Chris,

My humble opinion is that it is partner validation that the OI and optical engine are indeed the game-changer tech that they are looking for...

Why is that? POET's top management are not the typical venture company execs, they aren't the "Wolf of wall street" type.  Suresh got vindicated before when saying "up to the right", "hockey stick" or other small "pumping" words like that. Therefore they are cautious and focused on delivering a real and disruptive product to the market.

Time, more time, always more time... Disruption as a cost that is often measured in time...