OptXCon joins US photonics center

17 Jun 2002

The Fitzpatrick Center for Photonics and Communications Systems has signed up a new business partner.

US optical communications manufacturer OptXCon has formed a partnership with Duke University's photonics center, based in North Carolina, US. Contributing USD 150000 over the next three years, the company intends to assist in the center's strategic direction and support faculty research.

"We are excited and look forward to contributing to the center's education and research program," said OptXCon's president and chief executive Don Bouchard. "We are developing next-generation all-photonic networking systems and will help to act as a catalyst for the center's initiatives."

Duke University, North Carolina launched the center following a USD 25 million cash gift from fiber-optics entrepreneur Michael Fitzpatrick and his wife Patty in December of last year. Also funded by industry, government and other private donors, the center provides research and teaching on light-wave communications systems and other advanced photonics technologies.

After its recent "Photonics in the Forest" symposium, the center aims to bring North Carolina's technological advances and economic growth up to speed with California's Silicon Valley.