UAH has partnered with four other research universities and a consortium of photonics industry leaders in an effort to win a $110 million federal contract for an integrated photonics institute that would be housed in the $70 million Florida Advanced Manufacturing Research Center (FAMRC) being built near Kissimmee, Fla. "It would be a national resource for developing innovations in the manufacturing of photonics systems," says Dr. Robert Lindquist, UAH associate vice president for research and economic development, who is spearheading the effort for the university. "It's meant as a collaborative government, academic and commercial enterprise to merge photonics expertise and resources into an industry focused effort to strengthen U.S. manufacturing."