OSA NEWS

May 10, 2004

Dignitaries Join in Ceremonies to Open Renovated Infotonics Technology Center

New York State ‘Center of Excellence’ Will Drive Economic Growth

CANANDAIGUA, NY, (May 10, 2004) – The public got its first glimpse today inside the newly renovated Infotonics Technology Center, a New York State Center of Excellence in Photonics and Microsystems designed to drive economic growth and create jobs throughout the region.

New York Governor George Pataki, United States Senator Charles Schumer of New York, and U.S. Congressional representatives Tom Reynolds and Amo Houghton, Jr., of New York were among the guest speakers at the afternoon ceremonies, and they joined with other dignitaries in a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the entrance to the facility.

Other speakers included representatives from the Center’s three founding corporate members --Kodak Chief Executive Officer Dan Carp, Corning Executive Vice President Robert Ecklin, and Xerox Senior Vice President Herve Gallaire.

Infotonics CEO Duncan Moore saluted the great cooperation of the various stakeholders from industry, colleges and universities, and all levels of government that made the Center possible.

“The Infotonics Technology Center is a complex, high-tech facility that would have been unattainable by any one of our stakeholders working alone,” Moore said. “It stands today as a model of collaboration and it holds bright promise for the economy of the region.”

Following the ribbon-cutting, guided tours of the Center allowed the public to see this state-of-the-art Center featuring 22,000 square feet of cleanroom space for microsystems fabrication and packaging.

Infotonics’ goal is to establish a unique, world-class research and development facility to enable rapid commercialization of new products. This initiative will provide major benefits to the region, including creation of jobs and attraction of new companies and investment revenue.

Academic participants in the consortium include some 20 New York State colleges and universities.

Media Contact:
Ron Roberts, Martino Flynn
585-421-0100
rroberts@martinoflynn.com

Photos of the Center are available online at:
http://www.infotonics.org/Newsroom/Images.asp