About Us
OUR COMMITMENT
STELLAR has developed ’10x Grand Challenges’ to supercharge our region’s capacity for laser-based innovation.
Over the next 10 years, our Grand Challenges aim to begin the restoration of US investment in lasers through education and workforce development, use-inspired research and development (R&D), entrepreneurship, supply chain, and industry growth for lasers and laser applications. This integrated ecosystem will catalyze the growth of allied technologies and enable the advancement of critical industries, including defense, space, semiconductors, and communications.
STELLAR vision
STELLAR will achieve strategic independence in laser technologies while revitalizing the workforce and infrastructure
for domestic laser manufacturing.
STELLAR mission
To create and grow an ecosystem in the Rochester NY region that advances the science, technology and engineering of lasers to provide US-based sources of next-generation lasers for scientific, industrial, manufacturing, energy, biomedical, and national security applications.
Rationale for the Engine Model
The US faces an urgent call for strategic independence in critical technologies while revitalizing domestic manufacturing, thereby ensuring national independence for critical supply chains. To build the greatest economy in history, the US must lead the world both in emerging industries and rapidly evolving technologies.
Today, light-based systems and lasers contribute an estimated $16 trillion to the global economy. Manufacturing, metrology, communications, health, and security already depend on the design, engineering, production, and distribution of lasers. Increasingly complex systems require next-generation lasers to achieve necessary levels of productivity and security.
The ROC/FLX region is a recognized center with an internationally unique combination of Optical science
and engineering, and integrated Photonics and Imaging (OPI). These strengths position the ROC/FLX region to include lasers and their applications in our existing light-based technologies.
Through the Regional Innovation Engine model’s three pillars: use-inspired research and development; translation of innovations to impact; and education and workforce development, STELLAR will drive our nation’s development and commercialization of breakthrough laser technologies.
R&D
use-inspired research and development
Innovation
translation of innovations to impact
Workforce
education and workforce development
