MEDIA ADVISORY

DATE: 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m., May 22 and 23, 2013.

EVENT: In an effort to bridge the gap between university research and industry needs and to bring more nanotechnologies to market, more than 150 researchers and manufacturers will attend a workshop on nano- and micro-scale manufacturing. The goal is to discuss how to rapidly and effectively translate more basic research into practical products.

“The university researchers can carry new technologies so far, but most of the effort in making a commercial product comes after that, so we’re trying to put academics and manufacturers in the same room so they can discuss what’s important,” said Andrew Oliver, industrial liaison and principal staff scientist at the U-M Wireless Integrated MicroSensing and Systems Research Center.

Among the attendees will be representatives from the energy, semiconductor, medical device, defense and automotive sectors, including Chevron, Shell, General Motors and Toyota.

At 8:25 a.m. May 22, Sridhar Kota, the Herrick Professor of Engineering at U-M, will deliver a plenary talk titled, “Revitalizing American Manufacturing: Challenges and
Opportunities.”

The workshop is being held in Dearborn, Mich., where precision manufacturing, standardized parts and the assembly line were combined for the first time in high-volume manufacturing more than 100 years ago.

“This workshop is a first step toward developing a roadmap for practical innovations in nano/micro-manufacturing. The aim is to promote application-driven research and commercialization of relevant manufacturing technologies which will lead to good paying jobs in Michigan and the United States,” said Yogesh Gianchandani, professor of electrical engineering and computer science and mechanical engineering and director of the U-M Wireless Integrated MicroSensing and Systems Research Center.

PLACE: Ford Motor Company Conference and Event Center, 1151 Village Rd., Dearborn, Mich.

INFORMATION: http://nano-microworkshop.com

SPONSORS: This workshop is supported by the National Science Foundation, Freescale Semiconductor, Transducers Research Foundation and Michigan Economic Development Corporation. It is organized by the U-M Wireless Integrated MicroSensing and Systems Research Center.