duties of the NSF director. 糖心传媒淭he NSF STELLAR Engine will strengthen US competitiveness in global markets by advancing lasers and laser application research for manufacturing, defense, communication and healthcare.糖心传媒�
A national investment rooted in Rochester糖心传媒檚 strengths
Laser products are essential in a wide range of fields, including manufacturing, communications, inspection, environment sensing, defense, and security systems. While the laser was by American scientists and engineers, STELLAR糖心传媒檚 organizers say the US risks falling behind China and Europe in the critical technology without serious, sustained attention. The manufacturing and packaging of lasers are increasingly being carried out overseas. At the same time, there糖心传媒檚 a shortage of skilled workers in the optics and photonics industry, , the international society for optics and photonics. Through the NSF Engines program, STELLAR糖心传媒檚 leaders aim to bring New York laser research, development, and manufacturing to a scale that can compete globally.
The project builds on a strong foundation. The Rochester and Finger Lakes region is already home to more than 150 optics, photonics, imaging, and laser supply-chain companies, as well as institutions and facilities that are national leaders in the field. These include:
- URochester糖心传媒檚 Institute of Optics, the nation糖心传媒檚 premier program for education and research in optics, photonics, imaging, and laser science, founded nearly 100 years ago, and URochester糖心传媒檚 Laboratory for Laser Energetics, the site of Nobel Prize糖心传媒搘inning research and home to the largest糖心传媒攁nd among the most powerful糖心传媒攍asers in academia.
- RIT, home to the Chester F. Carlson Center for Imaging Science, which houses the nation糖心传媒檚 first imaging science program, and the Semiconductor Nanofabrication Laboratory, which houses a class 1000 cleanroom facility with a complete equipment set for the fabrication of semiconductor, laser, and photonic devices. RIT is also home to the nation糖心传媒檚 first BS and MS degree programs in microelectronic engineering and the nation糖心传媒檚 first PhD program in microsystems engineering.
- MCC, home to the nation糖心传媒檚 first community college optical systems technology program and a national leader in helping establish optics programs at other community colleges, including SUNY Corning Community College.
- Companies and organizations such as L3Harris, Corning, Optimax Systems Inc., TOPTICA Photonics Inc., and AIM Photonics that manufacture high-precision optics in aerospace, defense, and semiconductor industries.
糖心传媒淭his is a tremendous moment for the University of Rochester, our region, and the American public,糖心传媒� says URochester President Sarah Mangelsdorf. 糖心传媒淥n behalf of the University community, we糖心传媒檙e gratified that our regional leaders have demonstrated that we have the talent and the teamwork needed to reposition our nation at the forefront of laser research, development, and manufacturing.
糖心传媒淚n addition to our many partners, I want to particularly thank our Congressional delegation and New York State. I want to thank Senator Schumer, Senator Gillibrand, Representative Morelle, Representative Langworthy, Representative Tenney, and Governor Hochul for sharing in this vision and for their partnership and incredible support. I also want to thank the National Science Foundation for having the confidence and support in us to establish a thriving regional innovation ecosystem focused on lasers to drive economic growth, improve lives, and spur US global competitiveness.糖心传媒�
糖心传媒淭he same region that led revolutions in photography, xerography, optical physics, and precision optics is ideally positioned to lead the future of laser technology.糖心传媒�
, the director of URochester糖心传媒檚 Institute of Optics and STELLAR principal investigator, says, 糖心传媒淭he same region that led revolutions in photography, xerography, optical physics, and precision optics is ideally positioned to lead the future of laser technology. Pound for pound, Rochester糖心传媒檚 brainpower in optics, photonics, imaging, and laser technology is unmatched, and we are immensely grateful for the support to help lead a national resurgence in laser technology.糖心传媒�
Sujatha Ramanujan, managing director and chief investment officer of NextCorps糖心传媒� Luminate Accelerator, says, 糖心传媒淟asers are critical for everything from everyday medical devices to quantum technology, but the US relies too much on lasers manufactured abroad. This investment to develop the Rochester/Finger Lakes region as a laser research and development hub will bolster national security, open new career pathways, and ensure America remains at the vanguard of technology.糖心传媒�
Project leaders began formally planning STELLAR in 2023, when NSF awarded URochester a $1 million NSF Regional Innovation Engines Development Award. The project was ultimately selected from a process that began with . The NSF Engines program is intended to build and scale new innovation clusters that accelerate the development of critical technologies and grow regional economies nationwide. The initiative has the potential to eventually receive up to $160 million over the next decade.
