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Rochester’s L3Harris engineered, built, and tested the Optical Telescope Assembly for NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope. Capturing panoramas 100x wider than Hubble, this local…
Catalyzing the Rochester / Finger Lakes Region of New York’s Future in
Science,
Technology and
Engineering of
Laser and
Laser
Applications
Research
A U.S. NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION REGIONAL INNOVATION ENGINE
Why lasers?
The laser was first theorized and demonstrated by American scientists and engineers, and the NSF STELLAR Engine in the Rochester/Finger Lakes Region of New York aims to help reassert American dominance in the crucial technology. An estimated $16 trillion global marketplace depends on lasers for everything from smartphones to national defense.
What makes STELLAR unique?
The NSF Engine will advance the Science, Technology and Engineering of Lasers and Laser Applications Research (STELLAR) for manufacturing, defense, communications and healthcare, strengthening U.S. competitiveness in global markets. Bringing together the region’s more than 150 laser and photonics companies, the Laboratory for Laser Energetics, The Institute of Optics—the nation’s original optics educational program—and a robust network of research, commercialization, workforce, and economic development partners, STELLAR will bolster innovations in lasers while expanding career pathways and entrepreneurship opportunities.
11
Counties in
New York State Served
91
Collaborating Academic, Industry, Government & Non-Profit Organizations
10x
Targeted Economic Growth
in 10 Years
WHY THE ROC/FLX REGION?
Density of talent and patent activity with specialized firms and workers second only to Silicon Valley
Optics Patents
#1 region for optics patents per 1,000 workers in the nation
Total Optics Degrees
Accounts for 60% of total optics degrees in the United States
Engineering & Technicians
#1 for engineering, engineering technologies, and technicians per capita
Supply Chain & Workforce
Top 5 for optics, photonics, imaging, and lasers (OPI+L) supply chain and skilled workforce (by Location Quotient)
150+ OPI+L companies
Recent STELLAR News
Rochester’s next growth industry runs on light
Four years after the CHIPS Act, billions in investment are driving semiconductor growth across Upstate New York. The Syracuse-Rochester-Buffalo Tech Hub corridor benefits from funding…
Rochester region sees semiconductor growth from CHIPS Act investments
Four years after the CHIPS Act, billions in investment are driving semiconductor growth across Upstate New York. The Syracuse-Rochester-Buffalo Tech Hub corridor benefits from funding…
RMSC to develop hands-on optics exhibit as part of $31M STELLAR project
With support from the NSF STELLAR Engine, Rochester Museum & Science Center (RMSC) is developing a new hands-on optics exhibit celebrating the region’s leadership in…
Rochester University becomes US Laser Innovation Hub
The NSF awarded $15M (matched by $16M from NY State) to launch the NSF STELLAR Engine, led by the Univ. of Rochester. The hub aims…
How Rochester will measure success in its $15M laser bet
The federal government is making a $15 million bet on the Rochester-Finger Lakes region becoming the laser capital of the nation, if not the world.…
GRE Why ROC: NSF STELLAR Engine to create National Laser Innovation Hub
In this GRE Why Roc TV interview on WROC TV, Dr. Thomas Brown of URochester’s Institute of Optics, and Dr. Sujatha Ramanuja, of NextCorps Luminate,…
NSF awards 12 regional innovation engines $15 million each for technology and workforce growth
The NSF awarded 12 Regional Innovation Engines $15M each across 20 states, supporting university coalitions like URochester’s NSF STELLAR Engine. The initial funding aims to…
Federal grant launches University of Rochester-led laser innovation hub
The University of Rochester received a $15 million National Science Foundation grant—matched by $16 million from New York State—to launch the NSF STELLAR Engine. The…
Rochester area gets about $31 million to become the country’s laser innovation hub
The Rochester/Finger Lakes region received $31M—a $15M National Science Foundation grant and $16M in NY State matching funds—to launch the NSF STELLAR Engine. Led by…
NSF selects Rochester as National Laser Innovation Hub with major federal funding
The U.S. National Science Foundation chose the University of Rochester to lead the NSF STELLAR Engine, supported by $15M in federal funding. The initiative establishes…
Rochester’s STELLAR moment
The U.S. National Science Foundation selected the URochester-led STELLAR project for major funding under the NSF Regional Innovation Engines program. The effort aims to reclaim…
Rochester, Finger Lakes Region Selected as National Laser Innovation Hub
The U.S. National Science Foundation awarded $15M to the University of Rochester to launch the NSF STELLAR Engine, matched by $16M from NY State. The…
Rochester laser initiative wins $15M federal investment
The University of Rochester received a $15M National Science Foundation award—plus $16M in NY State funds—to lead the NSF STELLAR Engine. The initiative turns the…
NSF Names, Funds 12 New University-Led Regional Innovation Engines
The National Science Foundation awarded $15M each to 12 new university-led Regional Innovation Engines across the country. Led by institutions like the University of Rochester,…
NSF selects Rochester and Finger Lakes for $31 million laser innovation hub
The NSF selected Rochester and the Finger Lakes for a $31M laser innovation hub led by URochester. Backed by $15M in NSF funds and $16M…
NSF Unveils 12 Regional Innovation Engines Nationwide
The NSF announced 12 new Regional Innovation Engines across 20 states, awarding each team $15M initially. Led by coalitions like URochester for the NSF STELLAR…
Here’s what the UR-led tech hub could mean for Rochester, Finger Lakes
