A look at Arizona’s optics industry with focus on Tucson is detailed in a new white paper by Commercial Real Estate Group of Tucson.

“Spotlight on Arizona’s Optics Industry” updates CREG Tucson’s 2019 white paper on the local optics cluster of companies that develop, manufacture and support products and services that harness the power of light.

“Optics and photonics are used in almost every industry you can think of,” according to the January 2022 paper. They include biotechnology, imaging, aerospace, defense, traffic, logistics and life sciences.

The paper lists 13 optics and photonics companies throughout Arizona, a small sampling of the dozens of firms that operate in the state.

Attention is given to Tucson-based Optics Valley, a committee of the Arizona Technology Council that helps its 90 members forge collaborations and partnerships. The document also details the University of Arizona’s Wyant College of Optical Sciences, as well as the state’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, workforce and research support, lifestyle and ability to meet the industry’s specialized commercial real estate needs.

Several optics industry officials offer their opinions as to why Arizona is a good place to locate or start their businesses. One is Oleg Khaykin, president and CEO of VIAVI Solutions, which tests, monitors and provides assurance products to networks. The firm recently relocated its headquarters to Chandler.

“Arizona’s strong optics ecosystem, business-friendly climate and deep pool of talent made the decision easy for our team,” he said.

The white paper makes its debut ahead of the Optics Valley’s fifth annual Arizona Photonics Days Jan. 19-21, which is timed to run just before Photonics West so that attendees can make one trip to attend both.

The paper also can be downloaded from the CREG Tucson website  and the Arizona Technical Council website.

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