Electronic interconnect manufacturer Samtec Inc. has become the latest member of the American Institute for Manufacturing Integrated Photonics (AIM Photonics) technology consortium. Samtec will provide expertise and leadership in prototyping and evaluating optical manufacturing methods. “Today we welcome another international technology leader to AIM Photonics, further strengthening the team behind this important state and federal initiative,” said John Maggiore, the chairman for the New York State Photonics Board of Officers. “The momentum of the institute continues to grow as we prepare to announce the location of the TAP [Test, Assembly and Packaging] facility which will be a transformative milestone for AIM, the Rochester region and the State of New York, which continues to build upon its leadership in advanced technology innovation.” Samtec is a global manufacturer of a broad line of electronic interconnect solution blocks with technology centers to help optimize the entire signal transmission path from the interconnect to the panel and beyond. “Samtec is thrilled to be a part of AIM Photonics and to make critical contributions toward achieving its goals,” said Marc Verdiell, chief technology officer of Samtec Optical Group, a technology center of Samtec Inc. “Our collaboration with AIM and SUNY Polytechnic Institute will accelerate the research and development of these cutting edge optical manufacturing technologies.”