PHYSICS

The National Nuclear Security Administration's Sandia National Laboratories and the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs (UCCS) will sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) as a basis for future technical collaborations at 11 a.m. May 11 at the UCCS campus. The MOU encourages cooperative efforts between Sandia and the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs in a broad range of technology areas including microelectronics, MEMS (MicroElectroMechanical Systems), nanotechnology, and software for numerous space and security applications. The MOU also emphasizes advanced manufacturing technology recognizing the need for U.S. industry to remain competitive in the global economy. UCCS recently established the Rocky Mountain Technology Alliance (RMTA), an organization of industry, government, and university leaders seeking to establish a technology rich, business development environment in Colorado Springs and the surrounding region. The agreement stems from a relationship between RMTA and Sandia's Regional Alliance for Manufacturing Program (RAMP). RAMP is an ongoing strategic Sandia manufacturing initiative led by Sandia's Manufacturing Systems Science and Technology Division. One of RAMP's objectives is to establish regional partnerships with universities, commercial industry, and government to engage in manufacturing R&D, exercise Sandia's capabilities through technical assistance projects, and help to develop and enhance the high-tech manufacturing capabilities of current and potential partners. Leaders at UCCS and Sandia believe they have mutual interests and capabilities in areas that can be combined to meet the high-tech manufacturing objectives at Sandia, RMTA, and UCCS. Areas of interest include microsystems and nanotechnologies, space systems and engineering, cybersecurity, computer and communication networks, power and energy systems, and advanced manufacturing. Dr. Jeremy Haefner, Dean of Engineering and Applied Sciences and Director of the Colorado Institute of Technology Transfer and Implementation (CITTI) at UCCS, said the future of the University and the economic future of the Colorado Springs region are mutually dependent on technology, specifically technology that can be developed and commercialized here in the region as opposed to in other U.S. cities or abroad. "We are citizens of the Rocky Mountain Technology Corridor - the region stretching from northern Colorado to southern New Mexico - from which much of modern technology flowed," he said. "We will expand our applied research in the region through UCCS and in cooperation with our partners, which will lead to substantially increased technology commercialization and production." L enny Martinez, vice president of Manufacturing Systems, Science & Technology at Sandia, said there are a number of potential areas for collaboration between the two organizations. "One that we are particularly interested in at Sandia is providing technical assistance to commercial high-tech manufacturing firms in Colorado Springs and other communities throughout the state of Colorado in support of our regional manufacturing strategies as identified by RAMP," said Martinez. "These type of assistance projects are of growing importance to Sandia in terms of our needs for partnerships and manufacturing supply chain development." The following is the agenda for the MOU signing: 10:15 a.m. Introductions - Tom Saponas Lounge - Engineering Bldg. 10:30 a.m. Gathering/Refreshments 11 a.m. Remarks (press availability question-and-answer period) 11:30 a.m. Signing of MOU Noon Lunch - University Center 1 p.m. Tour, College of Engineering and Applied Science