Optics Valley
Where optics, photonics and astronomy connect and grow.
ABOUT
JANUARY 19-21, 2022
MAY 16, 2021
PARTNERS & ALLIANCES
WHITE PAPER
CONTACT US
ABOUT OPTICS VALLEY
Arizona is home to world-class businesses and institutions in optics, photonics and astronomy. Our members cover the broadest range of research, services and products from microcomponents to big data to complete optical systems.
Optics Valley, a committee of the Arizona Technology Council, is one of the leading clusters for optics, photonics and astronomy in the world.
Arizona is home to world-class institutions and businesses with decades of innovation and leadership in optics, photonics and astronomy with an annual economic impact of over $4 billion in the state. The sector is a key enabler for many industries including aerospace and defense, automotive, microelectronics, medical instrumentation, nanotechnology and advanced manufacturing. While our focus is on businesses in Arizona, our trade and science partners, and customers are worldwide.
Optics Valley’s mission is to catalyze, convene and connect optics, photonics, astronomy and the supporting business interests throughout Arizona.
Catalyze
Help our members grow through business acceleration, workforce development, and community and global industry engagement.
Convene
Provide members with B2B networking, education and business development opportunities at community events, industry events and scientific conferences.
Connect
Facilitate access for our members to global networks through alliances, reciprocity and collaborations with leading organizations.
Our activities are focused in five areas to fulfill our mission:
- Membership: Engage and grow membership statewide
- Committee Meetings: We hold periodic meetings to address key industry issues, plan future events and provide opportunities for business networking and member growth. CEOs, academic representatives and other key stakeholders are invited to participate.
- Educational Events: Offer educational and business development opportunities at professional and community events including Arizona Photonics Days, International Day of Light, Tenwest, Southern Arizona Tech+Business Expo, workshops and networking events.
- Global Conferences: Facilitate marketing opportunities for our members at industry and scientific conferences worldwide including Photonics West. Laser World of Photonics, Optics + Photonics, FiO+LS and OPTIFAB.
- Public Policy: Work through public policy channels to support outdoor lighting standards for dark skies as well as commerce-friendly export regulations.
Download the Arizona Optics Initiative annual reports:
- 2019 Base Year Annual Report (PDF)
- 2020 Option Year 1 Annual Report (PDF)
- 2021-2024 Strategic Impact Plan (PDF)
Committee Leadership
Chair: John Dennis, President, Strategy1
John’s priority is the development and growth of technology companies. Throughout his career, he has fulfilled objectives to improve company operations and profitability. His expertise includes strategic planning, people management and organizational enhancement. In addition to his current focus in optics, John brings a broad range of diversified industry experience in building business-critical computing applications and business continuity solutions for telecom, financial services, solar energy, speech technology, voice processing systems and instrumentation markets.
Co-Chair: Jack Schumann
Jack’s passion is advancing opportunities worldwide for optics and photonics companies. In addition to Optics Valley, he is a coordinator of the Global Photonics Alliance and a Senior Member of SPIE. His experience includes mergers and acquisitions, business brokerage, mentoring start-up businesses and manufacturing. As an owner and CEO of Engineering Synthesis Design, a manufacturing of laser-based optical metrology equipment acquired by Mahr, he understands the opportunities and challenges faced by Optics Valley members.
PARTNERS & GLOBAL ALLIANCES
We connect our members to a global network through our alliances, reciprocity and collaborations with leading organizations.
With over 40 members, the Global Photonics Alliance facilitates cooperation among optics and photonics clusters worldwide to address common matters and facilitate communication and business among members around the world.
University of Arizona Wyant College of Optical Sciences provides the state of Arizona and the nation with an internationally pre-eminent program in education, research and outreach in all aspects of the science and application of light.
Tech Parks Arizona creates the place, environment and interactive ground that generates, attracts and retains technology companies and talent in alignment with the research, mission and goals of the University of Arizona.
Pima Community College is a two-year college serving the greater Tucson metropolitan area at six locations throughout Pima County. Founded in 1966, PCC provides workforce development, career training programs, associate's degrees programs, credit courses, continuing education and adult education.
SPIE is the international society for optics and photonics, an educational not-for-profit organization founded in 1955 to advance light-based science, engineering and technology.
The American Precision Optics Manufacturers Association is committed to promoting and advancing opportunities for the precision optics industry.
Founded in 1916, OSA is the leading professional organization for scientists, engineers, students and business leaders who fuel discoveries, shape real-life applications and accelerate achievements in the science of light.
The National Photonics Institute brings together experts from industry, academia and government to assemble recommendations that will help guide US funding and investment in five key photonics-driven fields: advanced manufacturing, communications & IT, defense & national security, energy and health & medicine.
The American Institute for Manufacturing Integrated 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.
WHITE PAPER: TUCSON’S OPTICS ADVANTAGE
This white paper will give anyone considering starting, relocating or expanding their optics business a variety of reasons to put Tucson, Arizona on the short list of cities to consider. You’ll be in great company if you do. Read the white paper here.
CONTACT US
Email: info@opticsvalleyaz.org for more information about Optics Valley and membership.
Arizona Technology Council Staff Liaison: Jamie Neilson, Director of Operations, Southern Arizona Regional Office, jneilson@aztechcouncil.org. or call Jamie at 520-719-0080.