Research New York :: Center of Excellence in Nanoelectronics

University at Albany Center of Excellence in Nanotechnology

"With nanotechnology, we're witnessing the next great evolution in science. To sustain innovation in our labs, we must also be innovative in our approach."

DR. ALAIN E. KALOYEROS
Executive Director, Center of Excellence in Nanoelectronics

Learn more about Albany NanoTech's ongoing projects in

Spintronics
Renewable Energy and Alternative Power
Strained Silicon
Quantum Microscopy
Nano-Mechanical Systems (NEMS)

Visit the University at Albany Center of Excellence in Nanoelectronics Web Site

The Wonder of Small

SUNY Marries Academic Research with Corporate R&D to Create a Nanotechnology Juggernaut
According to nanoscience physicist Greg Denbeaux, when University at Albany's College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering (CNSE) lured him away from the prestigious Lawrence Berkley National Laboratories, they made him an offer he says he couldn't refuse - the opportunity to work at Albany NanoTech.

"I just couldn't believe the facility," recalls Denbeaux, of the 450,000 square foot complex. "The right tools are critical to my research, and every type of tool I could ever want to use was here. There was also a real spirit of innovation in the air. I just knew this was the place where I should be."

Just over six years ago, the seed for the complex now known as Albany NanoTech was planted when University at Albany was selected to partner with MIT, Georgia Tech, and Stanford in the national consortium known as the Interconnect Focus Center. Today, it is the largest and most state-of-the-art academic complex in the world for nanotechnology research.

Nanotechnology pertains to the science of managing matter at the atomic level. Building on the thin film research know-how at UAlbany, Albany NanoTech built a reputation as a hub for innovation in nanoelectronics research, attracting major innovators such as IBM, GE, AMD, and Infineon as tenants.

"A major catalyst to the research vitality of Albany NanoTech is the cross pollination between the academy and industry," said Alain E. Kaloyeros, Ph.D., professor of nanoscience who helped develop and implement the Albany NanoTech initiative, with the strong support from Governor George Pataki, Speaker Sheldon Silver, and Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno.

Central to the research mission of Albany NanoTech has been a commitment to bringing technology to fruition, with the intent of advancing science, disseminating knowledge, and educating the workforce, while simultaneously assisting the state's and nation's economic development initiatives. Albany NanoTech/CNSE scientists have ongoing projects in spintronics, renewable energy and alternative power, strained silicon, quantum microscopy and NEMS. Such cutting edge research helped Albany NanoTech get selected to be the northeast research center for International SEMATECH, the powerful international consortia of global semiconductor companies.

But exactly how did Albany NanoTech go from a germ of an idea in the University at Albany professor to the envy of some of the nation's most illustrious research universities? According to the faculty, the answer also lies in the innovative structure of CNSE which fosters greater cross-disciplinary collaboration.

"To sustain innovation in our labs, we must also be innovative in our approach," said Kaloyeros.