Translation of Innovations
to Impact
OVERVIEW
The NSF STELLAR Engine in the Rochester/Finger Lakes Region of New York is building upon an existing cluster of 150+ optics, photonics, imaging, and laser (OPI+L) companies. The NSF Engine also enhances the capacity of economic development teams designed to meet the specific company needs and requirements, including the NextCorps Luminate Accelerator (Luminate), Greater Rochester Enterprise (GRE), and NY Photonics. STELLAR provides the ROC/FLX region with additional resources to advance OPI+L company growth at every stage, including seed, startup, and scale up. Translation of innovations to impact activities will attract new private investment, advance further commercialization, and augment the region’s existing supply chain capacity to support U.S. domestic production goals.
STELLAR is expanding the proven Luminate Accelerator model through a dedicated effort to identify and recruit laser and laser application startups from across the globe. Luminate is developing specialized curricula for laser technology startups, around themes such as Design-for-Manufacturing, Freedom-to-Operate, new industry supply chain and sourcing partnerships, Laser Safety Compliance, and Process and Quality Control for Laser Production. The NSF Engine provides these startups with critical programming and support to transform them into investable companies primed for success and regional retention.
Analyzing the OPI+L ecosystem will inform a new venture model by shifting the focus from individual, high-risk micro-investments to understanding and investing in ecosystem-scale market needs and trends. This comprehensive data analysis, made possible by STELLAR, will identify critical technology gaps, promising application areas (e.g., ultrafast lasers, integrated photonics), and the ROI models required to attract private equity accustomed to investing in high-growth, vertically integrated industries. By proving the viability of the entire regional ecosystem rather than just one-off startups, STELLAR aims to de-risk investment, attract capital from outside the region, and achieve its ’10x’ goal of establishing a $100M Venture Development firm within three years.
DISCOVER
Core Translation Focus Areas
1
Business Acceleration
STELLAR is expanding the scope and support offered by the proven Luminate Accelerator model with dedicated effort in identifying and recruiting laser and laser application companies. STELLAR is developing critical programming and curricula to support OPI+L startups propelling them forward as successful commercial ventures.
2
Business Attraction, Expansion, and Retention
STELLAR, in coordination with GRE, is driving significant business growth in the laser ecosystem, focusing on securing new domestic investment and job creation in breakthrough laser and laser-enabled technologies. Applied markets include defense, advanced manufacturing, communications, advanced computing, energy innovation, semiconductor, and healthcare.
3
Tech Transfer, Investment & Human Capital
STELLAR is leveraging supply chain, R&D, and partnerships to advance its portfolio development, patent generation, and business R&D investments. The NSF Engine will boost local IP licensing, use simplified investment vehicles, inform a new venture model by shifting to ecosystem-scale markets, and establish a venture development firm. We will invest in human capital to retain technically knowledgeable individuals and encourage pursuit of entrepreneurial ventures.
4
Infrastructure and Scale
STELLAR is establishing physical space and resources needed for all its core functions and activities. The NSF Engine is headquartered at NextCorps in downtown Rochester, New York, providing offices for operation and startup development space, including laser-safety certified incubator space. Lab space is available through myriad academic and corporate partnerships. STELLAR is streamlining semiconductor processes and expand laser fabrication capabilities in materials. In later years, we will create a diode laser packaging facility.
OUR 10-year goals