FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
October 13, 2004
MCNC-RDI AND N.C. A&T STATE UNIVERSITY TO DEVELOP INNOVATIVE
FLEXIBLE DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY FOR U.S. ARMY
$1.5 Million Project to Enhance Mobile Electronics Applications
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. - MCNC Research & Development Institute (MCNC-RDI), a North Carolina-based nonprofit research organization, announced today that it has received approval from the U.S. Army Research Office to partner with North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (N.C. A&T) to conduct research related to technological advancements in flexible displays for U.S. Army mobile electronics applications.
The $1.5 million award, spanning three years, establishes the Center of Excellence for Battlefield Capability Enhancements, which will focus on developing technologies for environmentally stable flexible displays.
N.C. A&T and MCNC-RDI propose to develop a hybrid light-emitting device (HLED) to enable a superior display technology for mobile electronics and vehicle-based communications and weapons systems required by Future Force Warrior (FFW) - the U.S. Army's flagship Science and Technology initiative to develop and demonstrate revolutionary support systems for soldiers. The technology will be used to create electronics that are more portable and better able to withstand environmental conditions, enabling a more efficient and reliable flow of information on the battlefield.
Currently, all commercial display technologies are manufactured on glass substrates that require significant protection from damage when devices are used on the battlefield. This necessary protection adds weight and cost to the electronic components. Alternative technologies in development include organic light-emitting diode (OLED)-based displays on flexible substrates, however, the resulting displays are highly impaired by the environmental sensitivity of the organic materials and do not perform well when exposed to air and moisture. MCNC-RDI and N.C. A&T recognized the need for alternative approaches and identified the opportunity to develop a new kind of flexible display technology that would combine the benefits of organic and inorganic materials.
"We are excited to be involved in this partnership with MCNC-RDI," said Dr. N. Radhakrishnan, vice chancellor for Research and Economic Development at N.C. A&T. "This research project will not only benefit the Army, but it will also create great educational opportunities for our students. Involvement in this research program represents an important opportunity for N.C. A&T and showcases the type of cutting-edge research that takes place on our campus."
In the last three years, with support from the Army, MCNC-RDI has expanded its research capabilities with regards to the fabrication and characterization of OLEDs on flexible substrates. To develop the HLED technology, MCNC-RDI will combine its extensive OLED experience with N.C. A&T's expertise with narrow bandgap semiconductors composed of inorganic materials. Research facilities at both MCNC-RDI and N.C. A&T will be used throughout the project.
"By combining our experience in development of organic devices with N.C. A&T's extensive experience with inorganic materials, we are confident in our ability to develop improved flexible display technologies that will support weapons and communications for the U.S. Army," said Dr. Jay Lewis, co-principal investigator at MCNC-RDI.
In developing this research program, the Army Research Office was also aiming to create a research partnership that would benefit the community of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU), including N.C. A&T. Through the program, graduate students at N.C. A&T will be invited to participate in the research program and enroll in a collaborative course in Flat Panel Technology, which will also be created as part of the research contract.
"The unique blend of technologies provided by MCNC-RDI and N.C. A&T make this an ideal partnership," explained Dr. Shanthi Iyer, principal investigator at N.C. A&T. "We are thrilled to work with MCNC to develop a novel HLED device that we believe will have a significant impact on making flexible displays for the U.S. Army a reality."
About MCNC-RDI
MCNC (formerly the Microelectronics Center of North Carolina) is a private, independent, non-profit corporation established in 1980 to advance technology-led economic development and job creation throughout North Carolina. MCNC Research & Development Institute develops new technologies through its own initiatives and as a research partner for businesses and the U.S. government, conducting advanced and applied research across a broad technology spectrum, including microsystems, flexible electronics, sensor development, signal electronics, wireless systems, microfabrication, high-speed secure networks and grid computing. MCNC Ventures provides early-stage funding and assistance to entrepreneurial start-up companies. MCNC Grid Computing & Networking Services delivers advanced communications resources statewide to more than 180 public and private institutions, including universities, community colleges, K-12 schools, libraries, state government, private research institutions and commercial businesses in North Carolina. The MCNC family of companies is located in North Carolina's Research Triangle Park. For more information, please visit www.mcnc.org.
RTI International (www.rti.org) has announced its intent to acquire MCNC-RDI's research groups. RTI is a non-profit research organization also located in Research Triangle Park, N.C. The acquisition is expected to be completed later this year. Following completion of the acquisition, all research activities referenced in this announcement will continue with RTI International.
About NC A&T
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (N.C. A&T) is a public, doctoral/research-intensive university committed to fulfilling its fundamental purposes through exemplary undergraduate and graduate instruction, scholarly and creative research, and effective public service. Since its inception as a land-grant university in 1891, N.C. A&T has had a rich tradition of leadership and achievement. The purpose of the University is to provide an intellectual setting where students in higher education may find a sense of identification, belonging, responsibility, and achievement that will prepare them for roles of leadership and service in the communities where they will live and work.
In this sense, N.C. A&T serves as a laboratory for the development of excellence in teaching, research and public service. The school's educational program focuses on the broad fields of agriculture, engineering, technology, business, education, nursing, the liberal arts and science. The University is comprised of the School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, School of Business and Economics, School of Education, College of Engineering, School of Nursing, School of Technology, and the School of Graduate Studies. N.C. A&T is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees. For more information, visit www.ncat.edu.
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