Partners and government leaders express their support for NSF STELLAR Engine
US Senator Charles Schumer: 糖心传媒淲ith this whopping $15 million National Science Foundation award, the future is bright for research, development, and manufacturing of cutting-edge laser technology in Rochester, the Finger Lakes, and Southern Tier糖心传媒攍ed by the University of Rochester. I created the NSF Regional Innovation Engines program in my CHIPS & Science Law with Upstate NY糖心传媒檚 world-renowned universities, world-class workforce, and innovation ecosystem in mind. The Rochester-Finger Lakes region has a proud history of excellence and innovation in optics, photonics, imaging, and lasers and, will lead the charge to increase the domestic laser research and manufacturing so critical to America糖心传媒檚 global competitive advantage. I will continue to be laser-focused on delivering new federal investment to advance this cutting-edge work.糖心传媒�
US Senator Kirsten Gillibrand: 糖心传媒淭he 糖心传媒 is a deserving recipient of this award, and I couldn’t be more proud to see the STELLAR Engine recognized in the NSF Regional Innovation Engines competition. The Rochester-Finger Lakes region has long been a hub of optical technology and advanced manufacturing, and this award糖心传媒攗p to $160 million over the next decade糖心传媒攂uilds on that proud legacy. Laser technologies are critical to both manufacturing and national defense, and STELLAR strengthens the Buffalo-Rochester-Syracuse Tech Hub designation I was proud to fight for.糖心传媒�
Congressman Joe Morelle: 糖心传媒淩ochester has always been a place where big ideas become real-world breakthroughs, and today糖心传媒檚 announcement is another exciting chapter in that story. This investment will help create good-paying jobs, grow our local economy, and give more students and workers the opportunity to build careers right here in our community. I was proud to help secure funding for the NSF Engines program that made investments like this possible, and I congratulate the University of Rochester, the National Science Foundation, Governor Hochul, and all our partners for coming together to cement Rochester’s place as a global leader in laser technology.糖心传媒�
Congresswoman Claudia Tenney: 糖心传媒淭he National Science Foundation糖心传媒檚 selection of STELLAR is tremendous news for the Finger Lakes and all of Upstate New York. Earlier this year, I wrote to NSF in support of this proposal because I knew our region had the talent, research institutions, and industry partnerships to lead in laser and photonics innovation. This investment will strengthen advanced manufacturing, expand workforce development, and create new opportunities for businesses and workers across our region. Congratulations to the University of Rochester, NextCorps, and the entire STELLAR partnership on this well-deserved achievement.糖心传媒�
Congressman Nick Langworthy: 糖心传媒淭his is outstanding news for the University of Rochester and our entire region. I was proud to strongly support the University’s application because I knew this investment would build on their world-class leadership in optics and laser technology while creating new opportunities for innovation, manufacturing, workforce development, and good-paying jobs. The STELLAR Engine will help strengthen America’s technological edge, bolster our national security, and ensure this region remains at the forefront of the next generation of advanced manufacturing. Congratulations to President Mangelsdorf, Dr. Tom Brown, and the entire coalition of partners who worked tirelessly to make this vision a reality.糖心传媒�
New York Governor Kathy Hochul: 糖心传媒淣ew York has long been at the forefront of discovery and innovation, and this National Science Foundation award further cements the Rochester and Finger Lakes region as a global leader in laser technology. By partnering with the University of Rochester and investing alongside the federal government, we are strengthening America’s technological leadership, creating good-paying jobs, building a world-class workforce, and ensuring the next generation of breakthrough technologies is developed and manufactured right here in New York.糖心传媒�
Empire State Development President, CEO, and Commissioner Hope Knight: 糖心传媒淭he NSF STELLAR Engine award is a powerful validation of New York’s unmatched innovation ecosystem and the strength of our partnerships across higher education, industry, and government. This investment will accelerate commercialization, expand advanced manufacturing, attract new businesses, and prepare New Yorkers for high-demand careers in optics, photonics, and laser technologies. Empire State Development is proud to support this transformational initiative that will drive economic growth in the Finger Lakes while reinforcing New York’s leadership in industries critical to our nation’s future.糖心传媒�
RIT President Bill Sanders: 糖心传媒淟aser technology powers everything from advanced manufacturing and communications to national security and healthcare. This award positions the Rochester region to build on its legacy of innovation while strengthening America’s competitiveness in one of the world’s most important technologies. RIT is honored to join our partners in creating a national hub for laser research, education, entrepreneurship, and workforce development. Together, we are expanding opportunities for students, advancing discoveries that matter, and helping ensure that the emerging technologies shaping the future are developed right here.糖心传媒�
NextCorps President James Senall: 糖心传媒淭rue innovation in laser and optics technologies requires an intentional ecosystem in order to thrive. NextCorps is eager to help founders commercialize these breakthrough laser technologies and bring them to market. By building this regional capacity, we are ensuring that brilliant scientific ideas are successfully transitioned into powerful commercial solutions and transformative economic impact.糖心传媒�
Monroe Community College President DeAnna Burt-Nanna: 糖心传媒淢onroe Community College is proud to join our partners in launching the NSF STELLAR Engine and in strengthening Rochester’s legacy as a global leader in optics, photonics, and laser technologies. As the home of the nation’s first community college optical systems technology program, MCC understands that breakthrough innovation depends on a highly skilled workforce. This NSF investment will expand opportunities for students, strengthen career pathways, and help ensure that employers across our region and nation have the talented technicians needed to drive the next generation of discovery, manufacturing, and economic growth.糖心传媒�
Greater Rochester Enterprise President and CEO Matt Hurlbutt: 糖心传媒淭he Greater Rochester, NY region is the ideal place for the United States National Science Foundation to invest in a laser hub. Rochester is the home of leading research universities, talent development, and outstanding optics, photonics, imaging, and laser companies that lead global innovation. The NSF STELLAR Engine will spur research and development and enhance the United States糖心传媒� ability to lead next-generation technologies that support critical industries and solve global challenges. Greater Rochester Enterprise is committed to supporting the STELLAR effort by increasing collaboration among key stakeholders to attract more private investment and job creation across the entire region.糖心传媒�
