Engineering Research Centers

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Engineering Research Centers (ERC) are university-led institutions developed through the National Science Foundation (NSF) Directorate of Engineering. [1] While ERCs are initially funded by the NSF, they are expected to be self-sustaining within 10 years of being founded. The Engineering Research Centers program was originally developed in 1984 with the mission of removing disparity between academic and industrial engineering applications. In this way, engineering students would, theoretically, be better prepared to enter the engineering workforce. As a result, the United States would gain a competitive advantage over other countries. There have been three generations of Engineering Research Centers. Each of these generations has been specifically designed to meet the dynamic engineering demands of the United States. Due to the limited amount of funding available for ERCs, the program is competitive; out of 143 proposals submitted in 2008, only 5 were awarded centers. [2] [3] Commercialization of academic research is one of the primary goals of NSF ERCs. [4] [5] [6]

Contents

Generation one

The first generation of NSF ERCs began between 1985 and 1990 and encouraged academic institutions to focus education on manufacturing and commercial design. [7] This first generation comprised 18 centers.

Generation two

The National Science Foundation began funding the second generation of centers beginning in 1994 and continued until 2006. This second generation included 22 centers and was focused on manufacturing efficiency. [7] Unlike the first generation of ERCs, the second generation encouraged multi-university partnerships and also focused on developing pre-college, engineering-bound students. [7] In addition, the second generation of ERCs was designed to help academic research reach commercialization. [7] However, unlike later generations, the second generation focused on domestic programs and largely ignored the potential in global partnerships.

Generation three

Beginning in 2008, the NSF began accepting proposals for the third generation (Gen-3) of Engineering Research Centers. Gen-3 ERCs were largely created due to decreased student interest in sciences and engineering and an increasingly global economy. [7] To meet these challenges, the Gen-3 ERCs were commissioned to increase interest in innovation and unify different engineering pipelines (i.e. domestic and international institutions, academic and commercial institutions). [8] Gen-3 programs particularly focus on nanotechnology.

Partner structure

The mission of Gen-3 ERCs differs from the mission of the second generation ERCs in that Gen-3 centers embrace a global perspective. In creating the Gen-3 ERCs, the NSF recognized that streamlining existing processes is not enough to remain competitive in a global market. [7] [9] Instead, Gen-3 programs focus on also developing and globally commercializing novel engineering solutions. Like second generation ERCs, Gen-3 programs use a multi-university model and are required to include between 1 and 4 domestic partners. At least one of these partner universities must serve a large population of underrepresented groups. [7] Gen-3 programs are also required to include between 1 and 3 non-domestic partners. [7] Faculty from non-partner universities may become affiliated in order to fill "expertise gaps".

Above and beyond university partner requirements, Gen-3 ERCs are required to partner with domestic pre-college institutions, particularly local middle schools and high schools. ERCs must also have "industry/practitioner" members that pay fees to use ERC resources. [7] These industry/practitioner members may include businesses and hospitals.

ERCs are required to support Research Experiences for Undergraduates, Research Experiences for Teachers, and pre-college (Young Scholars) summer research programs. [7] [10] In addition, ERCs partner with local K-12 institutions to increase the abilities of science and engineering educators. [11] Because of the global focus of Gen-3 ERCs, centers often host foreign exchange students. [10]

Funding structure

Funding for an ERC may not exceed $3,250,000 for the first year, but this limit increases by $250,000 per year until it reaches a maximum of $4,000,000. [7] [12] The NSF committed enough funds ($9,750,000) to support three new centers beginning in the summer of 2012. [7] Corporate partners are permitted to supplement this funding, and their contributions can be quite significant. [13] For example, in 2006, over 50 organizations invested in the Engineering Research Center for Compact and Efficient Fluid Power (CEFP) and added approximately $3 million to the CEFP's budget. [14] In some circumstances, ERCs obtain additional funding through other governmental agencies. [15]

Current centers

Source: [16]

Currently, 18 ERCs are supported by the National Science Foundation. These centers are listed below along with the years during which they were founded. Programs founded before 2008 are second generation programs; programs founded in or after 2008 are Gen-3 programs.

