Governor Rendell Announces $11 Million Investment in Nanotechnology Initiatives

Governor Edward G. Rendell today said the commonwealth will invest $11.1 million to support Pennsylvania's world-renowned scientists and researchers as they continue to advance nanotechnology and engineering research.

The Governor said the Ben Franklin Technology Development Authority approved the allocation from its university program to support the Pennsylvania Initiative for Nanotechnology and related projects.

"Nanotechnology is the stuff of science fiction turned reality," said Governor Rendell. "And many of the most exciting developments in this quickly advancing field are happening right here in Pennsylvania. Working on the atomic scale, this technology holds promise and practical applications in every industry, from medical treatment to manufacturing.

"Today, we're announcing a major investment in this emerging field so that future advances made in Pennsylvania bring about new opportunities for the high-tech sector and advanced technology companies. By leveraging Pennsylvania's existing strengths in research, and our corporate and economic assets, the state is well positioned to play a leading role in an area with tremendous promise."

Nanotechnology involves research and technology development at the atomic, molecular or macromolecular levels. Researchers work to develop new technologies in industries such as biopharmaceuticals, therapeutics, advanced materials, agriculture, chemicals, electronics, energy, defense and transportation.

Pennsylvania launched the Pennsylvania Initiative for Nanotechnology to demonstrate its leadership and commitment to this emerging technology. With over $63 million in support to build-out facilities and jump-start nanotechnology related programs, this investment has leveraged more than $70 million in federal funding for a total investment of $133 million.

The announcement was made today on the campus of Lehigh University by Department of Community and Economic Development Secretary Dennis Yablonsky.

"Nanotech is not only a Silicon Valley phenomenon," said Yablonsky. "Pennsylvania is emerging as a nanotech leader, with important research, development and industrial initiatives already underway. We have the scientific star power, infrastructure and financial support to create new opportunities and capitalize the findings of our cutting-edge universities and companies."

The Ben Franklin Technology Development Authority is a state-funded network dedicated to fostering technological innovation, strengthening the commonwealth's economy, and creating and retaining good-paying jobs that require advanced skills. It also provides funding for a host of technology initiatives and supports four Ben Franklin Technology Partners throughout Pennsylvania that identify the most promising ventures and provide them with technical assistance and capital.

The BFTDA approved the following funding:

The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education received $113,000 to further develop, test and implement interdisciplinary nanotechnology modules in upper-division science courses for students who have completed the Nanofabrication Manufacturing Technology (NMT) Capstone Semester at Penn State, and in lower-division courses to stimulate student interest in nanotechnology education and research.

Allegheny County

Pennsylvania NanoMaterials Commercialization Center received $1 million to establish a program for supporting the commercialization of promising nanomaterials research for new products and manufacturing processes. The Center will achieve these objectives through creating partnerships between researchers, entrepreneurs, and established companies to commercialize promising nanomaterials research.

Centre County

The Pennsylvania State University received $2.6 million for the NMT Partnership. The partnership is developing, piloting, and refining hands-on nanotechnology learning activities, or kits, that can be delivered in secondary schools, and undergraduate institutions, and company locations or other sites across the state via remote access to the new teaching clean room at Penn State.

PSU also received $2.5 million for its Nanotech Research and Commercialization Project. The Nanotech R&C will used $1,660,000 to support pioneering research on chemical nanofabrication and molecular nanotechnology. Of this, $660,000 will be used to meet the state's commitment to provide matching funds to support the Penn State MRSEC. The remaining $1 million will be used to support acquisition and installation of chemical nanofabrication and molecular nanotechnology research equipment and instrumentation.

Northampton County

Lehigh University received $900,000 for the Materials Research Science and Engineering Centers. Under this program Lehigh and Carnegie Mellon University have developed a strong infrastructure in nanocharacterization, with major enhancements to programs and facilities that support interdisciplinary research and interactions with large and small companies across the commonwealth.

Lehigh University also received $500,000 for Nanophotonics which will support initiatives in nanophotonics technology at Lehigh that will include both research and enhancements in industrial and educational outreach programs. Lehigh will use this funding to support their infrastructure in optical and optoelectronic technologies, advanced optical, electronic and optoelectronic materials, and a host of related advanced nanocharacterization and nanotechnologies.

Philadelphia County

The Ben Franklin Technology Partners of SEPA received $3.5 million for the Nanotechnology Institute. The goal of the Nanotechnology Institute is the commercialization of life-sciences targeted, nanotechnology-based, or nanotechnology-enabled, products as a basis for sustained economic development in Southeastern PA and the Commonwealth. The target of the program is industry: startups, small and medium enterprises, and large corporations.