Battelle and Primaxis Technology Ventures Inc. Announce New Optical Technology Venture -- Name Philip W. Schofield as CEO of New Company.Business & High-Tech Editors COLUMBUS, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 11, 2002 Battelle and Primaxis Technology Ventures Incorporated (Toronto, Canada) announced today the appointment of Philip W. Schofield as President and Chief Executive Officer of Optimer Photonics, Inc. Optimer Photonics, located in Columbus, was incorporated in July 2001 and is a venture based on technology licensed from Battelle. Battelle and Primaxis are major shareholders in the venture. The new company is commercializing platform technologies in the areas of materials science materials science Study of the properties of solid materials and how those properties are determined by the material's composition and structure, both macroscopic and microscopic. and integrated optics Combining electrical and optical components on the same silicon-based substrates used in the fabrication of a semiconductor chip. Also called "silicon photonics," fiber-optic communications employs numerous integrated optics devices, including lasers, photodetectors, beam splitters, for the telecommunications industry. Battelle has considerable experience in the optics and materials fields, having teamed with NTT NTT Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation NTT New Technology Telescope NTT National Technology Transfer, Inc NTT Name That Tune (TV game show) NTT National Tree Trust NTT Number Theoretic Transform and Mitsubishi Corporation Mitsubishi Corporation (三菱商事株式会社 to develop the successful Photonic Integration Research, Inc. (PIRI) venture, which was sold for $1.8 billion. Primaxis has global experience in photonic technology commercialization. The naming of Schofield as CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. of Optimer Photonics signals the attraction of an established industry leader to the new company. He most recently served as Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Chief Operating Officer (COO) The officer of a firm responsible for day-to-day management, usually the president or an executive vice-president. for Stratos Lightwave, Inc. in Chicago, Illinois. Stratos Lightwave, Inc. is a NASDAQ-listed company, which manufactures a broad line of optical transceivers, interconnects, and compound semiconductor devices in the high-speed data and telecommunications industries. In its most recent fiscal year concluded April 30th 2001, Stratos Lightwave reported approximately $127 million in net sales Net Sales The amount a seller receives from the buyer after costs associated with the sale are deducted. Notes: This amount is calculated by subtracting the following items from gross sales: merchandise returned for credit, allowances for damaged or missing goods, freight . Previously, Schofield served as Vice President, Fiber Optic Products for Methode Electronics, Inc. He holds a B.S. degree in Physics from the University of Cincinnati The University of Cincinnati is a coeducational public research university in Cincinnati, Ohio. Ranked as one of America’s top 25 public research universities and in the top 50 of all American research universities,[2] and an M.S. degree in Electro Optics from the University of Houston. The integrated optic product concepts for this venture are based on technologies developed by two long-time Battelle research scientists, Dr. Vince McGinniss and Dr. Richard Ridgway, who have accepted employment with Optimer Photonics. McGinniss serves Optimer Photonics as Senior Vice President, Materials, and Ridgway is Chief Technology Officer. Dr. Mert VanderLind, who retired in 2001 as Battelle Executive Vice President, has served as interim CEO while getting the venture established. "We are excited by the potential of Optimer Photonics and equally excited to attract a leader of Phil Schofield's caliber," said Carl F. Kohrt, Battelle President and CEO and Ilse Treurnicht, Primaxis President and CEO, in a joint statement. Kohrt added that "Battelle's business model is to develop breakthrough technologies for the marketplace, share in the proceeds of these successes, replenish the organization for the next cycles of science and technology, and give back part of our profits to our communities." "I'm very pleased to have the opportunity to lead such a gifted team," said Schofield. "I believe Optimer Photonics has leading-edge capabilities with which to make a solid market entry while breaking new ground in optical waveguide waveguide, device that controls the propagation of an electromagnetic wave so that the wave is forced to follow a path defined by the physical structure of the guide. technology and photonic integration. I am excited to be part of this outstanding opportunity." Battelle serves industry and government in technology development and commercialization. It counts as its successes the development of the office copier machine (Xerox), pioneering work on compact disc technology, medical product innovations, and new technologies for telecommunications. Battelle serves clients in more than 30 countries. Primaxis Technology Ventures, Inc. (www.primaxis.com) invests in leading-edge opportunities in telecommunications, semiconductors, IT infrastructure and advanced materials Advanced Materials is a leading peer-reviewed materials science journal published every two weeks. Advanced Materials includes Communications, Reviews, and Feature Articles from the cutting edge of materials science, including topics in chemistry, physics, . Primaxis is headquartered in Toronto, with investee companies located across Canada and the United States. For more information, contact Battelle Media Relations Manager Katy Delaney at (614) 424-5544 or by e-mail at delaneyk@battelle.org. |
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