Manufacturing

CenterLead InstitutionYear Founded
ERC for Compact and Efficient Fluid Power (CCEFP) University of Minnesota 2006
ERC for Structured Organic Particulate Systems, (C-SOPS) Rutgers University 2006
Synthetic Biology ERC (SynBERC) University of California at Berkeley 2006
Center for Biorenewable Chemicals (CBiRC) Iowa State University 2008

Biotechnology and health care

CenterLead InstitutionYear Founded
Biomimetic MicroElectronic Systems (BMES) ERC University of Southern California 2003
Quality of Life ERC (QoLT) Carnegie Mellon University 2006
ERC for Revolutionizing Metallic Biomaterials (RMB) North Carolina A&T University 2008
Engineering Research Center for Sensorimotor Neural Engineering (CSNE) University of Washington 2011
Center for Precise Advanced Technologies and Health Systems for Underserved Populations (PATHS-UP) Texas A&M 2017
Engineering Research Center for Advanced Technologies for Preservation of Biological Systems (ATP-Bio) University of Minnesota 2020 [17] [18] [19]

Energy, sustainability, and infrastructure

CenterLead InstitutionYear Founded
Future Renewable Electric Energy Delivery and Management (FREEDM) Systems Center North Carolina State University 2008
Smart Lighting ERC Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 2008
ERC for Quantum Energy and Sustainable Solar Technologies (QESST) Arizona State University 2011
ERC for Re-Inventing America’s Urban Water Infrastructure (ReNUWIt) Stanford University 2011
ERC for Ultra-wide Area Resilient Electric Energy Transmission Networks (CURENT) University of Tennessee–Knoxville 2011

Microelectronics, sensing, and information technology

CenterLead InstitutionYear Founded
ERC for Power Optimization for Electro-Thermal Systems (POETS) [20] University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign / University of Arkansas / Stanford University / Howard University 2015
ERC for Collaborative Adaptive Sensing of the Atmosphere (CASA) University of Massachusetts Amherst 2003
ERC for Extreme Ultraviolet Science and Technology (EUV ERC) Colorado State University / University of Colorado at Boulder / University of California at Berkeley / Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory [21] 2003
ERC on Mid-Infrared Technologies for Health and the Environment (MIRTHE) Princeton University 2006
Center for Integrated Access Networks (CIAN) University of Arizona 2008

Past (graduated) centers

The following centers no longer receive funding from the National Science Foundation. Centers founded in or after 1994 are second generation ERCs. Centers founded before 1994 are first generation.

Manufacturing

CenterLead InstitutionYear FoundedYear of Graduation
ERC for Intelligent Manufacturing Systems Purdue University 1985/19941999
Systems Research Center University of Maryland 1985/19941997
Engineering Design Research Center Carnegie Mellon University 19861997
ERC for Net Shape Manufacturing Ohio State University 19861997
Center for Interfacial Engineering University of Minnesota 19881999
Particle Engineering Research Center University of Florida 19952006
ERC for Environmentally Benign Semiconductor Manufacturing University of Arizona 19962006
ERC for Reconfigurable Manufacturing Systems University of Michigan 19962007
Center for Advanced Engineering of Fibers and Films Clemson University 19982008
Gordon ERC for Subsurface Sensing and Imaging Systems Northeastern University 20002010
ERC for Wireless Integrated MicroSystems University of Michigan 20002010

Biotechnology and health care

CenterLead InstitutionYear FoundedYear of Graduation
Emerging Cardiovascular Technologies Duke University 19871998
Biotechnology Process Engineering Center Massachusetts Institute of Technology 1985/19952005
Center for Biofilm Engineering Montana State University 19902001
Engineered Biomaterials ERC University of Washington 19962007
ERC for Computer-Integrated Surgical Systems and Technology Johns Hopkins University 19982008
ERC for the Engineering of Living Tissues Georgia Institute of Technology 19982008
VaNTH ERC for Bioengineering Educational Technologies Vanderbilt University 19992007

