This award is to Villanova University to support the activity described below for 36 months. The proposal was submitted in response to the Partnerships for Innovation Program Solicitation (NSF-03521).
Partners The partners include Villanova University (Lead Institution), Widener University, Ben Franklin Fund, Air Force Research Laboratory, Naval Surface Warfare Center, Bucks County Community College, Montgomery County Community College, North Penn High School, Ablaze Systems, BAE Systems, Boeing Company, InterDigital Communications Corporation, Kulicke & Soffa Industries, Lucent Technologies, Motorola, Rajant Corporation, and VerdaSee Solutions.
The primary objective of this partnership is to facilitate the transformation of knowledge into innovations that will create new wealth and strengthen the regional economy in the area of broadband wireless technology. The activities of the partners include research and development in wireless science and technology, educational diversification (including university, community college, high school, and outreach in engineering to industrial partners), and commercialization of the technologies developed. The partnership creates new knowledge in the area of broadband wireless communications via research, transfers knowledge to industrial partners, educates the technologically-literate workforce, and establishes the entrepreneurial infrastructure to sustain innovations.
Potential Economic Impact The effort will increase the competitiveness of the partners in broadband wireless technology resulting in new jobs and will produce a technologically literate workforce to fill those jobs.
The intellectual merit of the activity lies in advances in knowledge through fundamental research on smart antennas, low-profile antennas, and thermal management for broadband wireless technology and in development of a model for innovation in this industry.
The broader impacts of the activity include educational diversity, educational outreach to industry, and regional economic development to ensure long-term sustainability of economic and societal well-being.
