Two critical research centers at Rensselaer have been recognized and re-designated by their funding institutions.
Earlier this summer, New York state re-designated the Rensselaer Center for Automation Technologies and Systems (CATS) as a New York State Center for Advanced Technology (CAT). The 10-year designation, awarded by the New York State Foundation on Science, Technology, and Innovation (NYSTAR), began in July and carries annual NYSTAR funding of $921,200.
“The CAT program is an outstanding example of
a successful public-private partnership to advance industrially
relevant science and technology research and drive economic growth in the state,”
said CATS Director John Wen.
The CATS has an impressive track record of working with industry and nonprofit partners to leverage the expertise of Rensselaer faculty, students, and staff researchers to solve real-world automation challenges and drive economic development. These challenges range from developing new manufacturing technologies for flexible materials such as fuel cell membranes and advanced composites, to optimizing control systems in electronic manufacturing and material processing, and creating new robotic systems for hostage negotiation and hazardous material disposal. In both 2007 and 2008, Rensselaer CATS’ estimated annual economic impact from its partnerships with New York state companies topped $50 million. Leveraging its investment from NYSTAR, total CATS expenditures for FY 2009 were more than $4.5 million.
“The CATS re-designation allows us to continue to leverage the NYSTAR support and expertise of Rensselaer faculty and staff to assist New York state companies,” said CATS Director John Wen, professor of electrical, computer, and systems engineering. “The CAT program is an outstanding example of a successful public-private partnership to advance industrially relevant science and technology research and drive economic growth in the state.”
Wen was also recently named the acting director of Rensselaer’s Smart Lighting Engineering Research Center. The center, funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation Generation-3 Engineering Research Center Program, is the only active ERC based in New York. The Smart Lighting ERC was renewed in June for one year, with NSF funding of $3.25 million. NYSTAR also supports Rensselaer’s Smart Lighting ERC with $500,000 per year, and NYSERDA (New York State Energy Research and Development Authority) supports the Smart Lighting ERC and Lighting Research Center collaboration with $200,000 per year. Rensselaer’s Smart Lighting ERC also includes participation from core research partners — Boston University, University of New Mexico, and NYS Dept. of Health Wadsworth Laboratory — and outreach partners Howard University, Morgan State University, and Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology.
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