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Department of Defense Awards $10 Million
Contract to Engineering
By Bryan Daniels
Groundbreaking nanotechnology research has
helped the International Center for Nano/Micro Systems and Nanotechnology
at the University of Missouri-Columbia secure its second U.S.
defense-related contract in less than a year.
During the next five years, MU's College
of Engineering will partner with the Picatinny Arsenal, a
military installation in New Jersey, to produce numerous devices
that could help improve military capabilities. Under the supervision
of Shubhra Gangopadhyay, an electrical and computer engineering
professor, MU will receive up to $10 million for research and
development efforts in the emerging field that works with microscopic
particles the size of atoms.
In July, MU received a $3.5 million, two-year
contract to build miniature devices to enhance the performance
of U.S. Army weapons systems.
Both partnerships are the result of significant
support from U.S. Senator Kit Bond.
“I am honored to have helped fund such
important research,” Bond said. “This partnership
will help provide our troops the technology and equipment they
need to fight an ever-changing enemy in the war on terror.”
Gangopadhyay, who heads the center, said the
primary focus of the newest project is to develop alternative
energy sources and sensors that will detect biological and chemical
weapons. By design, her devices, which combine microchip-based
technology and nanotechnology to generate a powerful reaction
with millions of shockwaves, also can be used for health and medical
applications.
“We are really excited about this opportunity,”
Gangopadhyay said. “Some breakthrough technologies will
result from this unique partnership, and they will have implications
far beyond use by the Department of Defense.”
Mark Mezger, nanotechnologies program coordinator
at Picatinny, said such partnerships are vital to the success
and viability of the Department of Defense. He said government
downsizing and decreases in research and development budgets now
require collaborative efforts with academic researchers. He said
Gangopadhyay's contributions will benefit all branches of the
military and could eventually be used by private sector businesses.
“The military needs technology,”
Mezger said. “Research and development budgets aren't growing.
How do we acquire technology? If we don't have the ability ourselves,
we have to find ways. Universities are developing technologies
that we can use. With Missouri, we said let's partner and build
a program.”
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Last Update:
March 12, 2007
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