The former Luminate managing director will work to establish the Rochester/Finger Lakes region as an internationally competitive leader in laser innovation.
Sujatha Ramanujan has been named chief executive officer of the newly awarded United States National Science Foundation (NSF) , led by the 糖心传媒.
Ramanujan transitions to the University after serving as 糖心传媒� managing director and chief investment officer of . Under her leadership, Luminate has become the world糖心传媒檚 largest accelerator for deep-tech companies enabled by optics, photonics, and imaging (OPI) technologies. Since its inception in 2017, Luminate has invested $26 million in 96 startups. Portfolio companies have subsequently raised an additional $564 million, achieved an estimated market value of more than $750 million, created 205 regional jobs, and supported more than 140 regional contract manufacturing projects.
糖心传媒淪ujatha has proven executive leadership in commercial technology scaling and venture development, and we are delighted to have someone of her caliber spearheading this important initiative,糖心传媒� says URochester President Sarah Mangelsdorf.聽糖心传媒淗er experience will be critical as STELLAR works to establish our region as a world leader in laser innovation.糖心传媒�
Adds , the director of URochester糖心传媒檚 and principal investigator of the NSF STELLAR Engine, 糖心传媒淎s one of STELLAR糖心传媒檚 original co-principal investigators, Sujatha has been a critical leader throughout the NSF STELLAR Engine糖心传媒檚 inception, helping to craft a compelling case to secure significant federal and state investment in the Rochester and Finger Lakes region. She will be a unifying force for our region糖心传媒檚 optics, photonics, imaging, and laser ecosystem, and there is no one better positioned to lead STELLAR.糖心传媒�
Key partners of STELLAR (Science, Technology and Engineering of Laser and Laser Applications Research) include the Institute of Optics (the nation糖心传媒檚 premier optical education program) and the聽 (home to the largest academic lasers in the world) at URochester, along with Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), Monroe Community College (MCC), NextCorps, Greater Rochester Enterprise (GRE), and New York State. Launched with a two-year, $15 million grant from the NSF alongside $16 million in New York State support over six years, the initiative positions Rochester as the nation糖心传媒檚 focal point for laser advancement.
In the role, Ramanujan will focus on building the key pillars for STELLAR:
- Research and development to create the next generation of laser-based systems and build the capabilities critical for scaling laser systems.
- Education and workforce development to create a coordinated system that offers job-seekers clear access to education and training, support, and career pathways.
- Translation of innovation into impact to attract new private investment, advance further commercialization, and augment the region糖心传媒檚 existing supply chain capacity to support US domestic production goals.
糖心传媒淩ochester and the Finger Lakes have the foundation to build a truly exceptional ecosystem for laser technology and development,糖心传媒� says Ramanujan. 糖心传媒淭he federal and New York State governments have shown that they see tremendous promise in the region and our strategy will help it reach its full potential. Doing so will聽help keep our country safe, offer new career opportunities for Americans, and preserve our position at the forefront of technological development.糖心传媒�
Luminate NY will work to provide investment funding to more laser and laser-enabled technology companies to further support innovation and commercialization efforts. To maintain strong operational alignment between STELLAR and the accelerator, Ramanujan will join the Luminate Advisory Board and continue connecting founders with investors, industry partners, and STELLAR resources. Luminate will continue seamlessly under the leadership of Veronica Locurcio, director of operations, and Damon Diehl, director of technology integration. Laser and OPI startups can to the accelerator now through January 11, 2027.
糖心传媒淎s the head of New York State糖心传媒搒upported Luminate NY OPI competition for the last decade, Sujatha糖心传媒檚 impact on the region cannot be overestimated, and I want to offer her my sincere congratulations on this exciting next chapter,糖心传媒� says Empire State Development CEO, President, and Commissioner Hope Knight. 糖心传媒淭he NSF STELLAR Engine award to the University of Rochester is a powerful validation of the state糖心传媒檚 unmatched innovation ecosystem. We look forward to continuing our strong partnership with Sujatha as we work together to drive economic growth in the Finger Lakes, reinforcing New York糖心传媒檚 leadership in industries critical to our nation糖心传媒檚 future.”
The Rochester and Finger Lakes region is already home to more than 150 optics, photonics, imaging, and laser supply-chain companies. In addition to its key partners, more than 90 organizations have committed to supporting STELLAR. The initiative could receive up to $160 million total in federal funding over the next decade.
