The Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development has awarded Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pa., $15 million for its Center for Optical Technologies. The center, which also has received a comparable investment from the university and a gift from an alumnus to endow its chair, will promote research and commercialization of optical technologies and will train students for related industries.The center was launched in January 2001 with a $1 million state grant, $1 million from the US Army and $2.5 million from the federal government. It is a partnership that includes Pennsylvania State University, Northampton and Lehigh Carbon community colleges, and Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania.