Oct 25 2004
Dow Corning Corp. announced today a strategic partnership of a new photonics and electronics scientific consortium based at one of the world’s premiere research universities. Dow Corning’s participation reflects its expertise and experience as a provider of advanced photonics and electronics solutions utilizing the unique properties of silicon-based materials.
The consortium is an alliance of leading companies active in advanced photonics and electronics, together with the Cambridge University in the UK. Strategic partners include Alps Electric Company Limited, and Marconi Corporation PLC.
The consortium will conduct multi-disciplinary research to stretch the boundaries of these two technology platforms, inventing and developing new materials, processes, components and systems. It will seek to set industry agendas for the convergence of photonic and electronic technology platforms.
“I am very excited about the opportunity to collaborate with strategic industrial partners like these and to build on Cambridge’s renown as a Centre of world-leading research,” said Gregg Zank, Chief Technology Officer of Dow Corning Corporation. “Technological innovation has always been a cornerstone of Dow Corning’s business. Our involvement in this consortium will take us to another level of innovation and enable us to continue to build intellectual and business relationships that produce break-through solutions for our customers,” he said.
CAPE will benefit from the funding for fundamental and applied research, worth GBP7.5 million (USD 13.3 million) over the next 5 years. Professor Bill Milne, head of the world-renowned Electrical Engineering Division at the University’s Department of Engineering, will lead the Centre. As well as building on Cambridge’s strong history of Electrical Engineering, CAPE will provide an interdisciplinary focus for University expertise. This funding looks forward to the proposed construction of a purpose built CAPE building on the University’s growing science and technology campus at West Cambridge.
“We gain the expertise of three global businesses actively involved in the advanced photonics and electronics sector, as well as money and expertise from this strategic partnership,” said Professor Milne. “The market focus and supply chain knowledge of these companies will enable cutting-edge research to be effectively transferred,” he said.
Alps Electric Company, Dow Corning and Marconi bring, respectively, optoelectronic components, materials and systems expertise to CAPE. A joint steering group will enable this expertise to be shared to the mutual benefit of commercial and academic partners.
For more information on photonics, click here.