NSF STELLAR Engine in the Rochester/Finger Lakes Region of New York

Award ID: 2532428

The Science, Technology, and Engineering for Lasers and Laser Applications Research (STELLAR) Engine in the Rochester/Finger Lakes (ROC/FLX) region will build on the areas globally recognized precision-optics and imaging expertiseand expand on strong capabilities in photonics and laser technologies to become a leading innovation ecosystem across all four Optics, Photonics, Imaging, and Lasers (OPI+L) technologies. Laser and photonics technologies are essential to industries such as telecommunications, healthcare, advanced manufacturing, energy, and national security. STELLAR will build a coordinated regional OPI+L ecosystem that integrates education, workforce development, and industry engagement to address the shortage of skilled workers and build coordination among research, education, and industry. STELLAR has three equally important goals: expand and align education and training programs with industry needs; accelerate the translation of research into commercial technologies; and strengthen domestic supply chains for next-generation laser systems. To achieve these goals, STELLAR intends to create shared R&D, prototyping, and manufacturing infrastructure to bridge gaps between discovery and production. Collectively, these efforts position the Rochester/Finger Lakes region as a national hub for laser innovation and economic development. Serving eleven counties (Monroe, Livingston, Ontario, Orleans, Seneca, Wayne, Genesee, Wyoming, Yates, Steuben, Allegany), STELLAR brings together public and private partners, including the University of Rochester, Monroe Community College, Rochester Institute of Technology, Greater Rochester Enterprise, industry and the NextCorps Luminate accelerator. STELLAR leverages significant co-investment from New York State and contributions from more than 50 industry, federal, and academic partners to increase workforce capacity, expand participation in STEM, enhance research translation, increase regional investment, create jobs, and strengthen domestic laser component and system manufacturing. STELLAR aims to engage students and expose them to career pathways in laser engineering, testing, fabrication and packaging, and applications of lasers. By strengthening workforce pipelines and supporting innovation, STELLAR aims to foster an entrepreneurial community and prepare a skilled workforce capable of designing and manufacturing advanced technologies that support high-speed communications, more efficient computing and artificial intelligence, improved medical diagnostics and vision care, and enhanced national security. The project advances the national interest by supporting domestic manufacturing, enhancing technological leadership, and preparing a skilled workforce to meet future challenges. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

NSF Program Director: Jessie Dearo