ROCHESTER, N.Y., Jan. 25 -- About 25 Rochester, N.Y.-area business and organizations are attending Photonics West 2005 to promote the region as the place to be for photonics business and research, the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle newspaper (D&C) reported today. The Greater Rochester Enterprise, Infotonics Technology Center and the University of Rochester Institute of Optics are attending Photonics West. GRE and the Institute of Optics are exhibiting at the show. David Smith, president and CEO of the Infotonics Center in Canandaigua, said the trip is aimed at helping increase Rochester's nationwide profile in the field, since many have no idea of the technical talent and manufacturing talent that resides there, the article said. On Wednesday, GRE and the Rochester Regional Photonics Cluster will host a dinner for customers and potential customers of Rochester firms, it reported. More than 40 customers are expected to attend, and it's hoped a few might consider setting up shop in Rochester, Smith told the D&C. The US Council on Competitiveness recently named the Rochester region a "model innovation hot spot" for photonics and optics.