Energy, sustainability, and infrastructure

CenterLead InstitutionYear FoundedYear of Graduation
Advanced Combustion Engineering Research Center Brigham Young University/University of Utah 19861997
ERC for Advanced Technology for Large Structural Systems Lehigh University 19861997
Mid-America Earthquake Center University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 19972007
Multidisciplinary Center for Earthquake Engineering Research The University at Buffalo 19972007
Pacific Earthquake Engineering Research Center University of California at Berkeley 19972007
Offshore Technology Research Center Texas A&M/University of Texas 19881999

Microelectronics, sensing, and information technology

ERCLead InstitutionYear FoundedYear of Graduation
Industrial Research through various research tools Grian Technologies Pvt Ltd 20032003
ERC for Compound Semiconductor Microelectronics University of Illinois 19861997
Data Storage Systems Center Carnegie Mellon University 19902001
ERC for Computational Field Simulation Mississippi State University 19902001
ERC for Neuromorphic Systems Engineering California Institute of Technology 19952006
Microelectronics Packaging Research Center Georgia Institute of Technology 1994 [22] 2006
Integrated Media Systems Center University of Southern California 19962007
ERC for Power Electronics Systems Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University 19982008

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References

  1. ↑ "Engineering Research Centers". National Science Foundation. Retrieved 4 August 2012.
  2. ↑ "On-Going Funded Research Projects: N.C. A&T Awarded NSF Engineering Research Center". Archived from the original on 14 August 2012. Retrieved 7 August 2012.
  3. ↑ Chiang, Eric. "Industry-University Cooperative Research Centers" (PDF). Retrieved 16 August 2012.
  4. ↑ "SiC Systems and the Smart Lighting ERC awarded National Science Foundation grant for green LEDs". LEDs Magazine. Retrieved 16 August 2012.
  5. ↑ "Data Management Plans for Grant Funded Projects (NSF, NIH)". University of Connecticut. Archived from the original on 12 May 2012. Retrieved 16 August 2012.
  6. ↑ "Data Management for NSF Engineering Directorate Proposals and Awards" (PDF). National Science Foundation. Retrieved 16 August 2012.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 "Engineering Research Centers (ERC) Partnerships in Transformational Research, Education and Technology - A Focused Call for Nanosystems ERCs (NERCs)" (PDF). National Science Foundation. Retrieved 4 August 2012.
  8. ↑ "Upcoming Grant Opportunities" (PDF). Cleveland State University. Retrieved 16 August 2012.[ permanent dead link ]
  9. ↑ "National Science Foundation - Engineering Research Centers (ERC) -- Partnerships in Transformational Research, Education and Technology - A Focused Call for Nanosystems ERCs (NERCs)". Duke University. Archived from the original on 9 April 2013. Retrieved 16 August 2012.
  10. 1 2 "NSF Grants Awarded To Rutgers Faculty". Rutgers. Archived from the original on 9 April 2013. Retrieved 16 August 2012.
  11. ↑ "Local K-12 teachers partner with CoP to teach engineering principles". UH Hilo Press. July 9, 2012. Retrieved 16 August 2012.
  12. ↑ "NSF Awards $18.5 Million For Smart Lighting Center". Light Directory. Retrieved 16 August 2012.
  13. ↑ "Engineering Research Center receives support". Hydraulics and Pneumatics. Retrieved 16 August 2012.
  14. ↑ "NSF Funds Engineering Research Center for Fluid Power". Green Car Congress. Retrieved 7 August 2012.
  15. ↑ "Colorado School of Mines tapped to fix urban water problems". 9News. July 21, 2011. Archived from the original on April 10, 2013. Retrieved 16 August 2012.
  16. ↑ "Engineering Research Center". Engineering Research Centers Association. Retrieved 5 August 2012.
  17. ↑ "NSF Award Search: Award # 1941543 - NSF Engineering Research Center for Advanced Technologies for Preservation of Biological Systems (ATP-Bio)".
  18. ↑ "New NSF engineering research centers focus on health, transportation, quantum tech, agriculture".
  19. ↑ "University of Minnesota Institute for Engineering in Medicine and academic collaborators receive $26M for NSF engineering research center".
  20. ↑ {Power Optimization for Electro-Thermal Systems}
  21. ↑ "ERC for Extreme Ultraviolet Science and Technology" . Retrieved 22 Mar 2013.
  22. ↑ "Packaging Research Center (PRC)".
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