THE NSF I/UCRC PROGRAM

The program began in earnest in 1980.  At end of FY 1996, there were 55 I/UCRCs in operation.  Of the I/UCRCs initially funded over the last 17 years, 75% are still in operation.  There are over 80 universities, over 800 faculty, over 800 graduate students, and over 250 undergraduate students involved in these Centers.  These Centers also represent over 700 industrial memberships.  Additional information can be found at: www.eng.nsf.gov/iucrc and in Managing the Industry/University Cooperative Research Center by D.O. Gray and S.G. Walters (Battelle Press, 1998).

The scientific benefits of the I/UCRC programs include an average of 5 papers or articles per faculty member published per year.  Students rate the educational experience as being higher with the I/UCRC and because they participate they indicate that they have more job offers than their peers.  An average Center produces at least one disclosure and patent per year.  Ultimately, the University benefits from these Centers because annual follow-on research averages $170,000 per firm, $2 million per center and $100 million for the program at NSF.  In addition, over 70% of the industrial members report knowledge or technology transfer success.

The NSF has selected the University of South Carolina’s College of Engineering and Computing ( CEC ) to help lead the nation’s fuel cell initiatives by performing research with industry aimed at developing and commercializing the use of fuel cells.  USC President Andrew Sorensen said the NSF’s confidence in the ability of USC researchers to lead the nation’s fuel cell initiative underscores the quality of research underway at the University.  Alex Schwarzkopf, NSF I/UCRC Program Manager, said USC has an outstanding reputation for the quality of its fuel cell research.  “USC is known for its modeling capability of fuel cells and for great research in this field.  The NSF considers this to be an important center because it addresses a need that has been identified by the White House as important to our nation.”

The benefits to members include access to Professors and Ph.D. and BS students specializing in fuel cells, access to low cost basic, pre-competitive research, opportunities to leverage research and risk, access to pre-published data and design reports, royalty-free access to intellectual property (non-exclusive) and opportunities for industry to drive the research agenda.  The benefits to USC include the ownership of the intellectual property and patents, the opportunity to increase the research funding outside of the Center, and recognition as a leader in Fuel Cell research.  The benefits to the State of South Carolina include exposure to national and international companies, the opportunity for a corporate research park, and the opportunity to leverage USC for economic growth.  The benefits to the region include the possibility that Columbia is better equipped to compete with Atlanta and the Research Triangle, that investment capital may be used in South Carolina for start-up and relocation of businesses that Army and Navy (DOD) design and training centers may focus on expansions in South Carolina and that component suppliers may migrate south.