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The Carolinas Photonics Consortium (CPC) Pilot Funding Program received 28 proposals for funding of projects aimed at commercializing photonics-based technologies. Five programs will be chosen by the CPC Advisory Committee on November 12th for an award of $10,000 each, plus business and market development support from the Technology, Entrepreneurship and Commercialization initiative at North Carolina State University’s College of Management.
The proposals showed a wide variety of technologies and targeted markets. There were proposals which addressed market needs in medical, imaging, textile, lighting, biotech, chemical/biological detection, wireless and telecommunications, customized products for an aging population, food quality and infant care. The technologies described varied from early stage discoveries to later stage applications which utilize existing patents and capital equipment.
“The Carolinas Photonics Consortium has the largest concentration of photonics-based resources in the country, so we all knew that there were ideas ready for market consideration. However, the receipt of 28 proposals for early stage money was unexpected,” said Jeff Conley, interim director of CPC. “Not only do we have great researchers and great capabilities, but we have lots of opportunities for company creation in our region,” he said. "Very few people outside of the industry understand how broadly photonics (light-based) technologies are used to improve our lives. These proposals were outstanding examples of how light can be used to solve problems and create opportunities for the Carolinas.”
The Carolinas Photonics Consortium Advisory Board consists of one member from each of the five institutions in the consortium, plus five regional or national members representing early stage investments, regional economic development and photonics technologies. This ten member committee will be meeting on November 12th to make the final project selections.
More Information:
www.carolinasphotonics.com
Jeff Conley – CPC – jcon@charter.net 864-325-4700
Each of the five consortium members has nationally respected programs in photonics. North Carolina State University College of Engineering’s strengths are in photonic devices, optoelectonic and semiconductor materials and information technology. The Center for Optoelectronics and Optical Communications at The University of North Carolina at Charlotte has a core competence in microoptics and modeling of optical systems. Western Carolina’s Center for Rapid Product Realization provides prototyping, testing and design expertise for new product scale up. The Fitzpatrick Institute for Photonics at Duke has research programs in biophotonics, nano & micro systems, nanophotonics, and quantum optics and information. Clemson’s Center for Optical Materials Science and Engineering Technologies (COMSET) is focused on the development of novel optical materials. Over $300M has been invested from state and federal funds over the last five years, making CPC the largest concentration of photonics-based resources in the country.
Photonics-based technologies are used in a wide array of everyday products, including: DVD players, long distance communication, medical and dental surgeries, dash board lighting, missile guidance and garage door sensors. Photonic technologies are being used to complement or replace electronics in almost every facet of our lives. Recent advances include high intensity lighting, biochemical detection, high powered lasers for manufacturing needs and early cancer detection. One of the primary goals of the CPC is the commercialization of photonics-based research by awarding funds to competitively submitted proposals from the five campuses.
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