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Tech Valley News
UAlbany Nanocollege Ranked Best in World
The College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering (CNSE) of the University at Albany – the first college in the world dedicated to nanotechnology education, research and economic outreach – has been ranked by Small Times magazine as the world’s number one college for nanotechnology and microtechnology, according to the publication’s annual University Rankings.
This year’s survey is included in the May/June issue of Small Times, the world’s leading publication covering micro and nanotechnology, and for the first time included colleges and universities from around the world, rather than just in the United States. It also comes one year after CNSE was ranked by Small Times as the nation’s top college for nanotechnology and microtechnology.
CNSE was ranked first overall among all colleges and universities in the world, as well as number one in the areas of education and facilities, receiving the highest five-star rankings in each category from Small Times. CNSE ranked second in commercialization and sixth in research.
The school also received top-10 rankings from its peers in three areas: nano commercialization, micro commercialization and micro research.
“The ranking of UAlbany’s College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering as the world’s best college for micro and nanotechnology is a source of great pride and satisfaction," University at Albany Provost and Officer in Charge Susan Herbst said. "It positions the University, through the talented faculty and researchers at the NanoCollege, as a critical resource in providing the educational opportunities that are essential to growing a high-tech workforce in Tech Valley. At the same time, it gives UAlbany a competitive edge as it seeks to attract the best and brightest faculty and students.”
Small Times sent surveys to research institutions across the world, asking about funding, facilities, micro- and nano-specific courses and degree programs, research programs and more.
“Launched three years ago, CNSE is widely recognized as a global resource for research, development, workforce education, and economic outreach in nanotechnology and its applications,” Small Times wrote in its analysis. “UAlbany offers more micro- and nano-specific degrees than any other university: six in total, with small-tech minor/emphasis allowed in additional M.S. and Ph.D. degrees. And, UAlbany was awarded more nanotechnology patents (98) than any other respondent in the Small Times’ survey.”
These 98 nanotechnology patents were produced on site at the CNSE Albany NanoTech facilities either by CNSE research teams, by the CNSE partners’ research teams resident at Albany NanoTech and cross-licensed to CNSE, or by joint CNSE and partners’ research teams resident at Albany NanoTech and cross-licensed among the partners.
In addition, seven microtechnology patents were awarded and 68 microtechnology patent applications and 188 nanotechnology patent applications were filed in 2006 by CNSE research teams, by the CNSE partners’ research teams resident at Albany NanoTech and cross-licensed to CNSE, or by joint CNSE and partners’ research teams resident at Albany NanoTech and cross-licensed among the partners.
CNSE’s Albany NanoTech complex is the most advanced research facility of its kind at any university in the world: a $3.5 billion, 450,000-square-foot complex that attracts corporate partners from around the world and offers students a one-of-a-kind academic experience.
The school houses the only fully-integrated, 300mm wafer, computer chip pilot prototyping and demonstration line within 65,000 square feet of Class 1 capable cleanrooms.
More than 1,600 scientists, researchers, engineers, students, and faculty work on site at CNSE's Albany NanoTech complex, including IBM, AMD, SONY, Toshiba, Qimonda, Honeywell, ASML, Applied Materials, Tokyo Electron, and Freescale.
An expansion currently underway will increase the size of CNSE’s Albany NanoTech complex to over 750,000 square feet, including over 80,000 square feet of Class 1 cleanroom space, to house over 2,000 scientists, researchers, engineers, students, and faculty by the end of 2008.
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