Collaborations Drive Technological Progress
Published Apr 15, 2005
Dr. Om Nalamasu is director of the newly formed Future Energy Systems Center for Advanced Technology.
Consider the frightening dilemma of shrinking energy resources – one of the greatest challenges facing the United States and the world. It just made sense to call a power meeting of some of the region’s top minds in energy research.
That meeting came in spring 2004 with representatives of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Cornell University and Brookhaven National Laboratory. The result was creation of the Future Energy Systems Center for Advanced Technology, a partnership designed to meet 21st century energy challenges by focusing on smart lighting, smart displays, hydrogen fuel cells and emerging renewable energy systems. The collaboration was ignited in June 2004 with a $10 million award announced by New York Gov. George Pataki, who has set an aggressive goal of meeting 20 percent of the state’s energy needs through renewable energy sources by 2010.
“Energy is the No. 1 problem facing humanity as we go forward,” says Rensselaer’s Dr. Om Nalamasu, director of the new center. “This is a natural partnership because each one of us brings unique strengths to the table. … We are coming together to look at energy holistically.”
Such is the basis for the growing number of partnerships among companies, research institutions and universities teaming up for progress and growth throughout Tech Valley and the world.
Albany NanoTech is the king of collaborators, working with more than 100 companies and other entities worldwide to provide technology development and commercialization support for products with the potential to revolutionize society. Its partners represent the entire food chain of companies in the semiconductor industry, including advanced device fabricators and suppliers of primary equipment, components, materials and chemicals. Among them: IBM, Infineon, General Electric, Advanced Micro Devices and Tokyo Electron.
“Companies are drawn to Albany NanoTech because of its unique capabilities in terms of scientific know-how, state-of-the-art facilities and tools, educational programs and leveraging potential,” says Dr. Alain Kaloyeros, executive director of Albany NanoTech, located at the University at Albany-SUNY. “The result … is both an advancement of nanotechnology research and commercialization, and the further establishment of Tech Valley and New York as a center [for such technology.]”
Among projects in the works are a new partnership with Infineon and Genus to develop nanoscale computer chip technology, an alliance with NanoQuebec in nanotech research and a partnership with Rensselaer and Benet Laboratories to create the Center for Nanomaterials & Nanocoatings.
Bill Elder, chairman and CEO of Genus Inc. in Sunnyvale, Calif., says companies like his cannot develop advanced semiconductor manufacturing processes alone.
“You must partner with semiconductor leaders such as Infineon and combine that with the Albany NanoTech resources, and then you have a winning combination,” says Elder.
Among Albany NanoTech’s resources are nearly 500,000 square feet of facilities including 65,000 square feet of Class 1 capable 300mm wafer cleanrooms that are among the finest in the world. It recently acquired the world’s first 193nm immersion lithography tool – critical for next-generation technology in the semiconductor industry.
“This pooling of resources is essential to supporting state-of-the-art research and development, which would otherwise be cost-prohibitive,” says Kaloyeros.
The Quebec-New York Corridor Coalition is facilitating collaborations between New York and Canada. In addition to the Albany NanoTech-NanoQuebec work, border-busting partnerships are happening in photonics, high-speed communications, maritime security and venture capital.
“Like Tech Valley, Quebec is a major center of technology research and enterprise, and the deepening connections hold added promise for Tech Valley’s future,” says Garry Douglas, president and CEO of the Plattsburgh-North Country Chamber of Commerce.
Story by Marta W. Aldrich
Photo by Stephen Cherry
Current Weather Conditions In Albany, NY (12205)
Partly Cloudy, and 11 ° F. For more details?
Click here...
