The United States National Science Foundation (NSF) announced 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’s Rochester, Finger Lakes, and Southern Tier regions.
The STELLAR (Science, Technology and Engineering for Laser and Laser Applications Research) project’s key partners include the Institute of Optics and Laboratory for Laser Energetics (LLE) at URochester, Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), Monroe Community College (MCC), NextCorps , Greater Rochester Enterprise (GRE), AmeriCOM , and New York State . 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.
“NSF Engines investments in critical technologies and future industries will transform America’s innovation infrastructure for decades to come,” says Brian Stone, performing the duties of the NSF director. “The NSF STELLAR Engine will strengthen US competitiveness in global markets by advancing lasers and laser application research for manufacturing, defense, communication and healthcare.”
Laser products are essential in a wide range of fields, including manufacturing, communications, inspection, environment sensing, defense, and security systems. While the laser was first theorized and demonstrated by American scientists and engineers, STELLAR’s 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’s a shortage of skilled workers in the optics and photonics industry, according to SPIE , the international society for optics and photonics. Through the NSF Engines program, STELLAR’s 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:
“This is a tremendous moment for the University of Rochester, our region, and the American public,” says URochester President Mangelsdorf . “On behalf of the University community, we’re 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.
“In 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.”
Thomas Brown , the director of URochester’s Institute of Optics and STELLAR principal investigator, says, “The 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’s 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.”
Sujatha Ramanujan, managing director and chief investment officer of NextCorps’ Luminate Accelerator, says, “Lasers 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.”
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 nearly 300 letters of intent . 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.