Rochester is the center of the optics industry: Thomas Battley, executive director of the Rochester Regional Photonics Cluster, explains the prominence of the local industry and the possible threats to continued success. Video by Bennett J. Loudon.
Wayne Knox and a group of students at the University of Rochester work on a laser micro-machine to research a new method of correcting vision. / Jamie Germano / Staff Photographer
Why does it matter?
The optics industry includes more than 50 companies and employs about 14,000 workers in the Rochester area. Expanding the industry’s presence and retaining existing jobs is an important part of strengthening the local economy.
About 14,000 people are employed at roughly 50 local optic companies, working on such high-profile projects as the Mars Rover and the James Webb Space Telescope.
About 55 percent of all optics degrees conferred in the country come from the University of Rochester. Monroe Community College has the oldest optics curriculum of any community college in the country. The Optical Society was founded here and has the largest chapter in the country.
Rochester is home
to the Institute of Optics and the Laboratory of Laser Energetics at the University of Rochester and the Chester F. Carlson Center for Imaging Science at Rochester Institute of Technology.
And the 400 layoffs announced by Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc. at its newly acquired Bausch + Lomb Inc. unit, isn’t expected to change
things much, according to some.
“The status of the optics, photonics, and imaging industry in Rochester is healthy. It’s growing,” said Thomas Battley, executive director of the Rochester Regional Photonics Cluster. “We’re growing the pipeline of talent and we are recognized around the world as one of the few major centers for this industry.”
