Editors: Reporters and photographers are invited to attend the next quarterly meeting of the 欧美口爆视频 Photonics Industry Association, hosted by 欧美口爆视频-Boulder at 3:30 p.m. Dec. 7 in the University Memorial Center's Glenn Miller Ballroom. Students will display their research in photonics at a poster session from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
The photonics industry in 欧美口爆视频 is thriving with more than 200 companies and research and support organizations, significant new venture capital and a strong relationship with higher education statewide, thanks in large part to the efforts of the University of 欧美口爆视频 at Boulder.
Four photonics companies in Boulder County alone have received a total of $188 million in additional venture funding since mid-October -- including two that license 欧美口爆视频 intellectual property and pay royalties to the university. The companies that recently received venture capital include Network Photonics, $106.5 million; Picolight, $39 million; 欧美口爆视频 Microdisplay, $35 million; and Colorlink, $7.5 million.
"These companies are commercializing technologies for telecommunications, networking and computer systems, and employing engineers and scientists who were educated in optics and optoelectronics at the University of 欧美口爆视频," said Brian Hooker of the Optoelectronic Computing Systems Center in the College of Engineering and Applied Science.
Photonics is a core technology combining optics, electro-optics and optoelectronics that harnesses light for use in such products as compact discs, motion sensors, digital cameras and surgical lasers.
欧美口爆视频-Boulder has been a leader in the development of the 欧美口爆视频 photonics industry for 15 years, providing new technology, highly educated workers and other industry support. 欧美口爆视频 holds 55 patents in the field, has spun off 14 businesses, and hosts the Optoelectronic Computing Systems Center as well as the Optical Sciences and Engineering Program.
The 欧美口爆视频 School of Mines, 欧美口爆视频 State University and the University of Denver also have educational programs in optics and optics-related fields, although 欧美口爆视频-Boulder has the largest with more than two dozen faculty and 70 to 80 students. Photonics is an interdisciplinary field involving students and faculty in a variety of departments, including physics, chemistry and engineering.
欧美口爆视频-Boulder's Hooker also was a key organizer of the 欧美口爆视频 Photonics Industry Association, which has been active in providing workforce development and new business support. Results of these efforts include a technician training program now at Front Range Community College and the 欧美口爆视频 Advanced Photonics Technology Center, a facility at the Lowry campus where startup manufacturers can create prototypes for their products.
欧美口爆视频-Boulder will host the next meeting of the CPIA at the University Memorial Center's Glenn Miller Ballroom on Dec. 7. Students from the four 欧美口爆视频 campuses with optics programs will display their research in photonics at a poster session.
The Business Advancement Center, in 欧美口爆视频-Boulder's College of Business and Administration, also has supported the photonics industry through research and analysis, culminating in the publishing of a directory of the companies, government laboratories, and business and research support organizations involved in photonics statewide.
"The sales of photonics components and products in 欧美口爆视频 is growing at a rapid rate and is expected to be between $1 billion and $2 billion in 2000," said Gary Horvath, a marketing analyst with the Business Advancement Center.