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Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute: Outshining Edison: New NSF
Engineering Research Center To Advance "Smart Lighting"; Rensselaer to
host $18.5 million ERC dedicated to energy-efficient lighting and
photonics
(M2 PressWIRE Via Acquire Media NewsEdge)
RDATE:06102008
A new research center at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, funded by a
five-year, $18.5 million grant from the National Science Foundation,
aims to supplant the common light bulb with next-generation lighting
devices that are smarter, greener, and ripe for innovation.
"Sustainability and energy efficiency are two key challenges of our
time, yet they also present rich opportunities," said Rensselaer
President Shirley Ann Jackson. "With innovation, ingenuity, and a clear
vision, the NSF-funded Smart Lighting Center at Rensselaer will rewrite
the rules for manipulating light and help introduce these new green
technologies to the world. This project is a shining example of
academia, the federal and state governments, and industry working
together to advance the state of science and engineering, while
creating new opportunities for students, faculty, and businesses."
The Engineering Research Center for Smart Lighting will be the only NSF
engineering research center based in New York state.
Funded by the NSF, industry, New York state, and led by Rensselaer with
partners Boston University and the University of New Mexico, the Smart
Lighting Center will investigate and develop light-emitting diode (LED)
technologies that could one day change the way we illuminate our world.
Along with significant energy savings for lighting homes and offices,
these technologies will open doors to a diverse spectrum of new
applications impacting everything from biotechnology and transportation
to computer networking and displays.
The project is expected to receive up to $50 million in funding over
the next 10 years. The bulk of this funding will come from the NSF,
with additional support from New York state, Rensselaer, and 18
industrial partners. NSF funding began in September with $3.25 million
for the center's first year, a figure forecast to increase over the
next several years. New York has committed $700,000 to the center's
first year, and first-year funding from industrial partners is expected
to approach nearly $1 million. Rensselaer is committing more than
$500,000 to help launch the center.
The new research center will concentrate on three primary research
thrusts, said E. Fred Schubert, Wellfleet Senior Constellation
Professor of Future Chips at Rensselaer, who leads the center. A
multidisciplinary team will focus on developing novel materials, device
technology, and systems applications to further the understanding and
proliferation of smart lighting technologies.
Twenty faculty researchers from Rensselaer, along with 10 researchers
from partners Boston University and the University of New Mexico, will
staff the new center. Students, postdoctoral researchers, and visiting
industry engineers will also be regular contributors to the research
conducted at the Smart Lighting ERC.
"I am delighted to welcome RPI to the ERC 'family' as a lead
institution for the NSF ERC for Smart Lighting," said Lynn Preston, the
leader of the Engineering Research Centers Program at NSF. "The Smart
Lighting ERC is the first in our extensive portfolio of ERCs in optics
and electronics that focuses on advancing LED technology for new
lighting systems that will have the capacity to deliver increased
functionality in displays, transportation, and communication systems
with significant savings in energy use. This ERC joins four other new
ERCs in the ERC Class of 2008, the start of the third generation of
over 50 ERCs established since 1985. Like all ERCs, these Gen-3 ERCs
will rest on the proven capacity of ERCs to strengthen our economy by
advancing knowledge and technology and educating engineers who are
leaders in advancing technology."
"We applaud the researchers at RPI for this prestigious award.
Not only will this help the state and nation achieve our energy
efficiency objective, it will also advance our economic objectives by
establishing a technology leadership position in an area with
tremendous commercial opportunities," said New York State Foundation
for Science, Technology and Innovation Executive Director Edward
Reinfurt.
"Our participation in this center offers a chance for our engineering
students and faculty to create energy-saving technologies that will
improve our society and create new business opportunities," said
University of New Mexico President David Schmidly. "We are particularly
excited that this program will also have a strong focus on outreach,
and we anticipate that the new field of smart lighting will increase
the number and diversity of students entering science, math, and
engineering education."
"Smart Lighting offers the potential to reshape and advance wireless
communications technology," said Boston University College of
Engineering Dean Kenneth R. Lutchen. "We are very proud and excited
about the world-renowned photonics and systems engineering faculty at
Boston University that will contribute their creativity and expertise
to make this technology a reality."
Along with broadening the knowledge base of smart lighting, Schubert
expects the center to be a hub for commercializing related technology,
where students and academic researchers work side-by-side with
companies large and small to test, validate, and bring new products to
the marketplace.
"This new center will energize the field of photonics, and it
reinforces the vision that smart light sources will soon antiquate
Thomas Edison's light bulb," Schubert said. "The Smart Lighting ERC
will also be a catalyst for developing and realizing new, yet
unexpected applications for photonics."
At the heart of smart lighting are powerful techniques to control the
basic properties of light. With recent breakthroughs in the first true
anti-reflective coating, nano-emitter growth, in the unprecedented
control of the refractive index of materials, and the demonstration of
the first viable polarized LED-based light sources, researchers are now
better able to control almost every aspect of light.
"The capabilities of smart lighting surpasses and transcends the
abilities of conventional lighting," Schubert said. "With smart
lighting, we have absolute control over every aspect of the light, from
polarization to temporal modulation and spectral composition. We can
custom tailor a light source for nearly any imaginable scientific or
commercial application."
By allowing humans to better support their natural circadian rhythm,
smart lighting holds the promise for reducing individuals' dependency
on sleep-inducing drugs, and even reducing the risk of certain types of
cancer.
Along with Rensselaer and core partners BU and UNM, outreach partners
for the new ERC are Howard University in Washington; Morgan State
University in Baltimore; and Rose Hulman Institute of Technology in
Terra Haute, Ind. Additionally, Chonbuk National University in Korea;
National Chiao Tung University in Taiwan; Taiwan National University;
and Vilnius University in Lithuania will support the Smart Lighting ERC
with expertise and international perspectives.
The ERC's 18 industry partners, ranging from major lighting companies
to small start-up firms, were enlisted to help guide strategic
planning, spur innovation, and provide university students with
first-hand experience in entrepreneurship as well as corporate research
and development. To facilitate and stimulate technology transfer, the
ERC will also partner with the Center for Economic Growth in Albany,
N.Y., the Optoelectronics Industry Development Association, and small
business incubators at each of the partner universities.
CONTACT: Michael Mullaney, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Tel: +1 518 276 6161
e--mail: mullam@rpi.edu
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provided within M2 PressWIRE. Data supplied by named party/parties.
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Copyright ? 2008 M2 Communications Ltd.
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