oct 07 update

Cookson Electronics, a global leader in development, manufacturing and sales of materials used in electronic assembly processes, would soon be moving into its newly built research centre in Bangalore.

The 32,000-sq ft facility was an integral part of Cookson's global research commitment, which consists of scientific exploration in four research and development centers located in USA, Japan, Singapore and India, said CEO Steven Corbett.

Cookson Electronics had been the first in the industry to establish an R&D facility in India in the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) campus in Bangalore in 2004. Despite the re-location of the centre, the company will continue its association with IISc.

The new R&D centre had been set up with an investment of $10 million.

Cookson Electronics facility in India caters to all major electronic materials manufacturers involved in the country's prominent sectors such as telecom, consumer electronics, power, semi-conductor and alike. The company will be focusing on semiconductor and nanotechnology in future.

Cookson Electronics has earned $3 billion revenues in 2006 and $1 billion from Electronics division.

CoorsTek Building Ceramics Facility

CoorsTek recently broke ground on their newest technical ceramics manufacturing facility in South Korea. Significant increases in demand for high-purity and other specialty ceramics, primarily for the semiconductor manufacturing and flat-panel display industries, fueled the additional facility.

The new facility, located in Gumi City, Korea, will be more than three times larger than their current location in Kyungbook to accommodate the continued growth expected in the sector. With nearby customers like Samsung, LG Phillips LCD, Hynix, and Magnachip Semiconductor, CoorsTek expects to offer enhanced customer interaction, higher regionally-built content, and improved service levels.

Atmel to Sell U.K. Manufacturing Facility, Wafer Fabrication Equipment for $124 Million

Atmel Corp., an electronics components maker, said Monday it agreed to sell its manufacturing facility in North Tyneside, U.K., and its wafer fabrication equipment there in separate deals for $124 million in cash.

Atmel will sell the land associated with the facility to Highbridge Business Park Ltd. and will sell its eight-inch wafer fabrication equipment there to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd. Atmel had previously said it would sell the facility as part of its restructuring plan to lower costs, accelerate growth and raise profit.

The company said it will continue to make products at the facility into the first quarter of 2008. After that, Atmel said production will be transferred to manufacturing facilities in Colorado Springs, Colo. and Rousset, France as well as to external foundries. Atmel said it will record a gain of up to $40 million which will be offset by related restructuring costs of up to $50 million.

Atmel shares rose 6 cents to close at $5.18.

NLight Buys Finnish Company

NLight Corp., a privately held semiconductor laser manufacturer, has acquired a Finnish maker of specialty optical fiber.

Vancouver-headquartered NLight did not disclose the purchase price for Liekki Corp., based in Lohja, Finland. NLight will retain some, but not all, of Liekki's employees, who now number around 30. After the acquisition, NLight, which now employs about 270 people, will have more than 300 employees between its headquarters and manufacturing operation in Vancouver, its newer manufacturing facility in Hillsboro and its newly acquired Finland group.

Adding Liekki's technology will give NLight the ability to make new products, by combining its semiconductor laser devices with Liekki's specialty optical fibers to make fiber lasers.

The new optical modules NLight plans to manufacture will be brighter and more intense, and the flexible fiber will allow NLight to sell modules for uses it can't supply now, including minimally invasive surgery and robotic automotive manufacturing functions, such as heating and welding discrete parts.

NLight was recently recognized by Deloitte as one of the fastest growing private companies in the Northwest. The company has grown an average of 70 percent per year over the past five years, said Keeney. Revenue is less than $50 million.

Picatinny Arsenal Starts $200 Million Research Campus

Construction is expected to begin on a research and office campus at Picatinny Arsenal, a project the Army predicts will save it money and bring new ideas and hundreds of private-sector jobs to the base.

Advance Realty Group of Bedminster will break ground on the beginning of the Picatinny Applied Research Campus at the post in Rockaway Township.

When complete, the $200 million PARC could include up to 1 million square feet of offices, laboratories and light-manufacturing facilities at Picatinny and create hundreds of jobs over the next decade, say those involved.

Its tenants would be limited to companies and university researchers who complement the arsenal's work designing and testing weapons.

The Army's goal is to make use of the surplus land and buildings at the 6,500-acre base and create partnerships with private industry, while also defraying Picatinny's operating costs.

