Besides medical and health care business, Rochester is equally well known for its technology sector. IBM and Pemstar are located in Rochester and each add to the quality of life and provide numerous jobs. In fact, Rochester has one of the highest concentrations of high tech industries in the nation in comparison to population and land area.

IBM Rochester, located in the northwest corner of the city, was opened in 1958 and currently employs around 5300 employees. This plant is one of IBM's most efficient and important, earning the Malcom Baldridge National Quality Award in 1990 and being the main site for production of the mid sized AS/400 and RS/6000 family of computers.

Besides producing mainframe servers, the IBM Rochester plant also is key in drive development and recently a part of the new approach IBM is taking with their Global Services division.

Other Technology Leaders

PEMSTAR is another business that makes Rochester a leader in technology. Started in the early 1990's, PEMSTAR has grown astronomically in less than 10 years expanding globally in areas like China, Mexico, and Ireland. They primarily focus on contract manufacturing, one the leading new businesses emerging from the 1990's.

Other high tech industries calling Rochester home are J.D. Edwards, SPSS, Keane, and many others. Most of the high tech sector is located in the rapidly growing northwest corner of Rochester.