Partnerships between universities and industry
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The growth of nanoscience and nanotechnology depends heavily on researchers within the university community. It is here that chemists, physicists, biologists, engineers, and social scientists are engaging in the most cutting-edge nano-related research, holding many promises—from disease-fighting to immense economic opportunities. However, nanotechnological research requires significant funding. While universities often look to federal sources, they also partner with private corporations for financial support and research opportunities. To corporations, universities are ideal business partners as technological innovators and ‘incubators’. Partnering up with the right lab can help a company develop a real-world application of scientific knowledge, creating significant financial opportunities. For example, one of the largest information technology companies in the world has developed partnership programs at various universities—Cornell, Stanford, Gallaudet, UNC-Chapel Hill, UW-Madison, U Mass-Amherst, and UT-Austin, among others. Some of their recent links with universities are based specifically on developing nanotechnology research. In September 2005, IBM and Applied Materials joined forces with a nanotechnology center at the University at Albany (SUNY) to create a five-year, $300 million program. Companies such as Lucent Technologies, Hewlett-Packard, Samsung and Siemens have taken similar paths. In other cases, private spinoffs from university research centers specialize in commercializing a specific kind of nanotechnology. These partnerships require significant negotiation and consideration. Researchers must conform to the rules and processes of their universities in addition to meeting the needs of their industry partners. For example, companies may have an interest in keeping findings confidential because of economic competition, while researchers have an interest in presenting and publishing findings for the advancement of science. In the case of spinoffs, potential conflicts of interest must be managed. |
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