$150M NY Nanotech Expansion

The College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering (CNSE) of the University of Albany has officially opened the $150 million expansion at its nanotech complex. According to CNSE, the expansion will support more than $1 billion in new investments and 600 new high-tech jobs by 2013.

The opening of the NanoFab East (NFE) office and laboratory and NanoFab Central (NFC) cleanroom will add prime office, laboratory, and class 1 cleanroom space to CNSE's Albany NanoTech. With the 350,000-sq-ft expansion, the UAlbany NanoCollege now covers more than 800,000 sq ft, including 80,000 sq ft of Class 1 capable cleanroom space – by far the largest and most state-of-the-art high-tech complex at any university in the world, according to the college.

The new buildings will host cutting-edge nanoelectronics R&D programs, business deployment and commercialization outreach initiatives for a host of leading international companies, such as IBM, International Sematech, Vistec Lithography, M+W Zander, and Einhorn Yaffee Prescott (EYP) Architecture and Engineering; a number of their high-tech suppliers, contractors and service providers; and students, faculty, scientists and researchers at CNSE.

In addition, IBM announced that it will extend its R&D partnership with CNSE through 2013, by which time the company will have invested in excess of $1 billion into CNSE's Albany NanoTech Complex, helping CNSE to create and retain thousands of high-tech jobs across upstate New York.

On hand at the ribbon-cutting were Sheldon Silver, assembly speaker; Gov. David A. Paterson; Capital Region Assembly members; Dr. Alain E. Kaloyeros, senior vice president and chief executive officer of CNSE of the University at Albany; Dr. John E. Kelly III, IBM director and senior vice president; George Philip, UAlbany’s interim president; and several global technology leaders, further establishing New York State’s leadership in nanotechnology, education, R&D and commercialization.

"The continued expansion and growth of the UAlbany NanoCollege, along with New York State's recognition as a global leader in nanotechnology, is a testament to the significant investments that the New York State Assembly continues to make in this cutting-edge high-tech industry that offers promising careers, exceptional pay and benefits, and a bright future for all New Yorkers," said Silver (D-Manhattan) "Combined with the support and partnership of Governor Paterson, global technology leaders like John Kelly of IBM, Michael Polcari of Sematech and Papken Der Torossian of Vistec, and the commitment and leadership of CNSE's Alain Kaloyeros, a vibrant high-tech corridor is being created that promises substantial economic opportunity and growth across Upstate New York, and I truly believe the best is yet to come."

"This expanded facility at the College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering is an outstanding model for the broader development investments New York must continue to make in order to foster the job creation that will attract business to our state and transform the engine of our economy," Gov. Paterson said. "We know that this strategic partnership between international technology companies and top-flight researchers will yield sustained results that will maintain New York's position as a center for high-tech advancement well into the future. This formula has been proven to promote business growth which is why, along with the Legislature and our Empire State Development Corporation, we have put forward these significant resources."

The expansion is projected to enable employment growth at the UAlbany NanoCollege to more than 2800 scientists, researchers, engineers, faculty and students by 2013, while further building the critical mass of leading global technology companies that will lure additional high-tech jobs, companies and investment to the global nanotechnology hub in Albany and New York State.

The 250,000-sq-ft NFE will provide office, virtual classroom, conferencing, laboratory, and business incubation space to support the R&D, education, and technology development and deployment of CNSE and its corporate partners. NFE also serves as headquarters for International Sematech and home to the Institute for Nanoelectronics Discovery and Exploration (INDEX), a $505 million initiative that focuses on cutting-edge nanotechnology research for future generations of transistor technologies.

Meanwhile, NFC is a separate 100,000-sq-ft building that includes class 1 cleanroom space. Both buildings were constructed by M+W Zander, one of the world's foremost companies for the design and construction of high-tech buildings and cleanroom facilities for R&D, pilot manufacturing, manufacturing, and assembly and testing operations.

With the location of its headquarters at the UAlbany NanoCollege, International Sematech will create 450 new jobs, with another 4550 high-tech jobs to be created and retained across New York State within the International Sematech "ecosystem" of 500 New York partner, supplier and contractor companies, more than two-thirds of which are located outside the Capital Region.

Vistec Lithography, developer of advanced electron-beam tools critical to the future of nanotechnology, has built its most advanced R&D capabilities at CNSE's Albany NanoTech, and located its global headquarters, business operations, and manufacturing at the Watervliet Arsenal Technology Campus. Over the next five years, Vistec will invest $125 million and create 130 high-tech jobs in upstate New York.

EYP is locating its new business group, EYP/energy - including 15 EYP executives, managers, architects, designers and engineers – within NFE as part of the $3.5 million National Institute for Sustainable Energy, a leading-edge center for zero energy and sustainability research and development, business advancement, commercialization and workforce training.

The UAlbany CNSE is the first college dedicated to research, development, education, and deployment in the emerging disciplines of nanoscience, nanoengineering, nanobioscience, and nanoeconomics.

For more information, visit: www.cnse.albany.edu