For Release:             Immediate – June 22, 2016

Contact:                   Jerry Gretzinger, Vice President of Strategic Communications and Public Relations ­

                           (518) 956-7359 | jgretzinger@sunypoly.edu

ROCHESTER, NY - SUNY Polytechnic Institute and AIM Photonics joined Precision Optical Transceivers of Rochester today to announce the company’s membership in AIM Photonics. The membership introduces the industry leader in pluggable optics and related components to AIM, an institute of the National Network for Manufacturing Innovation (NNMI), and allows for further local advancement in the silicon photonics sector.

“This is a wonderful partnership between an innovative Rochester company and AIM Photonics and is exactly what we had envisioned when the institute was located here,” said Robert Duffy, Chairman of the AIM Photonics Leadership Council.  “This is economic development at its finest.  Not only will Precision help further AIM’s cutting edge research and development efforts, but Precision will also be able to leverage its membership in the institute to build upon its success and remain a strong and viable contributor to the local economy. I extend my continued thanks and appreciation for SUNY Poly President and CEO Dr. Alain Kaloyeros and AIM CEO Dr. Michael Liehr for continuing to drive this initiative and their commitment to the Finger Lakes region.”

“We are excited to welcome the team at Precision Optical Transceivers as the newest members of AIM Photonics,” said Michael Liehr, CEO of AIM and Executive Vice President of Innovation and Technology for SUNY Polytechnic Institute.  “Precision is a perfect example of AIM’s mission to bring together world class New York companies to enable the development of new technologies and accelerate technology transfer to the marketplace. Their unique expertise in manufacturing optical transceivers and components addresses a critical need for AIM.  Our collaboration will help drive the growth and success of the institute as well as Precision and our other partner companies in the region.”

The partnership between Precision and the SUNY Poly-led AIM Photonics provides a path for the development of new technologies and products that will further solidify a position in the photonics space. Precision will be engaging closely with various academic and industry leaders through the AIM consortium to advance the state of silicon photonics packaging and production at the Rochester based facility.  This partnership allows Precision to invest in the rapidly growing field of integrated photonics, have access to cutting edge manufacturing facilities, partner closely with research colleges, and provide back to the local community.

Bryce Tennant, CTO of Precision stated, “Precision plans to utilize AIM to further push the envelope of our technical offerings. We believe that by working with AIM and its partners we will be able to significantly advance our transceiver product line and offer adjacent components to meet our customer’s needs. Our partnership with AIM ultimately will provide better services and systems for our end users.”

As a native Rochester company, Precision believes that AIM Photonics has boundless potential to support the local economy. One of SUNY Poly’s primary goals through AIM is to make Rochester a technology hub for silicon photonics manufacturing and packaging. The success of AIM in Rochester is also a major success for the city of Rochester and all of its surrounding areas. Precision strongly believes in this vision and is excited to be a part of that driving force in its earliest stages.

Through membership with AIM Photonics, Precision Optical Transceivers plans to advance their products and future offerings to better serve the needs of their customers. Precision also plans to work closely with AIM affiliated universities to conduct advanced research and product development.

Precision Optical Transceivers.Precision Optical Transceivers is an industry-leading manufacturer of optical transceivers and related active/passive optical components. Precision helps to build networks around the globe by providing high quality custom-engineered photonics solutions. The company is located in Brockport, NY and is a member of the START-UP NY program in partnership with The College at Brockport, State University of New York.

AIM Photonics.The American Institute for Manufacturing Integrated Photonics (AIM Photonics), is an industry driven public-private partnership that focuses the nation’s premiere capabilities and expertise to capture critical global manufacturing leadership in a technology that is both essential to National security and positioned to provide a compelling return-on-investment to the U.S. economy. The Institute’s goal is to emulate the dramatic successes experienced by the electronics industry over the past 40 years and transition key lessons, processes, and approaches to the photonic integrated circuit (PIC) industry. AIM Photonics supports Small and Medium Enterprises, providing practical access and technology on-ramps for U.S. industry, government, and academic communities. We are creating a National PIC manufacturing infrastructure, widely accessible and inherently flexible to meet the challenges of the marketplace with practical, innovative solutions.

SUNY Polytechnic Institute.SUNY Polytechnic Institute (SUNY Poly) is New York’s globally recognized, high-tech educational ecosystem, formed from the merger of the SUNY College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering and SUNY Institute of Technology. SUNY Poly offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in the emerging disciplines of nanoscience and nanoengineering, as well as cutting-edge nanobioscience and nanoeconomics programs at its Albany location and undergraduate and graduate degrees in technology, including engineering, cybersecurity, computer science, and the engineering technologies; professional studies, including business, communication, and nursing; and arts and sciences, including natural sciences, mathematics, humanities, and social sciences at its Utica/Rome location. Thriving athletic, recreational, and cultural programs, events, and activities complement the campus experience. As the world’s most advanced, university-driven research enterprise, SUNY Poly boasts more than $43 billion in high-tech investments, over 300 corporate partners, and maintains a statewide footprint. The 1.3 million-square-foot Albany NanoTech megaplex is home to more than 4,000 scientists, researchers, engineers, students, faculty, and staff, in addition to Tech Valley High School. SUNY Poly operates the Smart Cities Technology Innovation Center (SCiTI) at Kiernan Plaza in Albany, the Solar Energy Development Center in Halfmoon, the Children’s Museum of Science and Technology (CMOST) in Troy, the Central New York Hub for Emerging Nano Industries in Syracuse, the Smart System Technology and Commercialization Center (STC) in Canandaigua, and the Photovoltaic Manufacturing and Technology Development Facility in Rochester where SUNY Poly also leads the American Institute for Manufacturing Integrated Photonics. SUNY Poly founded and manages the Computer Chip Commercialization Center (Quad-C) at its Utica location and also manages the $500 million New York Power Electronics Manufacturing Consortium, with nodes in Albany and Rochester, as well as the Buffalo High-Tech Manufacturing Innovation Hub at RiverBend, Buffalo Information Technologies Innovation and Commercialization Hub, and Buffalo Medical Innovation and Commercialization Hub. For information visit www.sunycnse.com andwww.sunypoly.edu.