The A.J. Drexel Nanotechnology Institute and the Lehigh Nanotech Network will host the fifth annual PA regional nanotechnology conference from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 23, 2013 in the Drexel University Bossone Research Enterprise Center in Philadelphia, PA. See the agenda for complete information.

The cost to attend is $35; sustaining members of the Lehigh Nanotechnology Network and the Drexel Nanotechnology Institute are free.

Register today!

This year’s conference is centered on the emerging and increasingly relevant topic of nanotechnology based research for energy applications, thus acquiring the new title “PA Regional Nanotechnology for Energy 2013.” The conference will focus on strategic priorities for energy and sustainability.

Topics of discussion during the day will include materials for energy generation and storage, the role of the chemical industry in energy research, the future of energy materials research and education and challenges and opportunities of shale gas. The event will facilitate networking opportunities among academia, industry and state representatives. It will also bring light to regional engineering advancements in sustainable and innovative materials and devices for harvesting, storage and delivery of energy from renewable sources to meet the current and future energy needs of society. Discussions of projected future energy needs will lead to the development of new and advanced solutions to maintain the nation’s competitive edge in a growing global economy.

NAFTA Training

February 21, 2013

NAFTA training is available at a very nominal fee for an all day workshop that normally costs $475! The SBDC is offering it for $99, thanks to a grant through the SBA and PA CTD. The workshop will be held on Tuesday, March 5, 2013, from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.

Companies registering must be profitable exporting businesses that have been in business at least 2 years in order to take advantage of this special offer. See the brochure for more info:

NAFTA 2013

Date: Friday, January 25th, 2013

Time: 11:00 am – 6:00 pm

Sponsors: Lehigh Nanotech Network (LNN) and Center for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology (CAMN)

Location:
Lehigh University
Mountaintop Campus
Ben Franklin TechVentures
East Wing Conference Room
116 Research Drive
Bethlehem, PA 18015
Directions

Cost: $40

Downloads:
Brief Agenda
Full Agenda with Bios

Click here to register

Earlier this year, the National Business Incubation Association (NBIA) awarded its prestigious Randall M. Whaley Incubator of the Year prize to Ben Franklin TechVentures. Now you can come and tour their renowned facility while taking part in a Lehigh Nanotech Network networking event!

LNN member companies will discuss resources and partnering opportunities that have made them successful. LNN Student Internship Awards are part of this success story, where funding was provided to help student interns assist member companies reach their goals. Your company can be the next success story! Come network with local industry leaders and learn how to leverage resources, talent, and funding from leadership at Manufacturers Resource Center (MRC), BFTV, and other great organizations.

Please contact Joan Stanescu at jdsj@lehigh.edu if you have any questions.

Click here to register

CAMN New Faculty Introduction

November 26, 2012

Lehigh University’s Center for Advanced Materials & Nanotechnology is pleased to present our latest New Faculty Introduction Series.

Date: Tuesday, November 27th, 2012
Location: Whitaker Lab, Room 203 (below Whitaker Lobby), Lehigh University, 5 E. Packer Ave, Bethlehem, PA
Time: 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Cost: Free (lunch Included), sponsored by the CAMN and LNN
Registration: http://www.lehigh.edu/lnn or email jdsj@lehigh.edu

See the CAMN New Faculty Introduction agenda for more information.

Read our latest newsletter, featuring our newest members, our sustaining member Manufacturers Resource Center (MRC), and upcoming events.

LNN Newsletter – November 2012

Request for Proposal:
Lockheed Martin “Innovate the Future” Challenge
Submission Deadline: September 30, 2012

Downloads and Links:
Contest submission website

Lockheed Martin recently announced a global innovation challenge which we think will be of interest to the small business community and invite you and your colleagues to participate!

On August 6, Lockheed Martin launched the “Innovate the Future” contest with cash awards totaling $50,000. Interested participants are encouraged to share their ideas on how innovation can enable a more secure future for the planet.

You can submit ideas on a range of topics facing the world community, including the need for sustainable energy, cyber security, and healthcare.

The small business community has tremendous knowledge and experience and is uniquely qualified to participate. This contest might be an opportunity for someone to share an idea they have not yet been able to pursue or that represents their “out of the box” thinking.

To enter the contest, participants must complete a brief submission online by September 30, 2012 (see link above). Up to five ideas will be selected for cash awards by a committee comprised of Lockheed Martin employees and at least one independent third party.

There will be up to one $25,000 grand prize, one $10,000 second place prize, and three $5,000 third place prizes. Selected ideas will also be considered for incubation funding.

