UpDate - Vol. 15, No. 39, Page 1
August 15, 1996
UD a partner in state's new technology centers

     The University is playing an important role in the state of
Delaware's plans to create and commercialize 21st-century
technologies.
     Gov. Thomas R. Carper, Delaware '75M, Delaware Economic
Development Office Director Robert W. Coy Jr. and Stephen G. Borleske,
chairperson of the Council of Science and Technology, announced the
establishment of the state's first three advanced technology centers
earlier this month. The University will be involved in all three
projects.
     These private/public partnerships are designed to bolster the
state's technology base and create and retain high-technology jobs.
The state is investing $2.31 million in the centers under its 21st
Century Fund.

     THE ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY CENTER FOR MEDICAL DEVICES will foster
cooperation among companies and universities to develop and
commercialize medical diagnostic screening tools based on analytical
instruments coupled with sophisticated software.
     This effort will involve UD, Hewlett-Packard, Berger Instruments,
MIDI, Scientific Computing Solutions and Delaware State University.

     THE FRAUNHOFER RESOURCE CENTER- DELAWARE will create advanced
materials and near-net-shape manufacturing technology development and
deployment capability based on the successful Fraunhofer model from
Germany.
     The center will assist manufacturing companies with the solution
to technical challenges in near-net-shape manufacturing by performing
confidential, contractual work for industry. This center will be
located at the Delaware Technology Park in Newark.
     Partners include Fraunhofer USA, UD, Delaware Technical and
Community College, Delaware Manufacturing Alliance, W.L. Gore, DuPont
Co., Hardcore, Lanxide, ILC Dover, TA Instruments, Chesapeake
Instruments and other firms.

     THE DELAWARE AGRICULTURAL BIOTECHNOLOGY CENTER will establish a
genome science facility that will be involved in sequencing and
analyzing plant and poultry pathogen genomes. The center will feature
the second largest DNA sequencing effort in the world for agriculture
and will benefit the state's agricultural industries and offer
opportunities for commercialization in new fields.
     This center will enhance UD's existing strength in poultry
disease research and build new capacity in plant molecular biology as
part of a larger University-wide effort. Activities will take place at
the Delaware Technology Park and at facilities on the UD campus.
     Partners include UD, DuPont Co., Mallinckrodt Veterinary,
Intervet, Delaware State University and Delaware Technical and
Community College.

     According to Carper, "Delaware's economy is second to none on the
East Coast. In order to keep it that way, we must ensure that our
state's businesses take advantage of the opportunities presented by an
ever-changing, high-tech economy. By promoting partnerships, this
initiative is a step in the right direction in our efforts to ensure
that Delaware's economy benefits from the creation and
commercialization of new technology."
     The creation of the advanced technology centers is part of a
comprehensive, technology-based economic development strategy led by
the Delaware Economic Development Office that focuses on creating and
retaining high quality jobs.
     According to Coy, "Delaware's highly educated workforce, with one
of the highest number per capita of scientists and engineers in the
nation, is just one indication that our state has the ideal climate
for advanced technology centers and is poised for more technology-
based growth."
     "It is extremely satisfying that the University of Delaware will
be involved in all three of the advanced technology centers,"
President David P. Roselle said. "Our direct and substantial presence
in this newest state economic initiative is another example of the
significant way in which the University contributes directly and
importantly to the state and its citizens."
     According to University Provost Mel Schiavelli, "The University
is a full partner and will play a substantial role in the state's
latest high-technology program. While the centers' new research will
provide opportunities to our faculty and student researchers, the
University will provide substantial assistance because of its long-
established collaborative efforts with private industry and other
educational and private research facilities."
     The goals of the ATC program are to encourage collaboration among
private industry and Delaware colleges and universities to develop and
apply technology, to help make these technologies commercially, to
build and strengthen research capabilities, to enhance the supply of
technically trained employees to meet the needs of Delaware companies
and to build business-to-business linkages.
     The Council on Science and Technology was appointed by Carper and
legislative leaders last fall to oversee the ATC program authorized
under the 21st Century Fund. It is composed of representatives from 10
Delaware technology-based companies.
     To date, $9 million has been allotted for this program. These
state funds must be matched at least 1-to-1 by private sources.
     The three centers are eligible for two more years of state
funding, given satisfactory performance. A second round of
applications for new advanced technology centers will be accepted next
spring.