The deal also indirectly makes money for the base. Under a revenue-sharing agreement with Advance Realty, Picatinny ultimately could reap $500 million in services during the 50-year deal.

The money would not go directly to the Army but instead flow to a nonprofit group set up to oversee PARC. That company, InSitech, will manage the project and guide the relationships between private industry and the Army.

InSitech's goal is to transfer Picatinny's ideas and products to private companies and to bring in technologies that the Army needs.

Although Picatinny develops guns and bullets for the military, the base's work often has applications in the private sector, in areas such as homeland security, electronics, even medicine.

InSitech and its contractors, in turn, will provide maintenance and construction services at the base, such as paving roads, repairing facilities and even building new ones, said Timothy Teen, InSitech's chief executive officer. That work should help defray part of the post's annual $78 million operating expenses.

In its first phase, Advance will knock down three old lab buildings in the heart of Picatinny and construct three facilities totaling 100,000 square feet. Advance Realty will pay $1.7 million to lease that land from Picatinny, Banashefski said.

The developer said it is in discussions with tenants for the first building, which is expected to open in late spring.

When that is complete and leased, Advance Realty expects to build the next two facilities. The agreement with Picatinny calls for future construction of up to 900,000 square feet on 120 acres on the base's southern end.

IISc Gets Money for Nanotech Lab

The IISc received a Rs 110-crore grant for a state-of-the-art nano-laboratory. The facility is expected to be ready in about 14 months. While the ministry of communication and information technology (MCIT) has given Rs 50 crore, the department of science and technology (DST) has chipped in with Rs 20 crore. IISc has mobilized around Rs 40 crore from the five-year plan allocation.

MCIT is the largest sponsor of nano-research projects in the country. As per its focus, this facility will have not only a central fabrication unit, but small labs to make micro- and nano-electronic devices. The central unit will house a cleanroom over 1400 sqm. (15,064 sq. ft.)

The plan includes characterization labs, which will meet the needs of material science, electronic, mechanical and electrical departments. DST will be involved in both electronics and nano engineering sciences given the new initiative launched by the ministry of science and technology. The ministry will set up almost 14 labs in universities, although its major focus will be IISc.

IISc plans to mobilize an additional Rs 20 crore to speed up construction of these labs. A proposal with the DST is expected to be approved soon. The IISc facility will offer doctoral programs in "nano-engineering for integrated systems", which will allow students to work in at least three to four disciplines. Plans are afoot to create a fund to offer fellowships in nano-engineering to encourage more students to take up basic research.

The funding received by IISc so far will enable it to have fabrication equipment comparable to labs in the West. The UK has taken a great lead in fabrication of nano devices which are finding applications in electronic and mechanical sectors. The IISc nano centre too is set to take up production of devices that will have everyday applications.

Nokia to Discontinue In-House Mobile Chip Development

Nokia Corp. is discontinuing in-house chip development for cellphones and is planning to use more devices from outside sources.

The Finnish mobile phone maker said that it wants to focus on its core competencies, which include development of protocol stack software and modem technology. Nokia said that the change in strategy will foster competition in the global chipset industry.

As an initial step, Nokia has struck a deal with STMicroelectronics whereby the chipmaker will take charge of as many as 200 employees in Nokia's 3G chip development group in Finland and the United Kingdom as an extension of the companies' existing collaboration in handset chips.

As a first contribution of the acquired IC design operations, Nokia said it has provided ST with a design win for an advanced 3G high-speed packet access (HSPA) chipset supporting high data rates. Nokia said Texas Instruments Inc. would continue to be a major supplier of silicon for its handsets across all protocols and also announced it had picked Broadcom Corp. as a supplier of chips for Edge phones.

Infineon Technologies AG will also play a major part in the new strategy as a supplier of chips for GSM handsets, Nokia said.

The mobile phone maker said it would continue to develop its leading modem technology, which includes protocol software and related digital design for W-CDMA/GSM and evolutionary follow-ons. It plans to license the modem technology to its chipset manufacturers, which will use the technology in the chipsets they develop and produce for Nokia and, if they so decide, in chipsets they produce for the open market.

University of Alabama and Imago Scientific Instruments Establish Center for Atom Probe Tomography

The University of Alabama and Imago Scientific Instruments announced plans to establish a new research facility for atom probe tomography.

LEAP microscopy, also known as atom-probe tomography, provides very high spatial resolution combined with compositional analysis and high sensitivity. It allows materials-research scientists to analyze specimens in three dimensions with atomic resolution, offering key insights into how a material's atomic structure affects its mechanical and electrical properties.

Acquired recently from Imago, the LEAP permits UA researchers to determine the position and type of atoms in various materials and view the structure in 3-D.

Under an agreement with Imago, which provides support of nanotechnology research across the U.S., Japan, Europe and Asia, UA and the company's researchers will work jointly on projects.

LEAP is ideal for studying semiconductors, the base materials used in manufacturing computer chips and other electronic devices.

The LEAP is the latest in a series of recent nanotechnology enhancements at UA. In 2004 and 2005, the University added to the Central Analytical Facility with two state-of-the-art instruments, a Transmission Electron Microscope and a focused ion beam. In addition, in the fall of 2006, a Transmission Electron Microscope was installed in UA's Biology Building.

Texas Area Universities Getting $10 Million from Defense Bill

Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, said that Dallas-Fort Worth will be getting $10 million for its universities as part of the 2008 Defense Appropriations Bill, if approved by Congress.

The bill was passed by the House in May. The bill was passed in the Senate Appropriations Committee Wednesday, and the full Senate is expected to consider the bill in early November.

The universities that will share in the funds are:

The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas in collaboration with the University of Texas at Dallas will get $1 million to build a cell processing lab, which will be used to conduct research into the use of nanotechnology for the treatment of cancer, HIV, organ transplant rejection and other medical conditions.
The University of North Texas' Institute for Science and Engineering Simulation will get $2.5 million to develop simulation models for the construction of military aircraft.
The University of Texas at Arlington will get $3.5 million for its Automation and Robotics Research Institute, which develops micro-manufacturing processes for high-tech military bombs, missiles, warheads and other munitions.
UT Dallas also will get $2 million to develop a test bed for micro sensors for various military, national security and border security applications.
Southern Methodist University's School of Engineering will get $1 million to develop new digital camera technologies that can be used to improve the detection of concealed weapons and ballistics on the battlefield.

Illinois Economic Development Officials Announce $190,000 in Grants to Four Chicago Area Technology Firms to Advance Commercialization Efforts

Advanced Diamond Technologies, Inc., a Romeoville-based nanotechnology company formed in December 2003 to commercialize diamond technology from Argonne National Laboratory, is receiving a $50,000 grant. This SBIR Phase I project will advance the development of foundry-quality MEMS (micro-electromechanical systems) wafers made from diamond—ushering in the era of diamond MEMS.

This project is expected to create two new jobs and retain three others. ADT, which has secured over $1 million in SBIR grants, has also received $140,000 from DCEO's Innovative Product Grant (IPG) program, the nation's first state-funded grant program focused on developing products to meet homeland security needs.

EU Biggest Public Investor in Nanotechnology

The EU is the world’s largest public investor in nanotechnology, a new report has revealed.

The European Commission invested €1.4billion to 550 projects in the field of nanosciences and nanotechnology under the EU’s 6th Research Framework Programme, representing a third of total public funding in Europe for technology.

It is the world’s largest single funding agency, according to a report focusing on the 2005 Action Plan for Nanotechnology.

Priority targets for the funding included fundamental and industrial research, human resources, nanotechnology-specific infrastructures, safety and communication.

Although there is strong industrial participation in these projects, private investment in the field remains behind that of the US and Japan.

Under the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7), European Union funding for nanotechnologies and nanosciences is expected to increase significantly. The average yearly funding is likely to be more than double that in FP6, taking into account actions across the program.

In addition, the Risk-Sharing Financing Facility established by the Commission jointly with the European Investment Bank should provide access to new funding sources.

The European Commission has also launched an open consultation on a code of conduct for responsible nanotechnology research, which may lead to a commission recommendation by the end of the year.

The European Commission is also currently undertaking a review of existing legislation to see whether the current regulatory framework appropriately addresses health, safety and environmental risks. Moreover, it has taken steps to establish an observatory to provide decision makers with dynamic assessments of scientific and market developments. Other important issues discussed in the report are the international aspects of nanotechnology development and the need to train the new generation of nano-scientists.

EU Approves €119 Million French Nanotechnology Aid

The European Commission has approved €119 million ($165 million) of French government aid to companies for research on nanotechnology and energy efficiency.

The Commission, executive arm of the European Union, signed off on €80 million for a program known as NanoSmart and €39 million for an energy program called Homes.

NanoSmart aims to improve the performance and electricity consumption of microelectronic and optoelectronic components, the Commission said. Homes will enable energy savings of around 20 percent in buildings through innovations including electricity distribution systems.

Tech Nexus Opens in Silicon Valley

A new discipline is emerging at the intersection of biotechnology, information technology, nanotechnology, and some of the new field's practitioners say the time has come to create a facility dedicated to bio-info-nano research and training.

Until recently, training opportunities were limited to university departments in each of the new discipline's three core fields. But earlier this year, the Bio-Info-Nano Research and Development Institute (BIN-RDI) opened its doors in California's Silicon Valley. The institute aims to become a regional hub for the bio-info-nano convergence community by bringing together interested biologists, chemists, physicists, and engineers. "Our goal is to be a nexus for multiple disciplines and technologies," says David Lackner, the director responsible for coordinating corporate R&D partnerships at BIN-RDI. Furthermore, the new organization is expected to provide some unique training opportunities.

Madison Start-Up Seeks to Shine at Mid-America Venture Forum

Platypus Technologies has exclusive rights to 13 patents that cover the use of liquid crystals for sensors and other detection devices. The Madison Company employs 18 people in its lab who have high-level expertise in engineering, molecular biology, physics and other disciplines.

Finishing Touches Being Applied to Lokey Lab

Underground, between the Huestis and Deschutes buildings on campus, a laboratory housing some of the most expensive and sensitive scientific equipment owned by the University is nearly complete. The lab is expected to open in the fall.

The underground location is suitable for very sensitive instruments, said John Donovan, head of the Center for Advanced Materials Characterization in Oregon. CAMCOR is in charge of designing and operating the new facility.

Bedrock in the area keeps vibrations from coming through to the laboratory. Even slight vibrations can disrupt or ruin many sensitive readings scientists take.

When excavation for the lab began, construction workers removed 12 feet of bedrock, some fossils and the original 10 feet of soil.

Despite its underground location, this lab is no dungeon. The ceilings are approximately 14 feet tall and the hallways are large and airy. The space was designed to be as open as possible while still conserving space and money. Desks and chairs will be situated in main areas, encouraging people of varying academic disciplines to converse and collaborate. When finished, the laboratory will be fully accessible to all University students.

According to these scientists, the University will reap the benefits of a consolidated, professional laboratory with open access to all. Academics, including students, professors and researchers, will be able to use accurate and extremely expensive equipment at a relatively low cost.

To compensate for this saving, commercial users will pay a much higher rate, the market value, for these services. Not only is it expensive to maintain the equipment, but the construction of the facility itself required millions of dollars.

Construction of the Lorry I. Lokey Laboratory was jointly funded by the state of Oregon through the Oregon Nanoscience and Microtechnologies Institute and by Lorry Lokey, the University donor for whom the lab is named. The total costs cap at approximately $16 million. Additional private donors also covered some of the costs.

Cornell Gets $2.9 Million for Training Grad Students in Nanoscience

Physicists, chemists, materials scientists and engineers often deal with the same problems, but they use different jargon. Talking to and collaborating with each other can be difficult, if not impossible. A new $2.9 million graduate student training program at Cornell, funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), will help bridge this problematic gap among the disciplines, in an effort to solve common problems a range of scientists face.

The grant was recently awarded by NSF's Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship (IGERT) program to the Cornell Center for Materials Research (CCMR), which will administer the new Cornell program. The aim of the IGERT grants, according to NSF, is to train the next generation of scientists and engineers.

The CCMR's IGERT fellowships will require graduate students from a variety of scientific fields to become interdisciplinary thinkers. No longer allowed to hide in their field-specific labs, the students will take weeks-long mini-courses -- "modules" held throughout the academic year -- related to the broad field of nanoscale surfaces and interfaces, taught by faculty in such different fields as chemistry and physics. Additionally, all students will gain exposure to both experimental and computational nanoscale research.

McIlvaine Company,

Northfield, IL 60093-2743

Tel: 847-784-0012; Fax: 847-784-0061;

E-mail: editor@mcilvainecompany.com;

Web site: www.mcilvainecompany.com