April 24, 2006
OFFICIALS ANNOUNCE $16 MILLION NANOTECH GRANT FOR UMASS
Amherst campus receives national award, seen as boost for economic growth
Governor Mitt Romney, House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi and Senator Edward Kennedy today announced that Massachusetts has been awarded a $16 million National Science Foundation (NSF) grant that will help to establish a state-of-the-art nanotechnology research center at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Nanotechnology is an emerging field that develops atomic level materials for a wide range of uses such as data storage, drug delivery and energy-saving technology.
A $5 million funding match is required, and Governor Romney said he will file legislation today requesting state funds for the project.
“This generous grant will help the University of Massachusetts to advance its deserved reputation as a nanotech leader and center of excellence,” said Romney. “Nanotechnology is an important part of our state’s economic future, and this center will show graduates and businesses that we are committed to this promising new field.”
“Nanotechnology provides yet another frontier for Massachusetts to explore and lead the way,” said Senator Kennedy. “The researchers at UMass have already begun this work and the creation of today’s center will create new economic opportunities for the Commonwealth and our nation.”
“This award is a victory for the Commonwealth’s flagship campus and the overall Massachusetts economy,” said Speaker DiMasi. “UMass Amherst has long been a leader in research and development and this Center will help Massachusetts lead the nation in nanotechnology.”
More than 50 UMass Amherst faculty members across eight departments currently conduct research in nanotechnology, and the university has attracted $54 million in research funds from government and industry sources since 1997. Massachusetts is also an industry hub for nanotechnology, with more than 175 firms involved in the field.
The NSF grant will allow the Center for Hierarchical Manufacturing (CHM) at UMass Amherst to begin new work in nanoscale manufacturing, bionanotechnology and nanomaterials.
“Nanotechnology is truly our next great frontier in science and engineering, and the Center for Hierarchical Manufacturing will address one of our greatest challenges — moving these innovations more quickly from the laboratory to manufactured components and devices,” said Michael Reischman, deputy assistant director for engineering at the NSF.
The CHM will develop technologies such as insulation that boosts the speed of computers and smart sensors capable of detecting minute quantities of toxic substances. Biomedical research will include the development of nanoparticles designed to target tumors in the body and new stiff gels that could serve as replacement joints.
“UMass is a leader in nanotechnology research and I congratulate the UMass Amherst team on this prestigious NSF award,” said Jack M. Wilson, President of the University of Massachusetts. “UMass is now participating in two NSF-funded nanotechnology centers, with our Lowell campus also receiving $5 million in 2004 to establish a high-rate nanomanufacturing center. UMass is committed to establishing the Commonwealth as a global leader in this important field.”
The John Adams Innovation Institute, the economic development arm of the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative, provided $2 million for the Center for Hierarchical Manufacturing.
“Massachusetts has again raised the bar for attracting federal research funding, which is critically important to growing our high tech, knowledge-based economy,” said Massachusetts Technology Collaborative Executive Director Mitchell Adams. “By making targeted investments in our university research centers, Massachusetts is making a down payment on future job growth in the innovation economy and beating out states such as California and New York in this high stakes competition for federal resources.”
One of only 16 Nanoscale Science and Engineering Centers in the United States, the CHM will become part of a nanomanufacturing network that connects government, academic and industry nanoscience and manufacturing communities nationwide.
“UMass Amherst’s emergence as one of the nation’s top nanotechnology centers rests on the skills and imagination of a superb team of faculty, students and staff,” said Amherst Chancellor John V. Lombardi. “We recognize the significance of the investment from the state, the university, private citizens, business and others in the achievement of this major scientific milestone.”
Non-profit, industry, academic and government partners will be fundamental to the success of the new nanotech center. Collaborators include TIAX, Lucent Technologies and IBM. TIAX, a Cambridge-based technology development firm, will play a critical role in transforming the innovations that emerge from the center into market-ready products and technologies.
“This project is essential because it will address the nation’s innovation backlog,” said TIAX CEO and founder Kenan Sahin. “Unquestionably, the solutions for many current problems such as the treatments for illnesses and the pathways for new businesses have already been invented, but they are waiting on the sidelines. This initiative can bring all sorts of innovations to market and spur economic growth.”
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