Texas Prototypes (TXP) Inc., a global provider of prototyping electronics manufacturing services (EMS) for original equipment and contract manufacturers, and the Republic of Korea-based Gwangju Metropolitan City's Photonics 2010 Initiative have entered into a mutual business and investment cooperation relationship. This agreement was signed by Gwang Tae Park, mayor of Gwangju Metropolitan City, who represented the Gwangju Metropolitan City’s Photonics 2010 Initiative, and Michael Shores, president and chief executive officer of TXP. Shores has served on the advisory board for Gwangju Photonics Cluster in Gwangju Metropolitan City, South Korea, since February 2002.

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The Korean government has granted Gwangju City a total of $750 million for Phase-I and Phase-II (2000-2008) photonics development programs to build a photonics infrastructure. At the heart of this program is the Korea Photonics Technology Institute (KOPTI). KOPTI is well-equipped with 360,000 square feet of laboratory space, $70 million in equipment and facilities, and a Telcordia qualification lab to support Korean researchers and companies. In addition, KOPTI’s new proposal for a sub-system FAB Line Program, approved by the government, will fill a gap between new business start-ups and venture capitalists by supporting prototyping, pilot production, and marketing. KOPTI hopes that this new program will bring leading photonics companies to the photonics cluster city of Gwangju.

“Anyone in the world with a new breakthrough technology concept, talents, and team is welcome to Gwangju,” said Taeil Kim, the president of KOPTI. “We established KOPTI in April 2001 as a research institute dedicated to the development of photonics technology and industry in Korea. KOPTI guides the Korean photonics industry to opportunities to create value by industrializing basic and applied technologies, building an advanced technology infrastructure, and implementing a comprehensive industrial support system.”

“This is an exceptional opportunity for our company and the industry,” stated Shores, commenting on the agreement. “This global initiative fits TXP’s core competencies in quick-turn prototyping, product development, and assembly services for the photonics and optoelectronics industries and our focus on global supply chain deliverables. We plan to accelerate our participation in this initiative. As a member of the advisory board for Gwangju Photonics Cluster, I have seen the dedication and efforts made by the Gwangju government to become a leading photonics technology center.”

Gwangju, which means “the city of light,” is the industrial and logistics hub of the southwestern coastal area of Korea, bordering China. It has focused on fostering value-added and knowledge-based emerging growth industries such as photonics, high-tech parts and materials, design, solar energy, and the environment. The photonics industry in particular is a core industry. It is expected that Gwangju will be one of the world-class cities for photonics technology by 2010. Gwangju covers an area of 501 km2 and has a population of 1.40 million.