The University of Minnesota will establish an Engineering Research Center for Interfacial Engineering that will accelerate the development of a new dimension of engineering science, and have a major impact on technological competitiveness. The Center will focus on processes used to manufacture products whose properties are dominated by interfacial behavior. The research will be performed under 5 thrust areas: (1) interfacial formation by vapor processing, (2) interfacial formation by liquid processing, (3) interfacial formation in solids, (4) self-assembly processes, and (5) characterization and behavior of interfacial systems. A formally structured education program will offer an interdisciplinary graduate degree in Interfacial Engineering. An Industrial residency program will be established. Twenty-two companies will participate in research, education and technology transfer activities.
