Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

  • 09/01/15

In New York State, Centers for Advanced Technology (CAT) support university-industry collaborative research and technology transfer in commercial-relevant technologies. The CAT program was created in 1983 to facilitate the transfer of technology from New York’s top research universities into commercially viable products produced in the private sector. The CAT Development Program was created in 1999 to provide more resources to successful centers to expand their work with New York business.

As one example, in August it was announced that a consortium of universities and corporations led by Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) has been chosen to receive a state grant to establish a New York State Center for Advanced Technology in Additive Manufacturing and Functional Printing. The RIT consortium was chosen from a highly competitive pool of applicants.

The center, to be called the AMPrint Center for Advanced Technology, will be based at RIT. Its focus will be to conduct research and development in 3D printing and additive manufacturing, an industry seen as a key economic driver for the Finger Lakes region and New York state because of its application to a wide range of companies and products.

Additive manufacturing refers to a process of joining materials, usually layer upon layer, to make objects from 3D model data. It is most often used for design and modeling, fit and function prototyping and parts production, and is acclaimed because it can result in significant savings of time and money, as well as enhanced quality of products, such as flexible electronics.

Denis Cormier, RIT’s Earl W. Brinkman Professor and a national expert on 3D printing and additive manufacturing, will lead the AMPrint Center. The consortium’s university partners include RIT, Clarkson University (Potsdam, NY) and SUNY New Paltz and corporate partners Xerox Corp., GE Research, Corning Inc., Eastman Kodak Co. and MakerBot. Smaller, regional companies will also collaborate with the center.

Cormier said the center will serve as the state’s focal point for applied high-value research and development in this industry. He described the Finger Lakes region as a functional 3D printing “ecosystem” because of the expertise from a collection of hightech innovators in the area with experience in print materials, print process systems design and high volume sales and distribution channels and flexible electronics.

The AMPrint Center is one of 10 Centers for Advanced Technology announced by the state. For more information, log on to esd.ny.gov/nystar/CentersforAdvTechnolgy.asp.

This article originally appeared in the issue of .

Featured

  • Building Beyond Simulation: Creating Immersive Ecosystems for Healthcare Education

    Health sciences education is one of the fastest-growing facility types in colleges and universities. The demand for medical, nursing, and allied health professionals is driving the creation and renovation of medical simulation training facilities that provide students with real-world experience through advanced simulation-based learning.

  • Q&A: How to Prevent Kitchen Grease Fires in Commercial Kitchens

    School cafeterias and university dining halls serve thousands of meals daily, relying on high-heat equipment like fryers, grills, and ovens. While these operations keep students fed, they also generate significant grease-laden vapors. Without proper controls, this grease becomes a silent fire threat. As a certified exhaust cleaning specialist and business coach who has helped hundreds of institutional facilities achieve NFPA 96 compliance, I emphasize that proactive grease management isn’t optional; it’s a core fire/life safety practice.

  • Washington State University Debuts New Engineering Hall

    Washington State University recently celebrated a dedication ceremony for the new Schweitzer Engineering Hall on its Pullman campus in Pullman, Wash., according to university news. The facility measures 66,288 square feet, and its completion marks the first milestone in a larger university effort to modernize the engineering and design district.

  • Back-to-School Playground Safety: 7 Common Hazards to Look for After Summer Break

    As summer break comes to an end, school administrators have plenty to prepare before students return. While classrooms, hallways and common areas often receive attention during all the back-to-school preparations, the playground should not be overlooked. Months of weather exposure, storms, and regular wear can leave behind hazards that may not be immediately noticeable.