About Us
The Arizona Nanotechnology Cluster, an Arizona not-for-profit organization, was formed in January 2003 to share and promote technological advances in the fast-growing field of Nanotechnology. Our membership includes an active group of interested engineers (electrical, mechanical, and chemical), scientists (medical and materials), and business people from both industry and academia.
Nanotechnology: the Science of the Small In general terms, Nanotechnology involves research and development of extremely small components and structures, and transcends many disciplines. Semiconductor firms, for example, have process geometries approaching 65 nanometers and require intense research and development to produce high-quality integrated circuits at those extremely small dimensions. Each reduction in semiconductor process size requires extensive re-tooling to produce circuits with reliable yields. Arizona has an enviable roster of world-class university programs, including those at the University of Arizona and Arizona State University, and industrial organizations, including Intel, Motorola, Microchip, Texas Instruments, ST Micro, and others, that are working to move this high-growth field forward. In GFY03, the US Federal Government appropriated $850 million for support of specific research efforts, and further investment is anticipated. Arizona actively promotes its capabilities at the Federal level to obtain its share of this funding.
Arizona is Rich in Resources
Arizona's strength in semiconductors powerfully positions the state for research and development in nanoelectronics and photonics. Arizona is first in shipments of silicon, and the Grand Canyon State is third in the number of semiconductor engineers and scientists. Among the Arizona corporations that incorporate nanoelectronics are Intel, Motorola, Raytheon, STMicroelectronics, and Texas Instruments. Materials and Electrochemical Research Corporation is devoted to high-technology materials and electrochemical research and development with emphasis on advanced composites, coatings, fullerenes/nanotubes, and near net shape metals/alloys, as well as energy conversion systems that include batteries, fuel cells, and gas storage. Fullerene International Corporation combines the capabilities of partners (Mitsubishi Corporation, Materials and Electrochemical Research Corporation, and Research Corporation Technologies) in a joint venture to commercialize fullerene materials.
The State's Universities are Our Partners
Arizona's research universities are also key contributors to the Nanotechnology Cluster. Arizona State University's Nanostructures Research Group and three departments within the newly established Biodesign Institute and the University of Arizona's Advanced Microsystems Laboratory and Microelectronics Design and Test Laboratory are among the state's world-class research institutions with a focus on nanoelectronics and photonics.
The University of Arizona Biomedical Engineering Program conducts innovative research in bio-nanotechnology, protein nano-arrays, bio-micro-electromechanical systems, and microsensors. Supported by Arizona's Technology & Research Initiative Funding, UA's Optical Sciences Center conducts research in nanobiotechnology, photonic crystals, nano-imaging, and nanoscale data storage. Biotechnology Imaging Facilities (University of Arizona, Arizona Research Laboratories, Division of Biotechnology) provide investigators (from the university, state agencies, and the private sector) access to key high-quality, cost-effective, state-of-the-art imaging technologies. The University of Arizona Micro/Nano Fabrication Center is a superb resource not only for university research, but also for assisting companies with services and research.
Meetings
Meetings of the Arizona Nanotechnology Cluster include informative talks and lively networking opportunities. These talks are held in Tucson at the University of Arizona and in Phoenix at Arizona State University, schedule to be determined.
Our Cluster's announcement-only email list carries advance notices of all of our meetings and selected other local events of interest to our members. Anyone may subscribe to this email list or browse its archives, and you can easily unsubscribe at any time. (To keep email traffic low and on-topic, only a few board members have posting and moderation authority.)