Agilent Technologies and the Photonics Center at Boston University Collaborate to Develop New Photonics Laboratory
11/15/2002 - Agilent Technologies and the Photonics Center at Boston University (BU) announced a collaboration to develop BU's new, state-of-the-art Photonics Center laboratory. The laboratory, expected to open in February of 2003, will enable early-stage optics companies to research and create new technologies.
The interaction between Agilent and Boston University began five years ago with the opening of the Photonics Center. Since the opening in 1997, the Photonics Center has created and launched nine new photonics companies, which collectively have raised over USD $92 million dollars from venture capital sources.
As part of a series of planned expansions of laboratories, the Photonics Center made a major investment in Agilent test equipment for its new optical test laboratory, including the latest suite of Agilent's 10 GHz optical test solutions. The Agilent solutions will be accessible to both researchers and optical "incubator" companies, which are a critical part of the Center's commercialization program.
Agilent will supply the Photonics Center with the following:
- Agilent 8164B lightwave measurement system
- Agilent 81600B all-band high-performance tunable laser and related plug-ins
- Agilent 71612C 12.5GB Bit Error Rate analyzer
- Agilent 86100B Infiniium DCA oscilloscope, complete with 30GHz optical/40GhZ electrical plug-ins
- Agilent 86146B high-performance optical spectrum analyzer
- Agilent 8504B precision reflectometer
This set up features an upgradeable platform with extensive measurement capabilities to cover the needs of users who are developing optical components and modules.
Future plans for the two organizations include joint marketing and training at the Boston site, with Agilent co-sponsoring symposiums on technology and test techniques, and working closely with the BU incubator companies during their early venture capital days to help them reach maturity.
"Researchers and early stage optical companies require the latest technologies and reliable equipment to carry out their studies and Agilent is extremely well positioned to provide them with both," said Rick Mannarino, Agilent's EPSG North American Account Manager. "Both parties have been leveraging each other's strengths and resources for their common benefit, as well as that of the industrial and entrepreneurial photonics communities."
"One of the Photonics Center's goals is to achieve a worldwide leadership position in photonics technology development," said Cliff Robinson, director of Corporate Relations at the Photonics Center at Boston University. "Hence Agilent's global presence and strong marketing efforts for early-stage companies, as well as leadership and innovation in test and measurement, was an ideal match for us. By taking time to fully understand the Photonics Center's needs, strategy and direction, Agilent configured and supplied a suite of equipment to build a solid foundation from which to grow."
Agilent in Communications
Agilent Technologies is a leading provider of components, test, measurement, monitoring and management solutions for the communications industry. Agilent enables designers, manufacturers and service providers to accelerate the delivery of next-generation devices, networks and services. Agilent's broad set of solutions and services includes optical, wireless, Internet and broadband technologies that span the entire communications lifecycle.
About the Photonics Center at Boston University
In 1997 the Photonics Center opened its new 235,000 square feet, $80M, state-of-the-art laboratory facility containing the necessary capital equipment for the development of a diverse set of photonics technologies. It was established to provide a focal point for the commercialization of photonics technology. The mission of the Photonics Center is to foster the growth of photonics-enabled companies by bringing together technologies and entrepreneurs from the private sector and combining them with the resources and expertise of the University.
About Agilent Technologies
Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) is a global technology leader in communications, electronics and life sciences. The company's 37,000 employees serve customers in more than 120 countries. Agilent had net revenue of $8.4 billion in fiscal year 2001.
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