December 26, 2012

State is well-poised for nanotech challenges

By: Alain E. Kaloyeros

Source: Times Union

It is universally accepted that science, technology, engineering and math are essential in successfully competing for jobs, as the global economy is increasingly driven by high-tech innovation.

Exhibit A is nanotechnology. It is projected that 6 million people will be employed in the nanotechnology industry by 2020, including over 2 million in the U.S. alone.

It is important to recognize New York as a global hub for nanotechnology — so much so that the refrain among industry is increasingly, "Why Anywhere but New York?"

Under the auspices of Gov. Andrew Cuomo's innovation-driven economic blueprint, wherein New York-led and managed industry-university partnerships are used to catalyze opportunity and growth, New York is building the modern-day equivalent of the Erie Canal: a vibrant high-tech economy fueled by a new economic paradigm in which publicly run consortia replace the defunct U.S. model of "if an idea is worth commercializing, industry will find a way to fund it."

This new economic model is mandated by the realities of business competitiveness in the global innovation economy.

In research and development, the complexity involved in nanoscale innovations represents a daunting challenge. This challenge is driving a sweeping change toward breaking down the silos — from individual company-centric "Kremlins" to the intellectually open, innovation sharing, "Acropolis."

Financially, the cost for future nanotechnologies continues to rise exponentially. For one, the investments required in the computer chip industry are predicted to triple in less than five years. The cost of the per fabrication facility alone is projected to rise from approximately $5 billion today to about $10 billion to 15 billion, thus "creating elitism with very few haves and most have nots."

Add the massive subsidies that foreign governments are providing for the attraction of corporate "anchor tenants." One example is what is known as "the ultimate subsidy," wherein China has invested $5 billion to construct a FAB with a complete manufacturing line, and simply invited the chipmaker Semiconductor Manufacturing International to own and run it, without incurring a single dime in construction and outfitting.

The convergence of these intricate technological obstacles and taxing financial constraints are driving corporations to join in the new model of New York-led consortia centered on state-of-the-art, "Switzerland-type" innovation hubs. This ensures the pooling of intellectual assets and physical resources to guarantee timely technology delivery, while allowing New York to act as the "referee" by providing the leveled playing field for each consortium participant to leverage its investments and protect its competitiveness.

The resulting benefits include thousands of highly paid jobs, billions of dollars in private investment, and the world's leading nanoelectronics companies — Intel, IBM, Samsung, TSMC and GlobalFoundries — identifying New York as the best place to develop their future technologies, within the Global 450mm Wafer Consortium recently announced by the governor at the NanoCollege.

These massive investments are spurring the development of a high tech superhighway across the state: in the Hudson Valley, green energy jobs at Ceres Technologies; in Utica, IT-related jobs at SUNYIT; in Syracuse, defense jobs at Lockheed Martin; in Rochester, where CNSE is driving green energy and defense employment; and in Buffalo, with a nanobiomedical and pharmaceutical cluster under Governor Cuomo's $1 billion initiative.

To support this continued growth, a world-class workforce is essential. And New York is already ahead of the curve. As the world's first college in nanotechnology, CNSE is preparing students through a pioneering educational curriculum that engages our next generations at all levels.

In five years, more than 20,000 students from across New York have been targeted by educational programs like NanoCareer Day, while teachers, school administrators, and board members gather for NanoEducation Summits.

Numerous partnerships, including Albany High School, Girls Inc., and Trinity Alliance are providing unique training opportunities, and focusing on underrepresented social groups in STEM. And retraining programs are giving skilled employees, such as plumbers and pipefitters, new and promising careers.

While the job is far from finished, the increasing location of high-tech jobs and companies is a sure sign New York is "open for business."

Alain E. Kaloyeros is a senior vice president at the University at Albany and CEO of its College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering.