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Among other things, that region of the country was a hot bed of innovation, with multiple companies big and small, maybe an early silicon (dioxide) valley. Polaroid, Kodak, and many smaller companies. University of Rochester was and is a top school for studying optics.

Polaroid was started in, and grew around Cambridge MA. It was kept alive on life support by a $1B settlement paid by Kodak for infringing their instant photo patents

They have some of the best minds in the world working for them. Their knowledge of glass, the physics of light, materials, and related manufacturing is unmatched.

Starting early. Like Zeiss, Bosch and others.