Kodak Gives $1 Million to RIT

By Zack Seward

Rochester, NY – Eastman Kodak gave $1 million to RIT on Monday.

The money will establish the Kodak Lab for Collaborative Research at RIT's Golisano Institute for Sustainability.

The collaboration opens the way for future joint projects between Kodak and RIT. Kodak officials say early efforts will focus on making the company's printing products more environmentally-friendly.

"Our printing businesses are really going to be a focus area in terms of looking at how we drive them to higher and higher levels of sustainability," said Kodak Chief Technical Officer Terry Taber. "Given RIT's experience and expertise in the printing world, it makes that first focal point very, very significant."

The $1 million grant was the last of a $15 million fund that Kodak created in 2003 to stimulate job creation in the Rochester area. Other disbursements from the fund went to the city of Rochester, Monroe County and the University of Rochester, among other other organizations.

"We believe that the Rochester region is a jewel for innovation," said Taber. "We believe that that requires investment."

"This latest partnership between Kodak and RIT is focused on improving the prospects of a sustainable world for generations to come," RIT President Bill Destler said in a written statement.