The Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development has awarded Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pa., $15 million for its Center for Optical Technologies. The center, which also has received a comparable investment from the university and a gift from an alumnus to endow its chair, will promote research and commercialization of optical technologies and will train students for related industries.

The center was launched in January 2001 with a $1 million state grant, $1 million from the US Army and $2.5 million from the federal government. It is a partnership that includes Pennsylvania State University, Northampton and Lehigh Carbon community colleges, and Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania.