FORM OF 6% SUBORDINATED NOTE

Exhibit 10.8

[Form of 6% Subordinated Note due May 1, 2001]

THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS
AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES ACT"). THE HOLDER HEREOF, BY PURCHASING THE
SECURITY, AGREES FOR THE BENEFIT OF EMCORE CORPORATION (THE "COMPANY) THAT
THIS SECURITY MAY BE RESOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED ONLY: (1) TO THE
COMPANY (UPON REPURCHASE THEREOF OR OTHERWISE), (2) SO LONG AS THIS SECURITY
IS ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A, TO A PERSON WHOM THE SELLER
REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER WITHIN THE MEANING OF
RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, PURCHASING FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE
ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER TO WHOM NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT THE
RESALE, PLEDGE OR OTHER TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN RELIANCE ON RULE 144A, (3)
IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE MEANING OF REGULATION S
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, PROVIDED THAT THERE ARE NO DIRECTED SELLING EFFORTS
IN THE UNITED STATES AND OTHER ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS OF REGULATION S FOR
RESALE HAVE BEEN SATISFIED, (4) PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION IN
ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 144 (IF AVAILABLE) UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (5) IN
RELIANCE ON ANOTHER EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE
SECURITIES ACT, AND SUBJECT TO THE RECEIPT BY THE COMPANY OF AN OPINION OF
COUNSEL TO THE EFFECT THAT SUCH TRANSFER DOES NOT REQUIRE REGISTRATION UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT, OR (6) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, IN EACH CASE IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE
SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES.

THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED FOR 120 DAYS FOLLOWING AN INITIAL PUBLIC
OFFERING OF SECURITIES OF THE COMPANY.

No. N-002 $__________

EMCORE CORPORATION
Somerset, New Jersey

6% Subordinated Note
Due May 1, 2001
Issue Date: May 1, 1996


EMCORE Corporation, a New Jersey Corporation (the "Corporation"), for value
received, promises to pay to __________ or registered assigns, the sum of
___________________ Dollars ($__________) on May 1, 2001 upon presentation and
surrender of this Note at the office of the Corporation in Somerset, New
Jersey, and to pay interest at the rate of six percent (6%) per annum semi-
annually on the first day of November and May of each year, computed from the
Issue Date, until payment of the principal amount of this Note has been made.
Payment of principal and interest shall be made at the offices of the
Corporation, in lawful money of the United States of America, and shall be
mailed to the registered owner or owners hereof at the address appearing on
the books of the Corporation.

1. The Note. This Note is one of a duly authorized issue of $9,500,000



of notes of the Corporation designated as its 6% Subordinated Notes due May 1,
2001 (the "Notes"), all of like date, tenor and maturity, except variations
necessary to express the amount and payee of each note and except for the
Issue Date.

2. Equal Rank. All notes of this issue and series rank equally and
ratably without priority over one another.

3. Redemption. The Notes may be redeemed in whole or in part at the
option of the Corporation at any time at a redemption payment equal to 100% of
the outstanding principal amount of the Note plus interest accrued to the date
of redemption. In the event of a partial redemption, Notes shall be redeemed
ratably from each holder thereof. The Corporation shall give notice by mail
of any redemption at least 20 business days before the date of redemption.

4. Redemption of Notes at Option of Holders Upon a Change in Control.
In the event of a Change in Control (as defined below), the holder hereof
will have the option to require the Corporation to purchase all or any part of
this Note on a date that is 40 business days after the occurrence of such
Change in Control (the "Change in Control Purchase Date") for a purchase price
equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued interest to the
Change in Control Purchase Date, unless such control was acquired pursuant to
a waiver by the Board of Directors of this provision. The Corporation
covenants that, prior to the mailing of the notice to holders of Notes (the
"Holders") provided for below, but in any event within 30 days following any
Change in Control, the Corporation shall (i) repay in full all Senior
Indebtedness (as defined below) or (ii) obtain the requisite consent under the
Corporation's Senior Indebtedness to permit the repurchase of the Notes
pursuant to this covenant and a failure to comply with the covenant of the
preceding sentence despite good faith efforts shall not constitute a default
hereunder. The Corporation shall first comply with the covenant in the
preceding sentence before it shall be required to repurchase the Notes
pursuant to this covenant. Within 10 days after any Change in Control
requiring the Corporation to deliver the notice to Holders provided for below,
the Corporation shall so notify the Holders of Senior Indebtedness.

Within 20 business days after the occurrence of the Change in Control,
the Corporation shall mail to each Holder or cause to be mailed a written
notice of the Change in Control, setting forth, among other things, the terms
and conditions of, and the procedures required for exercise of, the Holder's
right to require the purchase of such Holder's Notes.

To exercise the purchase right, a Holder must deliver written notice of
such exercise to the Corporation at any time prior to the close of business on
the Change in Control Purchase Date, specifying the Notes with respect to
which the right of purchase is being exercised. Such notice of exercise may
be withdrawn by the Holder by a written notice of withdrawal delivered to the
Corporation at any time prior to the close of business on the Change in
Control Purchase Date.

A "Change in Control" shall be deemed to have occurred at such time after
the original issuance of the Notes as there shall occur the acquisition by any
Person (including any syndicate or group deemed to be a "person" under Section
13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or
any successor provision to either of the foregoing) of beneficial ownership,
directly or indirectly, through a purchase, merger or other acquisition
transaction or series of transactions, through proxies or otherwise, of shares
of capital stock of the Corporation entitling such Person to (a) exercise 50%
or more of the total voting power of all shares of capital stock of the



Corporation entitled to vote generally in elections of directors; or (b) elect
a majority of the members of the Corporation's Board of Directors pursuant to
a proxy contest or otherwise (other than Jesup & Lamont Merchant Partners,
L.L.C.). A change in control effected by a waiver of the Board of Directors
shall not trigger this redemption feature.
5. Subordination. This Note is subordinate and junior in right of
payment to all existing and future Senior Indebtedness of the Corporation,
whether outstanding on the date hereof or thereafter created, incurred,
assumed or guaranteed. Upon any payments or distribution of assets of the
Corporation in any dissolution winding-up, liquidation or reorganization of
the Corporation (whether in an insolvency or bankruptcy proceeding or
otherwise), payment in full (including principal thereof, interest thereon and
fees and expenses relating thereto) on such Senior Indebtedness shall occur
prior to any payment or distribution being made with respect to the Notes.
Upon the happening and during the continuance of a payment Event of Default
under any Senior Indebtedness, no payment may be made by the Corporation on or
in respect of the Notes. Upon the happening and during the continuance of a
non-payment Event of Default under any Senior Indebtedness and following
receipt by the Corporation of notice from such holder(s) of Senior
Indebtedness, no payment may be made on the Notes for a period of up to 179
days during any consecutive 365 day period, unless such default shall be cured
or waived. No such subordination will prevent the occurrence of any Event of
Default.

"Senior Indebtedness" means (a) the principal of and premium, if any, and
interest (including, without limitation, any interest accruing subsequent to
the filing of a petition or other action concerning bankruptcy or other
similar proceedings, whether or not constituting an allowed claim in any such
proceedings) of the following, whether presently outstanding or hereafter
incurred or created: all indebtedness or obligations of the Company for money
borrowed (other than that evidenced by the Notes) or assets acquired which is
evidenced by a note, bond, or similar instrument (including a purchase money
mortgage) given in connection with the acquisition of any property or assets
(other than inventory or other similar property acquired in the ordinary
course of business) including securities; (b) all obligations constituting
bank debt; (c) all obligations of the Corporation:

(i) for the reimbursement of any obligor on any letter of credit banker's
acceptance or similar credit transaction, (ii) Under interest rate swaps,
caps, collars, options and similar arrangements, and (iii) under any foreign
exchange contract, currency swap agreement, futures contract, currency option
contract or other foreign currency hedge; (d) all obligations for the payment
of money relating to a capitalized lease obligation, (e) any liabilities of
others described in the preceding clauses (a), (b), (c), and (d) which the
Corporation has guaranteed or which are otherwise its legal liability; and (f)
renewals, extensions, refundings, restructurings, amendments and modifications
of any such indebtedness or guarantee. Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary, Senior indebtedness shall not include (y) any indebtedness of the
Corporation to a subsidiary except to the extent any such indebtedness is
pledged by such subsidiary as security for any bank debt, or (z) any
indebtedness or guarantee of the Corporation which by its terms or the terms
of the instrument creating or evidencing it is not superior in right of
payment of the Notes.

6. Amendments to the Note. All terms and provisions of this Note may
be amended by the Holders of 51% of the aggregate principal amount of all
Notes of this class outstanding on the date of the amendment.



7. Default. If any of the following, events occur ("Event of
Default"), the entire unpaid principal amount of, and accrued and unpaid
interest on, this Note shall immediately be due and payable.

a) The Corporation falls to pay any interest on this Note when it is
due and payable, and the failure continues for a period of 30 days;
b) The Corporation fails to pay the principal of this Note at its
maturity;

c) The Corporation commences any voluntary proceeding under any
bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, insolvency, readjustment of
debt, receivership, dissolution, or liquidation law or statute, of
any jurisdiction, whether now or subsequently in effect; or the
Corporation is adjudicated insolvent or bankrupt by a court of
competent jurisdiction; or the Corporation petitions or applies for,
acquiesces in, or consents to, the appointment of any receiver or
trustee of the Corporation or for all or substantially all of its
property or assets; or the Corporation makes an assignment for the
benefit of its creditors; or the Corporation admits in writing its
inability to pay its debts as they mature; or

d) There is commenced against the Corporation any proceeding relating
to the Corporation under any bankruptcy, reorganization,
arrangement, insolvency, readjustment of debt, receivership,
dissolution, or liquidation law or statute, of any jurisdiction,
whether now or subsequently in effect, and the proceeding remains
undismissed for a period of 60 days or the Corporation by any act
indicates its consent to, approval of, or acquiescence in, the
proceeding; or a receiver or trustee is appointed for the
Corporation or for all or substantially all of its property or
assets, and the receivership or trusteeship remains undischarged for
a period of 60 days; or a warrant of attachment, execution or
similar process is issued against any substantial part of the
property or assets of the Corporation, and the warrant or similar
process is not dismissed or bonded within 60 days after the levy.

8. Exchange. The holder of this Note may, at any time on or before the
date of its maturity, by surrendering this Note to the Corporation at its
office, exchange this Note and/or any other of the Notes for another note or
notes of a like principal amount and of like tenor, date and maturity.

9. Transfer. This Note may be transferred only at the office of the
Corporation by the surrender hereof for cancellation, along with a proper
instrument of transfer (with the signature guaranteed to the Corporation's
satisfaction), and upon the payment of any stamp tax or other governmental
charge connected with the transfer. If this Note is transferred, a new note
or notes of like tenor, date and maturity shall be issued to the transferee.

10. Registered owner. The Corporation may treat the person or persons
whose name or names appear hereon as the absolute owner or owners of this Note
for the purpose of receiving payment of, or on account of, the principal and
interest due on this Note and for all other purposes, and it shall not be
affected by any notice to the contrary.

11. Corporate obligation. The holder or holders of this Note shall not
have any recourse for the payment in whole or of any part of the principal or
interest on this Note against any incorporator, or present or future
stockholder of the Corporation by virtue of any law, or by the enforcement of



any assessment, or otherwise, or against any officer or director of the
Corporation by reason of any matter prior to the delivery of this Note, or
against any present or future officer or director of the Corporation. The
holder of this Note, by the acceptance hereof and as a part of the
consideration for this Note, expressly agrees that the Note is an obligation
solely of the Corporation and expressly releases all claims and waives all
liability against the foregoing persons in connection with this Note.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has signed and sealed this 6% Note
due May 1, 2001, this ___ day of May, 1996.

EMCORE CORPORATION


By:______________________________
Norman E. Schumaker, President

Corporate Seal

By:______________________________
Thomas G. Werthan, Secretary