New York Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand and Rochester area Congresswoman Louise Slaughter say that a proposal to have a new photonics institute in Rochester has advanced to the final round of applications. The U.S. Department of Defense is overseeing the funding competition.

Slaughter says the Rochester-led New York State consortium was selected as one of three finalists to submit a full application.

Last Fall, President Obama on Friday announced a new competition to award more than $200 million in public and private investment to create an Integrated Photonics Manufacturing Institute.

Photonics involves the use of light and optics, such as lasers, in a number of applications, including internet networks.

The proposal submitted on behalf of New York State is led by SUNY Polytechnic Institute in conjunction with the University of Rochester.

Schumer and Gillibrand say that with its strong background in photonics, Rochester would be a logical place to host the new institute.