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.
New York Senator Charles Schumer says that Rochester and Albany are well-positioned to compete for those funds.
Photonics involves the use of light and optics, such as lasers, in a number of applications, including internet networks.
Schumer says that Rochester, with its photonics cluster, RIT, the University of Rochester and Eastman Business Park, would be well qualified to host this new photonics facility as would Albany.
Congresswoman Louise Slaughter of Rochester is expected to talk about the competition on Friday afternoon.
