Development of Nanoelectronics Research Center a Collaborative Effort of the City of South Bend,
Project Future and Notre Dame

The City of South Bend, University of Notre Dame and Project Future, which serves as a catalyst between the St. Joseph County community and prospective businesses, played pivotal roles in today's announcement from the Semiconductor Research Corporation's Nanoelectronic Research Initiative (NRI) regarding the development of a national research center in the area.

Officially billed as the Midwest Academy for Nanoelectronics and Architectures (MANA), the center will link Notre Dame, Purdue University and the research resources of three national laboratories with the massive development thrusts of the nation's largest technology companies. The objective is to develop the next generation of logic devices that will replace today's semiconductors, thus revolutionizing the world's trillion dollar per year technology industry.  

Not only is the MANA center one of only four NRI centers in the United States (others are located in Albany, New York; Austin, Texas; and Los Angeles, California) but more importantly the MANA center will also focus upon the development of architectures that will allow the new devices to be incorporated into machines. This work on architectures should place the MANA center in the heart of many of the prototyping activities that will follow. It is at this point that research transitions into jobs. 

"The sheer size and scope of this undertaking suggests that if we can capture but a portion of those new business activities associated with the new devices, we will transform our local and regional economy for years to come," said Patrick M. McMahon, executive director of Project Future. 

"One need only look at Austin and Seattle to witness the economic explosion those cities have enjoyed following their involvement in the development of new technologies," added McMahon.

In addition to committing $1 million to help secure the research center site, the City of South Bend has also pledged tens of millions of dollars more over several years to support efforts to commercialize this research. These investments will be focused upon facility, equipment and program needs of new and growing companies seeking to advance new nanoelectronic concepts into business opportunities, filling development sites in a restructured Studebaker Corridor and across South Bend.

"The MANA center has the potential to revolutionize our economy with new technological wonders that have yet to be imagined," said South Bend Mayor Stephen J. Luecke. "The City of South Bend and its partners are committing significant resources to create an infrastructure and environment that will nurture and support its growth and commercialization."

The seeds of a research/economic development alliance between the City of South Bend, University of Notre Dame and Project Future were sown years prior to today's historic announcement as the three entities have simultaneously worked toward the development of Innovation Park – the campus-based technology park which is only months away from breaking ground.

Additionally, the development of the St. Joe Valley Metronet – another collaboration involving the City, Notre Dame, Project Future and several major local institutions – is providing the communications cornerstone for the development of the park.

"Quite frankly, we would not be in a position to attract high-tech development and business without the critical infrastructure provided through the Metronet," said McMahon. "And there's no way that a nanoelectronic research center would have considered Notre Dame and South Bend without this level of connectivity."

Both McMahon and Mayor Luecke admitted that that an announcement of this caliber, this early, was beyond the vision of any of the three local partners as they embarked on the development of Innovation Park.

."This represents an unprecedented opportunity," Mayor Luecke said. "Research at the MANA center will create the new platform for high-tech applications that will touch many industries and will reshape our local economy."

"This exceeds any of our expectations," said McMahon. "Our biggest challenge will be to put together a support structure across a multitude of business, education and social sectors, focusing on capturing as much local and regional development as possible. We are being given a seat at one of the largest games in the world. Over the next ten to fifteen years, we will see if we play all of our cards right." 

About the SRC and NRI:
Semiconductor Research Corporation (SRC) is the world's leading advanced semiconductor university research consortium, with member companies and research programs spanning the globe. The Nanoelectronics Research Initiative (NRI) is a program funded by six companies within the SRC (IBM, Intel, Micron, Texas Instruments, AMD, and Freescale) seeking to accelerate research in nanoelectronics for the benefit of the semiconductor industry.

About Innovation Park:
Situated on 12 acres of land directly adjacent to the University of Notre Dame, Innovation Park will offer a dynamic environment that combines facilities with support services to create a technological business accelerator designed to help students and faculty, entrepreneurs and researchers explore pathways to bring their projects to life. An 83 acre "Landing Zone" is under development in the former Studebaker Corridor.

About Project Future:
Since 1982, Project Future has taken a community-wide approach to shaping the economic landscape of St. Joseph County. One of the first public-private economic development initiatives launched in the state of Indiana, Project Future has helped create over 7,000 new jobs directly and about 10,000 new jobs indirectly, with $2.1 billion being generated in new capital investment.

About the Metronet:
This 40-mile loop of dark fiber represents one of the most significant local networks in the nation, providing direct connectivity to one of the largest concentrations of national and international transport carriers in the United States.

About the City of South Bend:
South Bend has a history of innovation in manufacturing and industry. It is the first city in the nation to install a fiber optic network in its underground traffic conduit. South Bend invests in technology to shape a distinct advantage for the city and keep moving forward. From the Metronet and energy-saving LED traffic signals to combating combined sewer overflows with computerized sensors, South Bend reduces costs for taxpayers and creates high-tech infrastructure to support new industries.