New Hampshire Receives $6.67 Million Grant For Research
By Matthew Gianino, Institute on Disability / UCED
September 26, 2007
The National Science Foundation has awarded the state of New Hampshire
$6.67 million in a Research Infrastructure Improvement grant. The grant
was awarded by the Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research
(EPSCoR) at NSF.
“This grant is another step in our efforts to make New Hampshire
a place of innovation, where we are creating the jobs of tomorrow today,” said
Gov. John Lynch, who recently announced the award. “It will allow
our institutions, our companies and our state to foster innovation which
will further strengthen our economic future here in New Hampshire.”
The grant, entitled “Enabling Technologies for Scientific Innovation
through Sensor Development,” will be used to buy instruments and
create testing facilities at the University of New Hampshire and Dartmouth
College to support research in the development of:
· Sensors for a new generation of small space satellite systems
· Turbulence-flow environments for sensor testing (atmospheric,
aquatic)
· New applications of nanotechnology relevant to the space science
and turbulence efforts.
In addition, a portion of the grant will augment state support for the
New Hampshire Innovation Research Center, which underwrites research collaborations
with universities and colleges to benefit companies. Outreach activities
will be offered to students and faculty throughout the state, in conjunction
with the New Hampshire Community College at Berlin.
“This EPSCoR grant represents a significant investment in the research
enterprise in New Hampshire and its academic institutions,” said
Mark Huddleston, UNH president. “Scientific innovation often requires
access to sophisticated and expensive equipment. These new testing facilities
and laboratory instruments will allow us to expand our research endeavors
and compete on a global level in these critical areas of space science,
environmental science, and nanotechnology.”
“I am delighted Dartmouth students and faculty will be part of the
statewide EPSCoR program,” said Martin Wybourne, vice provost for
research, Dartmouth College. “The advanced scientific facilities
supported by the award will provide new opportunities for collaboration
among scholars and for outreach to industry in the state.”
Robert Gyurik, chair of the oversight committee of the New Hampshire Innovation
Research Center and vice president of scientific innovation at Bentley
Pharmaceuticals, said, “This is a fantastic opportunity to partner
with our universities and colleges on a technical or scientific question
for which a company may need answers. This EPSCoR grant doubles the amount
of money we can make available for these NHIRC Technology Innovation projects.”
EPSCoR's goal is to maximize science and technology resources through
partnerships among universities, industries, state government, and federal
funding agencies to advance economic growth. EPSCoR status is awarded to
states that traditionally have received lower levels of federal research
funding.
Sen. Judd Gregg (R-NH) stated, “New Hampshire’s colleges and
universities have long been leaders in the research and development of
cutting-edge technologies. This EPSCoR grant will allow the University
of New Hampshire and Dartmouth to further their research and production
in sensor development and nanotechnology, illustrating the competitive
and entrepreneurial spirit of the Granite State.”
“Space, environmental sciences and nanotechnology are vital frontiers
in scientific research,” said Sen. John Sununu (R-NH). “With
this competitive grant, the University of New Hampshire and Dartmouth College
will be able to purchase laboratory equipment and create advanced new testing
facilities, which will allow New Hampshire scholars to compete globally
in these cutting-edge areas.”
New Hampshire became an EPSCoR state in 2004. Since 2005, more than $12.46
million in EPSCoR grants have been awarded to UNH, Dartmouth College, Plymouth
State University, the NH Community College-Berlin, Colby-Sawyer College,
the NH Innovation Research Center and three small companies. These grants
have been awarded by the National Science Foundation ($8.1 million), the
federal Department of Energy ($1.76 million), the Department of Defense
($1.45 million) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration ($1.15
million).
The New Hampshire EPSCoR program is administered by the Office for Research
Partnerships and Commercialization at UNH and a 14-member statewide committee
composed of representatives from business, government and academia.
Home |
Archive |
Subscribe/Unsubscribe
Contact