Led by UR, the NSF STELLAR Engine will launch in downtown Rochester with $15M from the NSF and matching NY State funds. The national laser…
RIT key partner in $15 million award to establish a national laser technology hub
RIT has partnered in receiving a $15M award from the NSF, matched by $16M from NY state, to establish a national laser technology hub in…
University of Rochester lands $15M for laser research expansion
The University of Rochester received $15 million from the National Science Foundation, matched by $16 million from New York State, to launch the NSF STELLAR…
12 New NSF Engines Named, 20 States Involved
The NSF named 12 new Regional Innovation Engines across 20 states, granting each team $15M in seed funding. The university-led coalitions, including URochester’s laser-focused STELLAR…
Schumer, Gillibrand, Morelle Announce a Whopping $15 Million Federal Award for University of Rochester’s Laser Discovery Research & Job-Creating Engine
Sens. Schumer & Gillibrand and Rep. Morelle announced $15M from the NSF CHIPS & Science Act program for UR’s STELLAR Engine. Matched by $16M in…
NSF Names 12 New Regional Innovation Engines to Advance Critical Tech
The U.S. National Science Foundation named 12 new Regional Innovation Engines, awarding $15M to each coalition across 20 states. Led by institutions like URochester, these…
NSF picks region as national hub for laser research
The NSF selected the Rochester-Finger Lakes region for the STELLAR Engine, a national laser hub led by URochester. Backed by $15M in federal funds and…
National Science Foundation selects URochester to lead new laser tech program
The U.S. National Science Foundation selected the University of Rochester to lead the new STELLAR initiative, backed by a $15M federal grant. In partnership with…
NSF selects Rochester, New York, as national laser innovation hub
The NSF selected Rochester, NY to lead the NSF STELLAR Engine, backed by $15M in federal funding and $16M from NY State. Led by URochester,…
NSF selects Rochester, New York, and Finger Lakes region as national laser innovation hub
Led by the University of Rochester, the NSF STELLAR Engine has launched with a $15M federal grant and $16M from NY State. The project establishes…
NSF awards 12 new Regional Innovation Engines to fuel research, jobs and economic growth nationwide
The U.S. National Science Foundation awarded $15M each to 12 new Regional Innovation Engines across 20 states. These regional coalitions will build technology clusters in…
Rochester Beacon: Awaiting green light as national hub
A University of Rochester-led coalition is a top finalist for a National Science Foundation Regional Innovation Engine designation. The STELLAR project could secure up to…
Empire State Development Announces Startups Selected For Round Nine Of Luminate NY Accelerator
Empire State Development announced 10 startups selected for Round 9 of the Luminate NY accelerator in Rochester. Each receives an initial $100K investment and will…
NSF explores Rochester as a potential national hub for laser research and development
The University of Rochester-led STELLAR project hosted the U.S. National Science Foundation for a final site visit. As one of 15 nationwide finalists, the coalition…
GRE, New York Photonics partner to advance Rochester’s OPIL leadership
Greater Rochester Enterprise and New York Photonics have formed a strategic alliance to boost business attraction, expansion, and innovation in the region’s OPIL sector. The…
GRE Why ROC: Evolvoptic and Laboratory for Laser Energetics
In this GRE Why Roc TV interview on WROC TV., Dr. Jon Zuegel of the UR Laboratory for Laser Energetics, and Dr. Ted Mooney, of…
STELLAR’s own Tom Brown on GRE Make Your Mark Podcast
Check out this Greater Rochester Enterprise Make Your Mark podcast to hear from Tom Brown, Professor and Director of the Institute of Optics at the…
Rochester laser project named finalist in nationwide competition
The STELLAR project, a Rochester-Finger Lakes coalition led by URochester, has reached the final stage of the NSF Regional Innovation Engines program. As one of…
RIT, partners named finalist for funding to bolster region’s laser expertise
An RIT-supported regional coalition, STELLAR, is an NSF Regional Innovation Engines finalist. Led by the University of Rochester, the initiative aims to make the Finger…
University of Rochester’s laser program among finalists in national competition
An initiative at the University of Rochester has been named a finalist in the NSF Regional Innovation Engines program. STELLAR, which stands for “Science, Technology,…
University-led STELLAR project named a finalist in national ‘innovation engines’ competition
The NSF announced that a Rochester and Finger Lakes region coalition led by the University of Rochester advanced to the final stage of the program’s second competition. The STELLAR (Science,…
NSF selects 15 finalists to advance to the next round of its second Regional Innovation Engines competition
NSF announces teams, including STELLAR in the Rochester/Finger Lakes region, that will move on to the next stage of competition under its major NSF Engines…
University’s STELLAR project advances in national ‘innovation engines’ competition
The National Science Foundation Regional Innovation Engines (NSF Engines) program announced that a Rochester and Finger Lakes region coalition led by the University of Rochester advanced to the final…
UR laser innovation project advances in NSF competition
A proposal from the University of Rochester focused on accelerating laser science and technology in the region has advanced to the semifinals of a national competition that could result…
NSF advances 29 semifinalists in the second NSF Regional Innovation Engines competition
NSF announces the list of 29 teams from across the country that will advance to the next stage of its major initiative aiming to advance…
NSF Engine Coalition
Leadership Organizations
