Michigan Photonics Group Now at 25 Members

Michigan's new photonics industry group, Mi-Light, achieved a milestone in October with the addition of its 25th member company or organization, the group announced recently.

Aerotech is the latest addition to the alliance, joining Advanced Photonix, Baker College, Coherix, Contour Metrogical and Manufacturing, Data Optics, Dow Corning, Electro-Optics Technology, EMAG Technologies, Fraunhofer USA, Grand Valley State University, Imra America, IPG Photonics, L-3 Comm, Laser Mechanisms, LumenFlow, Lurie Nanofabrication Facility, mlstock consulting, Nanocerox, Northwestern Michigan College, Precitec, Rigaku, SPIE, Trumpf and Visotek.

The alliance formed in late 2012 with the support of 11 founding sponsors and funding from the Michigan Economic Development Corp. (MEDC), which awarded Mi-Light $89,000 to start activities supporting and promoting the growth of the state’s photonics industry cluster. Since then, Mi-Light has held three member meetings and has launched several committees to work on goals to grow the organization and its capabilities.

“Mi-Light shows that Michigan can no longer be considered a “fly-over zone” for those interested in lasers and other photonics innovations. We have a relevant and vibrant ecosystem spanning from colleges, universities and research institutions through startups and small- to mid-sized companies through end users in major industries, right here,” said Sheila Jensen of Visotek, a Mi-Light board member and chairwoman of the messaging committee. “Our growing membership proves that point.”

Mi-Light, a nonprofit, has been active at both the state and national levels, providing grant money to Baker College for scholarships and to equip labs for its new photonics and laser technology associate degree program, and participating with the National Photonics Initiative to educate Congress about the fields of optics and photonics - enabling technologies for nearly every other high-tech industry, including advanced manufacturing, telecommunications, energy, defense and medicine.

For more information, visit: www.mi-light.org