PITARequest for Proposal:
PITA FY 2013 for PA Research and Education Projects
Submission Deadline: October 1, 2012

Downloads and Links:
Technical Proposal Form (MS Word)
PITA Mission Statement (PDF)
PITA website

The Pennsylvania Infrastructure Technology Alliance (PITA) is a collaboration among the Pennsylvania (PA) Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED), the Center for Advanced Technology for Large Structural Systems (ATLSS) at Lehigh University, and the Institute for Complex Engineered Systems (ICES) at Carnegie Mellon University. The mission of the PITA Program is to assist the Commonwealth of PA and its companies in increasing operating efficiency and enhancing economic development by:

  • Conducting technology development projects with PA companies;
  • Developing technology leading to new PA companies;
  • Conducting educational outreach programs for the benefit of PA companies and students;
  • Seeding research and technology development projects that attract funding from other sources;
  • Creating an environment linking PA companies, agencies and students to increase the creation and retention of high paying jobs in the Commonwealth; and
  • Enabling PA universities to remain at the forefront of engineering research and education.

Following a one year period of without program funding, we are pleased to announce that Lehigh University, through the ATLSS Engineering Research Center, has again received PITA funding from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for FY13. The RFP for the program is now open and we invite the submittal of proposals that satisfy the PITA mission above by October 1, 2012.

The technical focus areas for PITA proposals include the following areas:

  • Innovative Infrastructure Systems (IIS)
  • Information and Systems Technology (IST)
  • Product and Process Design and Optimization (PPDO)
  • Biomedical and Health Engineering (BHE)
  • Environmental and Energy Technology (EET)
  • Nanotechnology (NANO)
  • Courses and Outreach Programs (COP)

The PITA emphasis for FY13 continues to focus on the active participation of PA companies, with projects benefiting either established PA-based companies or start-ups with new technologies. Examples of active participation include cash cost matching and in-kind use of company facilities, equipment, materials, and/or personnel to conduct experiments, demonstrations, or other research tasks directly related to the project.

The typical award period will run from January 1st, 2013 to June 30, 2014. Typical project awards for PITA funds are expected in the range of $20,000 to $40,000. A list of previously funded PITA projects can be found at http://www.pitapa.org/.

In order to be considered for funding, a proposal must be submitted using the technical proposal and cost proposal templates given above, and if including a Pennsylvania industry project partner, should include a support letter from that organization.

In the meantime, questions regarding the proposal content should be addressed to Chad Kusko, PITA Associate Director at Lehigh University, at chk205@lehigh.edu or at 8-5299.

~~
Chad Kusko, Ph.D.
Administrative Director, ATLSS Engineering Research Center
Associate Director, PITA
Associate Director, RAMP
Lehigh University
117 ATLSS Drive
Bethlehem, PA 18015
Phone: 610-758-5299
Fax: 610-758-5902
chk205@lehigh.edu

RFP: RAMP Program

September 4, 2012

RAMPRequest for Proposal:
RAMP Program
Submission deadline: September 10, 2012

Downloads and Links:
RAMP Cover Letter (MS Word)
RAMP Mission Statement (MS Word)
RAMP Technical Proposal Template (MS Word)
RAMP Budget Template (MS Excel)
RAMP website

Lehigh and Carnegie Mellon University have recently announced a new collaboration in university-industry economic development supported by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED).

The new Research for Advanced Manufacturing in Pennsylvania (RAMP) program will provide incentive grants of approximately $25,000 to $75,000 to researchers at Pennsylvania universities engaged in specific, short-term (1 to 1.5 year) innovation projects in partnership with Pennsylvania manufacturing companies.

Administered jointly by Lehigh’s Advanced Technology for Large Structural Systems (ATLSS) Engineering Research Center and CMU’s Institute for Complex Engineering Systems, RAMP’s goal is to support rapid development and transfer of innovative technologies that will in turn promote the success of Pennsylvania-based manufacturing in the global marketplace.

Via the RAMP program, DCED, Lehigh, and CMU are working together to drive innovation in PA’s manufacturing job sector while linking companies with motivated and technically-sophisticated students as well as advanced university-based equipment and skill sets. The RAMP program is designed to leverage Lehigh’s and CMU’s research and innovation capabilities with the technology-rich manufacturing sector of PA industry. Grant funds will be used primarily to support graduate students under the supervision of faculty researchers committed to working with manufacturing firms. Participating companies will be required to provide complementary leverage funding, targeted at $1.50 for every $1 of RAMP funding, for labor and other project expenses. These industry-university partnership projects would also provide incentive for researchers to seek federal grants in areas that augment efforts initiated by RAMP funds, thereby amplifying the upstream investment in Pennsylvania manufacturing.

The RAMP program will primarily target projects with firms that operate manufacturing facilities within the Commonwealth; however, Pennsylvania companies with manufacturing operations elsewhere can also be considered.Additional information on the program can be found at the RAMP website.

Completed proposals, using the templates given above, are to be submitted electronically to Betty MacAdam at es00@lehigh.edu by September 10, 2012. In the meantime, please contact Chad Kusko (see below) with any questions.

We look forward to working with you on this important Commonwealth initiative.

~~
Richard Sause
Director, ATLSS Engineering Research Center
Director, RAMP Program
Lehigh University

Chad Kusko, Ph.D.
Administrative Director, ATLSS Engineering Research Center
Associate Director, PITA
Associate Director, RAMP
Lehigh University
117 ATLSS Drive
Bethlehem, PA 18015
Phone: 610-758-5299
Fax: 610-758-5902
chk205@lehigh.edu