{"id":1266,"date":"2025-09-22T12:00:49","date_gmt":"2025-09-22T12:00:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:stellarlasers.org\/?p=1266"},"modified":"2026-01-15T16:16:35","modified_gmt":"2026-01-15T16:16:35","slug":"rochester-laser-project-named-finalist-in-nationwide-competition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stellarlasers.org\/index.php\/2025\/09\/22\/rochester-laser-project-named-finalist-in-nationwide-competition\/","title":{"rendered":"Rochester laser project named finalist in nationwide competition"},"content":{"rendered":"

A Rochester and\u00a0Finger Lakes<\/a>\u00a0regional coalition has advanced to the final stage of the National Science Foundation\u2019s (NSF) Regional\u00a0Innovation<\/a>\u00a0Engines program, a nationwide competition to fund transformative innovation ecosystems.<\/p>\n

The\u00a0STELLAR project<\/a>\u00a0\u2014 short for Science, Technology and Engineering of Laser and Laser Applications Research \u2014 aims to establish the region as a national leader in laser technologies, company creation,\u00a0manufacturing<\/a>,\u00a0workforce development<\/a>\u00a0and education.<\/p>\n

Key partners include the\u00a0University of Rochester<\/a>\u2018s Institute of\u00a0Optics<\/a>\u00a0and Laboratory for Laser Energetics,\u00a0Monroe Community College<\/a>,\u00a0Rochester Institute of Technology<\/a>, Nextcorps, Luminate, Greater Rochester Enterprise, AmeriCOM and New York state.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
If funded, STELLAR would:<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
    \n
  • Build a manufacturing ecosystem for lasers<\/li>\n
  • Provide R&D support to scaling companies, and<\/li>\n
  • Create curricula for middle school through higher education to train students in laser systems and related trades.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Work on STELLAR began in 2023 when the\u00a0University of Rochester\u00a0received a $1 million NSF development grant. Nearly 300 letters of intent were submitted for NSF\u2019s second competition; just 15 finalists remain, including STELLAR.<\/p>\n

    Winners of this round are expected to be announced in early 2026.<\/p>\n

    \u201cThe STELLAR Engine leverages our region\u2019s strengths in optics, photonics, imaging and lasers and helps position it as a hub for laser innovation, talent and technologies to enhance our national competitiveness and local economic vitality,\u201d said\u00a0University of Rochester\u00a0President Sarah Mangelsdorf.<\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    via the Rochester Business Journal<\/em> \/\/ Andrea Deckert<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    A Rochester and\u00a0Finger Lakes\u00a0regional coalition has advanced to the final stage of the National Science Foundation\u2019s (NSF) Regional\u00a0Innovation\u00a0Engines program, a nationwide competition to fund transformative innovation ecosystems. The\u00a0STELLAR project\u00a0\u2014 short for Science, Technology and Engineering of Laser and Laser Applications Research \u2014 aims to establish the region as a national leader in laser technologies, company […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":96,"featured_media":1276,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[66],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1266","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\nRochester laser project named finalist in nationwide competition - STELLAR Lasers<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/stellarlasers.org\/index.php\/2025\/09\/22\/rochester-laser-project-named-finalist-in-nationwide-competition\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Rochester laser project named finalist in nationwide competition - STELLAR Lasers\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"A Rochester and\u00a0Finger Lakes\u00a0regional coalition has advanced to the final stage of the National Science Foundation\u2019s (NSF) Regional\u00a0Innovation\u00a0Engines program, a nationwide competition to fund transformative innovation ecosystems. 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