Greater Rochester Enterprise and New York Photonics announce partnership

22 Jan 2026

To promote the region as a “leader in photonics, imaging, and laser technologies.”

Economic development organization Greater Rochester Enterprise (GRE) and nonprofit cluster New York Photonics have this week announced the formation of a new strategic alliance. They are aiming to leverage Greater Rochester’s success in optics, photonics and laser technologies to attract business and investment, and encourage expansion in the region.

“Greater Rochester is the world leader in optics, photonics, imaging, and laser technologies,” said Matt Hurlbutt, GRE President and CEO. “Partnering with New York Photonics enables us to better leverage our regional assets on a global scale, and to further accelerate the trend of world-class businesses choosing to grow in our region.”

Currently, more than 150 “OPIL” companies – that’s optics, photonics, imaging, and lasers – employ approximately 19,000 people in the region. GRE adds that since 2017, more than $1.1 billion in new capital investments and 4,300 new jobs have been created to fuel the sector’s regional growth.

Dr. Alexis Vogt, the new executive director of New York Photonics, said, “We have a strategic edge in optics, photonics, imaging, and laser technology that is second to none. The partnership between GRE and New York Photonics will turn that potential into progress.”

The region is also a research and development hub supported by the University of Rochester’s Institute of Optics, the Laboratory for Laser Energetics, Monroe Community College, and Rochester Institute of Technology. In addition, there are further resources at Alfred University and the New York State College of Ceramics’ Center for Advanced Ceramic Technology to support this industry cluster.

The announcement also claims that, “60 percent of all optics degrees in the US are awarded by institutions in the Greater Rochester, NY region”. The region is also said to be the number one major metro for optics patents, driven by Rochester’s patent activity in OLED, digital imaging, glass wafers for smartphones, and advanced microscopy, among other photonics innovations.

Furthermore the region is a finalist for a $160 million National Science Foundation (NSF) Engines Award focused on the Science, Technology, and Engineering of Lasers and Laser Applications Research (STELLAR), including enabling technologies for advanced chip manufacturing, laser packaging & integration.